Deni Avdija

[nate33]

He has never sprained an ankle before?

[Wizraeli]

He's very young, so I guess he was lucky until now(or maybe not since he did broke his ankle), when I was his age I would sprain my ankle about once a week..the problem with sprains is that the chances of it happening again gets higher every time.

[nate33]

So far this season, Deni's per 36 numbers are:

11.6 points
11.6 boards
4.6 assists
1.2 steals
1.2 blocks
1.2 turnover
.850 TS%
+58.9 on/off

There may be a small sample size issue though.

[AFM]

Deni "MIP and MVP" Avdija

[FAH1223]

His shot looks improved. No hesitation. Let's it fly.

[Dolevi]

I know it might be a little too early to jump on conclusions about this season. We have a long schedule of games to go. But still, I cannot see Deni being a meaningful player at Offense in this team. He will stay in the corner waiting for that pass or maybe will do a cut so someone must pass to him. His rank and situation in this team is being the last option on offense, maybe even with the 2nd unit to be honest with you. And that's say a lot about the trust he has (or better to say - hasn't) from everyone in the organisation. If you don't think it's influence his confidence, abilities and mindset/mentality - you just don't understand the game. The way Wash Wiz decides to tell him "Alright, you're our 'defensive stopper and glue guy' in the team. DON'T THINK TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND THAT" is disgusting me. He's a BASKETBALL player for god sake. If i know I have a guy that can do a lot of things - i'm not caging him to do just one or two because "it's good for the team". Bul****. That's a power of a winning team, and a team with good locker room vibes. When you have many players on the court that share the roles between them, it makes the team harder to guard (un-predictable), and better overall. This will make hard time for the opponent's preperations against us.

It's not about what he is now, it's about what his potential is, and what he will be able to do. His vision, passing skills, playmaking and decision making, BBIQ. All these are his strongest, maybe preferabled abilities in the game if i'm ignoring his defense overall. When he's with the ball, he's better than without. He was never a 3&D player, and if the Wiz will keep play him just for defense, and let him just stand there in the corner in offense just in case the ball somehow gets to him - being last option in offense at other words.. he'll never accomplish his potential, just like almost every player this organisation has ever drafted if i'm ignoring Beal and Wall. It's not just about him not maximaizing his potential.. It's everything. It's mood and feeling, confidence, trust from your teammates, ambition and passion for the game. Right now the reason he's playing, especially as a starter, it's defense offcourse. And offcourse i'm not excpecting that in a line-up with Beal, KP and Kuz he will touch the ball in offense, but that's where you lose the player's positive habits. That's where you miss the reasons he was picked that high. It never was just his defense. As organisation and as a coaching staff, you must find a solution to involve him at the offense somehow so he'll make plays, and it should be your interest to do so.

I'd like to ask you all a question.
In Deni's peak of his career, how do you see his stats and plays?
Do you think.. 3&D player, or a Playmaker?
12-2-6
Or
18-8-8?
Other?

Because what I see, by my eye test and by a long time that I've been seeing him playing, is a Playmaker. And you know what, yes maybe right now he's not ready yet to be Playmaker on a Starter level offcourse - but like, what avoids you from trying let him running the point a little bit with the 2nd unit? What you got to lose? Ok play him with the starters for the defense alright. But not letting him play to his strenghts is just hurting his development.. and moreover - it has an influence on the mental state & confidence which we have been talking about this a lot with Deni... Don't you see it all connected? From where do you think his Lack of confidence coming from? Himself? Do you think standing in the corner helping for his confidence? Do you truly believe that it's good for him and for his career? That he feels comfortable there?

[tontoz]

I like Deni but bottom line he just needs to step up on offense. Last game he caught the ball right under the rim with nobody around and missed. Is he afraid to dunk?

He still looks tentative to me around the rim.

[Dolevi]

I like Deni but bottom line he just needs to step up on offense. Last game he caught the ball right under the rim with nobody around and missed. Is he afraid to dunk?

