Deni Avdija

[payitforward]

I just did an extensive analysis -- I was in the head when I did it, so you can be sure it's exact -- & the two best rookies of the last decade are:

Spoiler:

Deni Avidja

and

Spoiler:

Brandon Clarke

...What?

[nate33]

Gotta disagree. Just play your best players. Bonga-Avdija-Bryant have the best on/off numbers on the team. If I was the coach, I would start Westbrook-Beal-Avdija-Bonga-Bryant and bring-Neto-Mathews-Brown-Bertans-Hachimura off the bench. Live with getting beat on the boards, shoot the lights out from 3. Play Wagner whenever you need that extra guy. They could drop Neto sometimes and let Brown play true PG and like I said, use Wagner as backup C. Forget about Ish and Lopez completely. Mathews HAS to get on the court.

Hachimura has the best on/off numbers on the team and you aren't even starting him.

You have to look at the skills the players provide and what they don't provide. If you put all of your best on/off guys on one unit, by definition, the other unit is going to suck.

Besides, you can't base your entire rotation on/off numbers with such a limited sample size.

[SwipeDaFox]

I still don't think Deni has a good enough handle to take on himself to create shots for himself on a consistent basis with good efficiency - I actually think the way he's brought up is good, playing off of the main guys at first and using his IQ to find his own niche and see what he can do in the flow of the game.

Still don't think he's a guy you put the ball in his hands and let him operate - that will come with time. He can take more occasional pick and roll situations though cause he really excels passing out of it - but creating for himself in the PNR is still a struggle for him I think and will lead to some forced shots.

His defense has definitely been the key area in his game so far and what earned him the most credit and playing time, besides his high IQ and simple game offensively with flashes every now and then - the kid really has an amazing knack for team basketball, is extremely aware, always has a hand in the shooters face and is always alert when to help, where to move, what to show defensively to prevent penetration and close the paint and then on the alert when to return to his player which is extremely hard.

The place he's surprised me the most though, is when he's put on an island or gets switched off to smaller guys - he really uses his size and length well - and arguably has the best feel for vertically raising his hands up without fouling for a rookie in all my years watching the game. Cause he's a rookie he gets called BS fouls, but he just really really plays solid D and showed the ability to switch basically 1-5 and get stops which is ridicules cause even I questioned his footspeed - but his positioning is so on point and his knowledge of how to use his body is so good that he just gets it done.

Really, really impressed with him defensively on the perimeter which was my biggest question mark for him early on.

[prime1time]

I still don't think Deni has a good enough handle to take on himself to create shots for himself on a consistent basis with good efficiency - I actually think the way he's brought up is good, playing off of the main guys at first and using his IQ to find his own niche and see what he can do in the flow of the game.

Still don't think he's a guy you put the ball in his hands and let him operate - that will come with time. He can take more occasional pick and roll situations though cause he really excels passing out of it - but creating for himself in the PNR is still a struggle for him I think and will lead to some forced shots.

His defense has definitely been the key area in his game so far and what earned him the most credit and playing time, besides his high IQ and simple game offensively with flashes every now and then - the kid really has an amazing knack for team basketball, is extremely aware, always has a hand in the shooters face and is always alert when to help, where to move, what to show defensively to prevent penetration and close the paint and then on the alert when to return to his player which is extremely hard.

The place he's surprised me the most though, is when he's put on an island or gets switched off to smaller guys - he really uses his size and length well - and arguably has the best feel for vertically raising his hands up without fouling for a rookie in all my years watching the game. Cause he's a rookie he gets called BS fouls, but he just really really plays solid D and showed the ability to switch basically 1-5 and get stops which is ridicules cause even I questioned his footspeed - but his positioning is so on point and his knowledge of how to use his body is so good that he just gets it done.

Really, really impressed with him defensively on the perimeter which was my biggest question mark for him early on.

Right now he’s just a 3/D which is fine. He just turned 20. The idea is that in 3 years he could be a force since he would have had more time to develop all aspects of his game. Rui and Advija are two solid pieces to build a team around.

[SwipeDaFox]

I agree.

What i wrote was cause i see a lot of people ask for him to take charge of the second unit, which I think is too much too soon and would not be good for the team and for his development.

