nate33 wrote:I don't even understand what people are complaining about.
Avdija starts alongside our 3 highest usage players (Porzingis, Beal and Kuzma) and our highest usage point guard. All of them except Porzingis are actually playing very well offensively (and Zinger hasn't been that bad either). It would be stupid for him to seek out more difficult shots, taking them from other successful offensive players.
Avdija is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. He is a glue guy and defensive ace. It's working very well. He has the best on/off differential on the roster, and when he plays with the other 4 starters, they have a +29.4 on/off differential.
I'm happy with what Avdija is doing. He is 2nd on the team in WS/48 and RAPTOR, and 4th in BPM.
I'm happy with what the starting lineup is doing. They are 3-1 and have a dominant point differential
I'm happy that Wes Jr. recognizes the usefulness of Deni's size, defense and playmaking rather than playing a superfluous "shot maker" like Hachimura or Barton alongside the other starters.
It's just good all around. About the only thing of concern is Deni's foul rate limiting his minutes.
I'm with nate here.
Whatever the coaches are doing with respect to Deni, it is working. It is not hurting the team at all, and Deni should be commended for cementing his status in the starting line-up. Especially given that Deni missed training camp, and due to his NT obligations he wasn't working out with teammates over the summer the way others were. The coaching staff has found a role for him that benefits the team. If he doesn't yet have the confidence to hit his shots, I mean, okay, but it is not like he is going to get yanked for making a mistake. And frankly he doesn't make many.
I agree with the premise that as he makes shots, his usage will increase. And with our back-up PG/2nd best defender out for 2 months, Deni will surely see more minutes since he has both skillsets: playmaking and defense. I agree with the premise that the more responsibility and usage he has, the more opportunity he has to improve.
I disagree with the idea that he is somehow hurting our offense. If you
check his on/off numbers, we are 40 points better per 100 possessions when Deni is on the floor. Our shooting is +11%, we turn the ball over 11% less often, we get 15% more assists.
What people miss on both sides of the argument is that Deni is playmaking with action off the ball as well. He screens well. He boxes out players on passes as well as rebounding to prevent steals. He's the relay man who skips the ball to make the hockey assist. It may look like he is passive when he kicks the ball to the next guy, but more often than not that is the right play. It is the play that sets up the play.
Effectively Deni is playing soccer out there, at both ends, playing the spaces and angles between teammates and opponents to set up the right play. He's playing as a midfielder. We are arguing if he should play more like a central midfielder or an attacking forward, and missing the fact that as a defensive midfielder he is remarkably skilled.
In this respect it doesn't matter if he can dribble left, or finish in the paint. He can make it easier for the guy who can. He turns defense into offense. That is a key role that usually only veteran players understand. Which Deni is. He has 2 years under his belt in the NBA but has been playing as a pro since he was 16. It is the exact opposite of what Rui is doing, which only helps your team look good while losing.
Deni's game is not being stunted here. He benefits by playing with the starters, against the best opponents, and having success doing so. As that chemistry develops he will surely develop confidence and hit shots at this level as well. It is 4 freaking games and he just got off injury. Missed the coaches inputting the system, and is still managing to shine. Israel needs to relax. He is progressing well. Understood if you see the starring role he had with the NT or in the Israeli league and think he should be able to star instantly here as well. This is his first year starting. Give him a minute. If he is as good as you hope he will become, he will assert himself and take that role. In this league he is starting with a role as a defensive midfielder, if he can work his way up to central midfielder, excellent, he just hasn't yet seized that role.
Dolevi wrote:Do you think Deni will earn more respect from Beal, KP, Kuz and Rui if he won't pass them and go directly to the basket?
If he scores, then yes. If you don't understand that, then you don't understand the mentality of the NBA and American basketball in general. I think Deni does, he just doesn't have his feet under him yet. When he stepped on a pro court in Israel he was said to be cocky as hell and went right at the older players. Nobody had to baby him and create a special role for him. He earned his minutes from play. Here he doesn't yet have the same confidence, he doesn't have the talent mismatch that he does overseas. As he matures in the league I get the sense that he develop it. It's not like they are going to take him off the floor, he is going to earn minutes.
I'm all for Deni playing those additional minutes, in an expanded role. I'd just counsel patience for all of Israel. If he stays healthy, those minutes will show up. If he grows as he has been doing, his role will grow as well. Its fans like this who are adding pressure on him. He doesn't have to become a superhero to be a good player.
Beal missed half the season. 