He still looks tentative to me around the rim.

Don't you think these things impacting his clumsy misses? He definitely afriads to dunk, he afraids to even touch the ball with the current situation and the role the team has given him to do. You can read all these things just from body language on TV live broadcast. Who won't be afraid to to touch the ball when they play in the corner all game long? maybe shooters, or players who really fit to this role, or just players that are very talented just in this ability (Bertans?). The problem is that this is not Deni's game. It never was. Yet the Wizards keep him there and waiting for him to "be good", idiots
I'm telling you, I gave up lol. I hope it will happen but i'm very passimistic about the chances they will let him do more than what's happening right now. Maybe if you will tank before the season ends, or injuries, will cause it.

His rank and situation in this team is being the last option on offense, maybe even with the 2nd unit to be honest with you. And that's say a lot about the trust he has (or better to say - hasn't) from everyone in the organisation. If you don't think it's influence his confidence, abilities and mindset/mentality - you just don't understand the game. The way Wash Wiz decides to tell him "Alright, you're our 'defensive stopper and glue guy' in the team. DON'T THINK TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND THAT" is disgusting me

It's not just about him not maximaizing his potential.. It's everything. It's mood and feeling, confidence, trust from your teammates, ambition and passion for the game.

[tontoz]

The "situation" is just him not being aggressive. When Rui or Barton or Kuz get the ball they try to score. They are too aggressive at times. Deni isn't aggressive enough. They are all playing in the same offense.

It was the same story last year for Deni coming off the bench

[Dolevi]

The "situation" is just him not being aggressive. When Rui or Barton or Kuz get the ball they try to score. They are too aggressive at times. Deni isn't aggressive enough. They are all playing in the same offense.

It was the same story last year for Deni coming off the bench

So what you're actually saying is, it's just up to him and he needs to demand the ball more, and less pass it or deliver it to his teammates. Right? So in other words you're saying that when he's standing in the corner - it's not an offense pattern that the team is practicing at the gym. In other words you saying that when he's getting an hand-off in a game and instantly passing it away to a teammate without even think about threating to the basket - it's NOT what they're practicing and not what the coach wants to happen.. Yet it still happens in a systemically way.
Do you understand what i'm saying here and the problematic of it?

[doclinkin]

I know it might be a little too early to jump on conclusions about this season. We have a long schedule of games to go. But still, I cannot see Deni being a meaningful player at Offense in this team. He will stay in the corner waiting for that pass or maybe will do a cut so someone must pass to him. His rank and situation in this team is being the last option on offense,

It is both too early to jump to conclusions, and in my opinion, wrong-minded.

It seems to me Deni is developing nicely. He is a starter, with the unit that has played more minutes than any other group. He features in the top +/- line-ups. His 3 ball is developing well. He is playing great team ball, and has a sharp understanding of how to best help the team. That includes not forcing anything on offense and wasting possessions.

Deni as an offensive focal point right now is not the best use of his skill set. He is shooting the 10th worst FG% on the team. 8th if we are talking TS%. And yet he has the best +/- of any player. He is doing his job. Taking what the opponents give. Sharp cuts to the basket and taking open shots are how he can help the team.

Think about it like this: what go-to shot does Deni have that is an unstoppable move? What is his signature shot? Deni in highlights stands out in this regard: when he drives to the interior, he makes a smart pass to an open player who hits the shot. Pretty. His handle has improved along with his outside shot, the 2 skillsets he worked on over the summer. But neither are a mismatch level skill. He did not work on low-post moves or finishing on the interior. Wasn't focused on putting on bulk and muscle to power through opponents. He is implementing the skills he worked on, and proving himself useful with them.

If you force feed him possessions you siphon his efficiency, and frankly, to me, would wreck his confidence worse. Scouting reports would snuff what he can do right now.