It can be tested after half a season or towards the end - but doing so right now I think he’s not there yet.

He’s building great habits and due to his talent he’s already testing his limits and slowly breaking out of the 3&D mold on occasion - but it happens organically in the flow of the game, when he thinks it’s the right play and when he has confidence -which is ideal and why the result is usually a good one.

Patience is key.

[NatP4]

11-23 on 3s now. Starting to reach the point where it’s safe to say that Deni is a good 3pt shooter. It’s also clear that he is a good defender both individually and team. 3pt shooting&defense were of course, the two biggest question marks about Deni in the pre-draft process.

We need to get him more shots and usage still.

[dckingsfan]

11-23 on 3s now. Starting to reach the point where it’s safe to say that Deni is a good 3pt shooter. It’s also clear that he is a good defender both individually and team. 3pt shooting & defense were of course, the two biggest question marks about Deni in the pre-draft process.

We need to get him more shots and usage still.

Kind of why he fits nicely next to Westbrook/Beal/Rui/Bryant.

[closg00]

The young fella has trouble taking a fast-break lead and finish, 3-4 times he kinda goes down the middle lane and doesn’t quite know what to do, this will be corrected with coaching and experience

[SwipeDaFox]

The young fella has trouble taking a fast-break lead and finish, 3-4 times he kinda goes down the middle lane and doesn’t quite know what to do, this will be corrected with coaching and experience

I think that’s a direct result of an out of control dribble, and him not having a good enough ability to finish on his own (which was a question about him for a couple of years now)

I think after this summer you’ll see his dribble control improve greatly, the coaching in that aspect in the states is way better than what he had in Israel.

[2Fluffy4U]

The young fella has trouble taking a fast-break lead and finish, 3-4 times he kinda goes down the middle lane and doesn’t quite know what to do, this will be corrected with coaching and experience

I think this is definitely a confidence issue which can resolve over time once he gets more touches.. he seems to be in a "I don't want to make any mistake" mode right now.. once he feels more in place - and his rope/leash loosens a bit - we might be able to see more of the below at 00:30 Seconds. [Amare Stoudemire assist to Deni].

[url]

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[closg00]

The young fella has trouble taking a fast-break lead and finish, 3-4 times he kinda goes down the middle lane and doesn’t quite know what to do, this will be corrected with coaching and experience

I think that’s a direct result of an out of control dribble, and him not having a good enough ability to finish on his own (which was a question about him for a couple of years now)

I think after this summer you’ll see his dribble control improve greatly, the coaching in that aspect in the states is way better than what he had in Israel.

I think you’re right, instead of trying to lead the break, he should be giving the ball to the PG for them to run the offense, he will get better taking the lead on those in the future

[Hidden Eye]

11-23 on 3s now. Starting to reach the point where it’s safe to say that Deni is a good 3pt shooter. It’s also clear that he is a good defender both individually and team. 3pt shooting&defense were of course, the two biggest question marks about Deni in the pre-draft process.

We need to get him more shots and usage still.

He's too soft on D.

He would flourish more on the 2nd Unit. The starting lineup needs Wing Defense not offense. Offense is not the Wizards problem its Defense.

[nate33]

11-23 on 3s now. Starting to reach the point where it’s safe to say that Deni is a good 3pt shooter. It’s also clear that he is a good defender both individually and team. 3pt shooting&defense were of course, the two biggest question marks about Deni in the pre-draft process.

We need to get him more shots and usage still.

He's too soft on D.

He would flourish more on the 2nd Unit. The starting lineup needs Wing Defense not offense. Offense is not the Wizards problem its Defense.

I don't think he is soft on D at all. He's probably overly concerned about avoiding fouls, but you have to be as a rookie in this league. He's definitely not afraid of putting a body on someone to box them out. I guess this concern with foul avoidance might detract from his man-to-man defense a bit. But his help defense is still very good because he rotates well and is almost always in the right place.

That said, I agree that he would flourish on the 2nd unit as a secondary playmaker. If nothing else, it will guarantee that Brooks only puts one guard on the floor alongside Westbrook on the 2nd unit (because the other 3 players will be Avdija, Bertans and a center).

