Runner300 wrote:In NBA it will be harder for Deni to demonstrate his playmaking.
He can initiate a play, make the first pass, but then he never gets the ball back.
He can try to attack a defender then make a nice dish - but nobody will bother
to make a screen (maybe a rookie, if he yells at him), and nobody will bother to cut to paint to receive the assist.
Reading your past posts, I get the feeling you are frustrated with NBA ball compared to the European/FIBA game. What team(s) do you follow who exemplify the style of play you like to see?
I think our GM also appreciates Euro ball and I get the sense Unseld would like to implement a system with more ball and player movement. I agree that in the NBA we see more me-first style of play, feeding the ball to the star and everyone else playing off of that. Here I think we only have one star (Porzingis) but even he would benefit by more movement around him.
I think where Deni has a challenge is that we have a rack of players fighting for the 2 forwards spots. None of whom has gotten enough separation to show that they are better than any others. Deni could help his own case by making his shots when he does have the opportunity. His defense is the one area where he clearly has shown himself better. Not just better than his teammates, but better than most players in the league at his position. But: he's shooting 43% overall. 31% from 3. And has only shown minuscule improvement from rookie to 2nd year. It's tough to increase his role when most of shots end up as a miss. And he doesn't make up for it at the line, since he only shoots one free throw a game. Deni is a smart player, he knows unless he has a clear path to the basket, the better play right now is for someone else to take the shot.
The one area that is hopeful in this regard is his FT shooting percentage. From 64% to 75% is a nice jump. That tends to be the profile of a grinder, a player who will put in the work in the offseason to improve, a player whose confidence is growing. Improving FT% often foreshadows improved shooting from outside. Confidence and the improved shot he is showing in Eurobasket competition will help a ton. I like that he is showing the footwork to get himself open to take the clutch shots. In the NBA the vast majority of his 3pt shots were assisted. Like over 90%. That means if Deni has the ball outside, you don't have to guard him. He's not taking that shot unless he is wide open and the ball finds him. If his Euro play carries over, scouts will have to account for that in the pregame write-up, his teammates won't be doubled, etc. Or else he hits the shot. Many of the shots he is taking in Euro play will still be available to him for a while until the NBA scouts have to adjust. Some of those 3pt shots in Eurobasket are long 2pt jumpers in the NBA, but not all. His step back needs a half foot more travel to get behind the line and get separation, but that is do-able. The foundation looks good. WIth reps comes confidence.
I'm liking Deni's chances for a the 3rd year jump that many young players experience. Deni's development has been stunted by various factors (world wide pandemic, injury, declining HOFer who demanded high usage, etc). But the extended summer competition here is better than anything else he could have done to catch up to speed. If any of this carries over, the Deni we see here is a starting SF in this league. If it translated even 70% then this version of Deni is probably our 2nd best player.