Deni works well with the starters, and it shows up in the box score. His inclination to kick it to the next guy is the right move. He is too good a player to bench, or demote to a 2nd unit. The team needs exactly everything he does now in the line-up with the higher possession players. He makes up for deficiencies in defense, sets up the hockey assist (the pass that leads to the assist) rebounds, takes the opposing best attacker.

That all is huge for a 3rd year player. He will get his opportunities to do more. Who knows how long Delon will be out with a hamstring. Beal already has back soreness. Kispert may be back soon, but will probably have load restrictions. And likely at some point one of our forwards is traded. Likely not Deni because the team stats gurus are big on defensive +/- where Deni is one of the tops in the league.

To my way of thinking, Deni develops best if he plays with and against the best. Develops best if the team wins, develops winning habits, learns what works. Deni with the starters gives the best chance of winning. He is doing a solid solid job, and as he earns it, when his groin injury is fully recovered, when his shot starts dropping, then he will earn more touches.

[tontoz]

The "situation" is just him not being aggressive. When Rui or Barton or Kuz get the ball they try to score. They are too aggressive at times. Deni isn't aggressive enough. They are all playing in the same offense.

It was the same story last year for Deni coming off the bench

So what you're actually saying is, it's just up to him and he needs to demand the ball more, and not pass it or deliver it to his teammates. Right? So in other words you're saying that when he's standing in the corner - it's not an offense pattern that the team is practicing at the practice. In other words you saying that when he's getting an hand-off in a game and instantly passing it away to a teammate without even think threating to the basket - it's NOT what they're practicing and not what the coach wants to happen.. Yet it still happens in systemically way.
Do you understand what i'm saying here and the problametic of it?

No I am saying he needs to do something with the ball when he gets it. So many times last year he would get the ball and not even look to score. He would just act like the ball was a hot potato and he had to get rid of it. Nobody else on the team was doing that.

If he gets the ball behind the line and a defender is running out at him, drive to the basket. It isn't that complicated. Make the defense do something.

[DCZards]

Dolevi, I agree with you regarding Deni's untapped potential, especially as a playmaker and secondary ball handler. But I think you’re asking for the Zards to prioritize Deni’s development over the best interest of the “team,” which would be a mistake. Deni is simply not ready to take on the expanded role that you envision for him. But he may be in time.

There’s a chemistry building with this current Zards squad and that needs to continue to happen organically. Right now, Deni has to get in where he fits in. Deni will get his opportunities he just has to be ready to take advantage of them.

[Dolevi]

I know it might be a little too early to jump on conclusions about this season. We have a long schedule of games to go. But still, I cannot see Deni being a meaningful player at Offense in this team. He will stay in the corner waiting for that pass or maybe will do a cut so someone must pass to him. His rank and situation in this team is being the last option on offense,

It is both too early to jump to conclusions, and in my opinion, wrong-minded.

It seems to me Deni is developing nicely. He is a starter, with the unit that has played more minutes than any other group. He features in the top +/- line-ups. His 3 ball is developing well. He is playing great team ball, and has a sharp understanding of how to best help the team. That includes not forcing anything on offense and wasting possessions.

Deni as an offensive focal point right now is not the best use of his skill set. He is shooting the 10th worst FG% on the team. 8th if we are talking TS%. And yet he has the best +/- of any player. He is doing his job. Taking what the opponents give. Sharp cuts to the basket and taking open shots are how he can help the team.

Think about it like this: what go-to shot does Deni have that is an unstoppable move? What is his signature shot? Deni in highlights stands out in this regard: when he drives to the interior, he makes a smart pass to an open player who hits the shot. Pretty. His handle has improved along with his outside shot, the 2 skillsets he worked on over the summer. But neither are a mismatch level skill. He did not work on low-post moves or finishing on the interior. Wasn't focused on putting on bulk and muscle to power through opponents. He is implementing the skills he worked on, and proving himself useful with them.

If you force feed him possessions you siphon his efficiency, and frankly, to me, would wreck his confidence worse. Scouting reports would snuff what he can do right now.