Start Bonga. Let him guard the opponent's best wing for the first 6 minutes of each half. Bring in Avdija for the middle 12 minutes of each half. Finish off the half with either Bonga, Avdija, Brown or Bertans at SF, depending on the matchups and who is playing well.

[Hidden Eye]

11-23 on 3s now. Starting to reach the point where it’s safe to say that Deni is a good 3pt shooter. It’s also clear that he is a good defender both individually and team. 3pt shooting&defense were of course, the two biggest question marks about Deni in the pre-draft process.

We need to get him more shots and usage still.

He's too soft on D.

He would flourish more on the 2nd Unit. The starting lineup needs Wing Defense not offense. Offense is not the Wizards problem its Defense.

I don't think he is soft on D at all. He's probably overly concerned about avoiding fouls, but you have to be as a rookie in this league. He's definitely not afraid of putting a body on someone to box them out. I guess this concern with foul avoidance might detract from his man-to-man defense a bit. But his help defense is still very good because he rotates well and is almost always in the right place.

That said, I agree that he would flourish on the 2nd unit as a secondary playmaker. If nothing else, it will guarantee that Brooks only puts one guard on the floor alongside Westbrook on the 2nd unit (because the other 3 players will be Avdija, Bertans and a center).

Start Bonga. Let him guard the opponent's best wing for the first 6 minutes of each half. Bring in Avdija for the middle 12 minutes of each half. Finish off the half with either Bonga, Avdija, Brown or Bertans at SF, depending on the matchups and who is playing well.

Just watching the tape he can't keep up with the stronger Wings and its gonna be a problem if the Wizards want to be an elite team, cant have a full offense it needs to be balanced. Bonga should start for Defense and then Deni in 2nd unit. They dont need any more Offense, theres 4 guys who can do it ISO without being setup. 2nd unit is more suited. And you need a strong bench for playoffs.

[NatP4]

Deni has been the teams best defender or 2nd best behind Bonga. His help/team defense is the best on the team as a 19 year old rookie and he holds his own on switches against guards on the perimeter or bigs in the paint.

If the wizards want to be an elite team, they need to get Lopez, Ish, and Robinson off the roster and play Brown, Bonga, and Mathews. End of story

[Dark Faze]

I think at worst Deni is our second best defender:

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I don't think there's anyone else on the roster capable of that play. He's very good at placing his feet before being attacked and being conscious of how to angle his body such that he is inhibiting movement of the offensive player without being called for a blocking foul. And he's very conscious of the fact that the length of his arms alone should be enough to get the job done without having to go for a block. Many possessions where he's perfectly vertical in the paint. I think he's gotten some bs calls against him, and sometimes he's made mistakes, but I see a ton of defensive potential.

He's clearly going to have to work on his below the 3pt line offense in the off-season. His confidence with driving, his handling, his mid range jump shot, free throws. I hope that Brad refers him to his own trainer Drew Hanlen who seems to be very good. But I don't see him accomplishing much offensively below the 3pt line even if he's permanently moved to the bench for 2021. It's going to require an off season of work.

[Frichuela]

I think at worst Deni is our second best defender:

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I don't think there's anyone else on the roster capable of that play. He's very good at placing his feet before being attacked and being conscious of how to angle his body such that he is inhibiting movement of the offensive player without being called for a blocking foul. And he's very conscious of the fact that the length of his arms alone should be enough to get the job done without having to go for a block. Many possessions where he's perfectly vertical in the paint. I think he's gotten some bs calls against him, and sometimes he's made mistakes, but I see a ton of defensive potential.

He's clearly going to have to work on his below the 3pt line offense in the off-season. His confidence with driving, his handling, his mid range jump shot, free throws. I hope that Brad refers him to his own trainer Drew Hanlen who seems to be very good. But I don't see him accomplishing much offensively below the 3pt line even if he's permanently moved to the bench for 2021. It's going to require an off season of work.

Thank you and 100% agree!

[DCsOwn]

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^The mindset is there as well. Love it.

[Kanyewest]

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[NatP4]

Pretty hilarious, the following possession, we get another stop and have the ball with a minute left down 5. Deni had just hit back to back to back 3s and we decide to throw the ball in the post to Rui who forces an awful attempt against a double team and misses.