Re: VW = ? (Rookie Season Thread)
Posted: Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:14 am
Match-up against Joel Embiid
Ofensively, he wasn't defended by Embiid in most possessions, so it was kind of boring.
What I like about Wemby in the last two months, is how much more polished his game gets week after week:
- much better shot selection (realistically, probably over-30% 3pt shooter, 33% since Dec 8th),
- vertical spacing and overall movement (mostly due to playing as a center) on display,
- face-up game (his handles and functional athleticism are already good enough to attack closeouts from the perimeter or punish weaker defenders individually),
- less risky plays on offense what make his turnover rate much better (13.8 TOV% since the first game as a starting center, pretty okay for a rookie playing on high volume: 22ppg in 27 minutes in analyzed span),
- transition offense (his athleticism is off the charts),
- some growth in low post moves (some examples on the video),
- as Spurs' game gets better, his flashes in playmaking are more visible.
And that was on display against Sixers.
I'd go with saying he's +1/+2 player offensively (within range of these EPM type of metrics): not an anchor nor reliable 2nd fiddle type of a guy, but still elite finisher - okay passer - from time to time stretch big - capable of creating his own shot in friendly matchups - elite transition big.
Defensively:
Some highlights of Joel:
(without decent Wemby's D-possessions and foul baits, but still)
According to NBA.com, while defended by Wemby - Embiid: 10/15 FGM + 4/4 FTA (one shot blocked)
- I've seen already against AD that he needs to work - besides pnr coverage - on his 1v1 D: his mid-post effort was in some possessions rather weak (there were plays he couldn't do much more against Embiid, he's not the only player struggling with defense on Embiid operating on midrange, but there were meh possessions as well); couple of times he got foul baited (the only games he struggles with foul trouble are against decent opponents, that's encouraging as his foul rate is fantastic for a young big man overall); couple of times he was too weak to defend Embiid around a rim (understandable); two or three ridiculous possessions in which after a shot he ran to transition before the glass was secured: bad instincts, but obviously this is something very easy to work on as premise is obviously fine, he can become all-time great transition center,
- as it is quite obvious his optimal role is center offensively and typical rim protector-help defender defensively (he started this season as a power forward operating on perimeter with safety-like role on D and was completely misused both on O and D) - his biggest question mark defensively is when he'll get strong enough/1v1 good enough against superstars to bring in great individual defense (as his rebounding, rim protection and help D are already All-NBA level worthy and his DFG% numbers are great as well).
Fun game to watch.
Ofensively, he wasn't defended by Embiid in most possessions, so it was kind of boring.
What I like about Wemby in the last two months, is how much more polished his game gets week after week:
- much better shot selection (realistically, probably over-30% 3pt shooter, 33% since Dec 8th),
- vertical spacing and overall movement (mostly due to playing as a center) on display,
- face-up game (his handles and functional athleticism are already good enough to attack closeouts from the perimeter or punish weaker defenders individually),
- less risky plays on offense what make his turnover rate much better (13.8 TOV% since the first game as a starting center, pretty okay for a rookie playing on high volume: 22ppg in 27 minutes in analyzed span),
- transition offense (his athleticism is off the charts),
- some growth in low post moves (some examples on the video),
- as Spurs' game gets better, his flashes in playmaking are more visible.
And that was on display against Sixers.
I'd go with saying he's +1/+2 player offensively (within range of these EPM type of metrics): not an anchor nor reliable 2nd fiddle type of a guy, but still elite finisher - okay passer - from time to time stretch big - capable of creating his own shot in friendly matchups - elite transition big.
Defensively:
Some highlights of Joel:
(without decent Wemby's D-possessions and foul baits, but still)
According to NBA.com, while defended by Wemby - Embiid: 10/15 FGM + 4/4 FTA (one shot blocked)
- I've seen already against AD that he needs to work - besides pnr coverage - on his 1v1 D: his mid-post effort was in some possessions rather weak (there were plays he couldn't do much more against Embiid, he's not the only player struggling with defense on Embiid operating on midrange, but there were meh possessions as well); couple of times he got foul baited (the only games he struggles with foul trouble are against decent opponents, that's encouraging as his foul rate is fantastic for a young big man overall); couple of times he was too weak to defend Embiid around a rim (understandable); two or three ridiculous possessions in which after a shot he ran to transition before the glass was secured: bad instincts, but obviously this is something very easy to work on as premise is obviously fine, he can become all-time great transition center,
- as it is quite obvious his optimal role is center offensively and typical rim protector-help defender defensively (he started this season as a power forward operating on perimeter with safety-like role on D and was completely misused both on O and D) - his biggest question mark defensively is when he'll get strong enough/1v1 good enough against superstars to bring in great individual defense (as his rebounding, rim protection and help D are already All-NBA level worthy and his DFG% numbers are great as well).
Fun game to watch.