Deni orks well with the starters. His inclination to kick it to the next guy is the right move. He is too good a player to bench, or demote to a 2nd unit. The team needs exactly everything he does now in the line-up with the higher possession players. He makes up for deficiencies in defense, sets up the hockey assist (the pass that leads to the assist) rebounds, takes the opposing best attacker.

That all is huge for a 3rd year player. He will get his opportunities to do more. Who knows how long Delon will be out with a hamstring. Beal already has back soreness. Kispert may be back soon, but will probably have load restrictions. And likely at some point one of our forwards is traded. Likely not Deni because the team stats gurus are big on defensive +/- where Deni is one of the tops in the league.

To my way of thinking, Deni develops best if he plays with and against the best. Develops best if the team wins, develops winning habits, learns what works. Deni with the starters gives the best chance of winning. He is doing a solid solid job, and as he earns it, when his groin injury is fully recovered, when his shot starts dropping, then he will earn more touches.

Bro we don't know it yet cause he doesn't even get to a situation when he's that much with the ball What signature shot? Have you checked how many FGA he has compared to his teammates this year so far? The thing is that you can't have an unstoppable move, or signature shot, if you without the ball lol. That's the whole point of what i'm saying. Offcourse he doesn't have. Does it mean he's not talented? That he can't have some in the future? Right now he's just filling the role the team has given him.

What do you mean by feed him possessions? In my opinion giving him the ball will do just good for him, better anyway than being on the corner. Why, you think right now the Scouting reports are respecting Deni's offense? C'mon. Worse than that cannot happen. As i said he's your last option in offense right now, and teams well aware of that.

Scouting reports would snuff what he can do right now.

No one knows what he can do with the ball right now. I find it very useful and surprising, not something the Scouting reports can see.

Deni orks well with the starters. His inclination to kick it to the next guy is the right move. He is too good a player to bench, or demote to a 2nd unit. The team needs exactly everything he does now in the line-up with the higher possession players. He makes up for deficiencies in defense, sets up the hockey assist (the pass that leads to the assist) rebounds, takes the opposing best attacker.

Agree with you on that 100%, as i said before, right now he's the "glue" to the starters, which is not bad, but and it's an important but, the Wiz shouldn't sleep on his talent to do some things.

Deni with the starters gives the best chance of winning

Agreed as well.

He will get his opportunities to do more

Amen

[closg00]

I know it might be a little too early to jump on conclusions about this season. We have a long schedule of games to go. But still, I cannot see Deni being a meaningful player at Offense in this team. He will stay in the corner waiting for that pass or maybe will do a cut so someone must pass to him. His rank and situation in this team is being the last option on offense, maybe even with the 2nd unit to be honest with you. And that's say a lot about the trust he has (or better to say - hasn't) from everyone in the organisation. If you don't think it's influence his confidence, abilities and mindset/mentality - you just don't understand the game. The way Wash Wiz decides to tell him "Alright, you're our 'defensive stopper and glue guy' in the team. DON'T THINK TO DO ANYTHING BEYOND THAT" is disgusting me. He's a BASKETBALL player for god sake. If i know I have a guy that can do a lot of things - i'm not caging him to do just one or two because "it's good for the team". Bul****. That's a power of a winning team, and a team with good locker room vibes. When you have many players on the court that share the roles between them, it makes the team harder to guard (un-predictable), and better overall. This will make hard time for the opponent's preperations against us.

It's not about what he is now, it's about what his potential is, and what he will be able to do. His vision, passing skills, playmaking and decision making, BBIQ. All these are his strongest, maybe preferabled abilities in the game if i'm ignoring his defense overall. When he's with the ball, he's better than without. He was never a 3&D player, and if the Wiz will keep play him just for defense, and let him just stand there in the corner in offense just in case the ball somehow gets to him - being last option in offense at other words.. he'll never accomplish his potential, just like almost every player this organisation has ever drafted if i'm ignoring Beal and Wall. It's not just about him not maximaizing his potential.. It's everything. It's mood and feeling, confidence, trust from your teammates, ambition and passion for the game. Right now the reason he's playing, especially as a starter, it's defense offcourse. And offcourse i'm not excpecting that in a line-up with Beal, KP and Kuz he will touch the ball in offense, but that's where you lose the player's positive habits. That's where you miss the reasons he was picked that high. It never was just his defense. As organisation and as a coaching staff, you must find a solution to involve him at the offense somehow so he'll make plays, and it should be your interest to do so.

I'd like to ask you all a question.
In Deni's peak of his career, how do you see his stats and plays?
Do you think.. 3&D player, or a Playmaker?
12-2-6
Or
18-8-8?
Other?

Because what I see, by my eye test and by a long time that I've been seeing him playing, is a Playmaker. And you know what, yes maybe right now he's not ready yet to be Playmaker on a Starter level offcourse - but like, what avoids you from trying let him running the point a little bit with the 2nd unit? What you got to lose? Ok play him with the starters for the defense alright. But not letting him play to his strenghts is just hurting his development.. and moreover - it has an influence on the mental state & confidence which we have been talking about this a lot with Deni... Don't you see it all connected? From where do you think his Lack of confidence coming from? Himself? Do you think standing in the corner helping for his confidence? Do you truly believe that it's good for him and for his career? That he feels comfortable there?

I see Johnny Davis being exactly the same at his position as Deni is to his. God I hope I am wrong, but we don't need any more of this-type of player. What you see with Deni is what we're gonna get, if he had a sweet stroke to add to what he does currently that would be so awesome for us.

[NatP4]

I think it’s a combination of teammates being a little overly aggressive and Deni being slightly passive with the ball. He’s good at just about everything else though, and the 3rd or 4th most impactful player on the team.

He just needs to play more minutes and keep working on his spot up 3pt shot, and just let it fly. That’s a big part of his role on this team. Space the floor and let it rip.

[Dolevi]

The "situation" is just him not being aggressive. When Rui or Barton or Kuz get the ball they try to score. They are too aggressive at times. Deni isn't aggressive enough. They are all playing in the same offense.

It was the same story last year for Deni coming off the bench

So what you're actually saying is, it's just up to him and he needs to demand the ball more, and not pass it or deliver it to his teammates. Right? So in other words you're saying that when he's standing in the corner - it's not an offense pattern that the team is practicing at the practice. In other words you saying that when he's getting an hand-off in a game and instantly passing it away to a teammate without even think threating to the basket - it's NOT what they're practicing and not what the coach wants to happen.. Yet it still happens in systemically way.
Do you understand what i'm saying here and the problametic of it?

No I am saying he needs to do something with the ball when he gets it. So many times last year he would get the ball and not even look to score. He would just act like the ball was a hot potato and he had to get rid of it. Nobody else on the team was doing that.

If he gets the ball behind the line and a defender is running out at him, drive to the basket. It isn't that complicated. Make the defense do something.

The question is if these are the same things they practice and do at the gym, or there Deni's more active and does more things with the ball?

I'll tell you something. If someone in the coaching staff or even some of the players in the squad would have wanted Deni to do more - they would just talk about it - and he would execute. But he "knows his place" and is afraid of not making mistakes right now. This is directly connecting to what I've said about the dressing room vibes. Right now there are some simple roles. For Deni, is guarding the opponent's best player, be the glue, making the right play and stretch the floor. That's it.

Don't you think it's something pre-built? Don't you agree with me the coach and the other players want it to be that way? What, you expect Deni to be Nasty and break the offensive system? It's like breaking an unseen code between players to players and coaches. Know your place, don't be a hero. Nobody there wants him to be more aggressive or more nasty, sorry I'm not buying it hahaha They want the shots and stats for themselves, and they also don't trust him to do things with it. If you had trust between teammates at offense, all this wouldn't have happened.

[Dolevi]

Dolevi, I agree with you regarding Deni's untapped potential, especially as a playmaker and secondary ball handler. But I think you’re asking for the Zards to prioritize Deni’s development over the best interest of the “team,” which would be a mistake. Deni is simply not ready to take on the expanded role that you envision for him. But he may be in time.

There’s a chemistry building with this current Zards squad and that needs to continue to happen organically. Right now, Deni has to get in where he fits in. Deni will get his opportunities he just has to be ready to take advantage of them.

You're right.
I hope he'll do fine and that the organisation really counts on him for an important role in the future

[tontoz]

So what you're actually saying is, it's just up to him and he needs to demand the ball more, and not pass it or deliver it to his teammates. Right? So in other words you're saying that when he's standing in the corner - it's not an offense pattern that the team is practicing at the practice. In other words you saying that when he's getting an hand-off in a game and instantly passing it away to a teammate without even think threating to the basket - it's NOT what they're practicing and not what the coach wants to happen.. Yet it still happens in systemically way.
Do you understand what i'm saying here and the problametic of it?

No I am saying he needs to do something with the ball when he gets it. So many times last year he would get the ball and not even look to score. He would just act like the ball was a hot potato and he had to get rid of it. Nobody else on the team was doing that.

If he gets the ball behind the line and a defender is running out at him, drive to the basket. It isn't that complicated. Make the defense do something.

The question is if these are the same things they practice and do at the gym, or there Deni's more active and does more things with the ball?

I'll tell you something. If someone in the coaching staff or even some of the players in the squad would have wanted Deni to do more - they would just talk about it - and he would execute. But he "knows his place" and is afraid of not making mistakes right now. This is directly connecting to what I've said about the dressing room vibes. Right now there are some simple roles. For Deni, is guarding the opponent's best player, be the glue, making the right play and stretch the floor. That's it.

Don't you think it's something pre-built? Don't you agree with me the coach and the other players want it to be that way? What, you expect Deni to be Nasty and break the offensive system? It's like breaking an unseen code between players to players and coaches. Know your place, don't be a hero. Nobody there wants him to be more aggressive or more nasty, sorry I'm not buying it hahaha They want the shots and stats for themselves, and they also don't trust him to do things with it. If you had trust between teammates at offense, all this wouldn't have happened.

Nonsense. The NBA is a man's league. There isn't going to be a lot of hand holding.

All of the guys on the team are playing in the same offense. The other guys take advantage of the opportunities they get. Deni doesn't. It's as simple as that.

Do you think the coaches are telling him not to drive when there is an open lane to the rim? Do you think they are telling him not to look at the rim when he gets the ball? That is ridiculous.

[Wizraeli]

The "situation" is just him not being aggressive.

The situation is him having an entire country watching and analyzing each and every movement or breath he takes, after each game the Israeli media is filled with articles and videos covering and analyzing all of the actions he took during the last game, those misses under the rim when he's wide open is a clear indication of the pressure he's feeling on his shoulders, combine it with the fact that he doesn't get too many touches of the ball on offense any way and you'll get someone that for him every time he gets the ball in a scoring situation he feels like his entire career depends on him making that shot and he become nervous and afraid to make mistakes, which ironically that eventually what leads him to make mistakes and silly misses, in the summer on the national team he didn't make that kind of mistakes, and I assume that's because he doesn't feel on the NT that every time he touches the ball is a rare event.

I know he's a professional and pressure is part of the game and he'll need to learn to live with it, but the way the team ignores him on offense doesn't help anyone, not Deni and not the Wizards, even in Israel nobody is expecting him to become the first option on offense over Beal, Kuzma or Porzingis, but it won't hurt nobody if instead of that one-pass iso offense the Wizards are playing they will involve Deni more in the movement of the ball and in the decision making process on offense instead of just putting him in the corner waiting for god knows what.