Deni Avdija

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

I think the biggest thing that caught my eye last night there were several moments in the 4th quarter down the stretch where both Kuzma and Beal deferred to Deni to get them set up on offense. Even a couple weeks ago they'd rather just overdribble the ball before thinking about passing it to him.

[Frichuela]

I think the biggest thing that caught my eye last night there were several moments in the 4th quarter down the stretch where both Kuzma and Beal deferred to Deni to get them set up on offense. Even a couple weeks ago they'd rather just overdribble the ball before thinking about passing it to him.

Let's hope this is the beginning of a trend. Deni is not the over confident type and therefore any endorsement from the "big 3" helps...

[Dolevi]

Almost a triple double tonight. 12 points (could have been more, decided to pass the ball too often when he could have just scored), 9 boards including some important on offense, 2 blocks on Lowry and Herro if I remember right, 1 steal and most importantly - 10 Assists. First double-double with Assists in his career? Could have ended even with more than that I think. Sad he couldn't be a little bit more aggressive on offense at the end, and maybe lead the team to a win in this game, together with Kuz.

[Frichuela]

Almost a triple double tonight. 12 points (could have been more, decided to pass the ball too often when he could have just scored), 9 boards including some important on offense, 2 blocks on Lowry and Herro if I remember right, 1 steal and most importantly - 10 Assists. First double-double with Assists in his career? Could have ended even with more than that I think. Sad he couldn't be a little bit more aggressive on offense at the end, and maybe lead the team to a win in this game, together with Kuz.

This. Someone has to tell Deni to be more aggressive and look for his shot. I believe he has all the tools, just needs more confidence.

[WallToWall]

We are watching this kid come into his own. It may not be in the way we want, by say, scoring 30 points, but rather, he is putting up more well rounded games. Some D, some O, some rebounding, some ball distribution. Pretty much, in many facets of the game, he is making an impact. If he were to improve another 10% on all his numbers through the course of the season, we will have a very good player here.

[AFM]

YESSIR!!!! I'm coming out of the closet as a huge Deni fan. Don't tell my homecountry but I love this Israeli fella. HE BALLIN!!!!

[Wizraeli]

We are watching this kid come into his own. It may not be in the way we want, by say, scoring 30 points, but rather, he is putting up more well rounded games. Some D, some O, some rebounding, some ball distribution. Pretty much, in many facets of the game, he is making an impact. If he were to improve another 10% on all his numbers through the course of the season, we will have a very good player here.

The thing is that he didn't enter the draft with a reputation of a player that scores 30 points a game, so I don't know why people expect that including in Israel, he was drafted under the ticket of being an all arounder that can contribute in many aspects of the game and play in almost all of the positions on the court, but for that to happen he needs to be a part of the offense and not a 3&D that just stands in the corner and waits for leftovers like the Wizards tried to play with him in the last 2 years.

In the last few games the Wizards are giving him more playmaking responsibilities and we see the results and that's what I kept telling people here that needs to happen.

[Pistol King]

He indeed had a very nice all around numbers, but it really frustrated me to see how many times he looked to pass by default instead of showing himself as an offensive threat. I could count 5-6 times when he was in a better position to take a shot but instead decided to pass it. An aggressive Deni who keeps polishing his game can be an All Star one day. But this passive hesitant approach offensively wouldn't take him far.

On a positive note, his dribble seems improving lately. It looks more and more natural. I'd still want him to reduce his tendency to pick up his dribble and rather to looking to pass it while he's still dribbling. Then, also the shift in mindset is needed. I think he has this dawg in him, but it's time to show it.

[Kanyewest]

Deni did play more aggressive in the first half where he had 10 points. But the downside he did have 2 points the rest of the game. I think he can learn to be a bit more aggressive, overall this was an encouraging performance especially considering the rebounds and assists.

[NatP4]

Last 5 games per36: 14.4 points 7.7 rebounds 5.1 assists 57.6% TS.

I think we would all take that production in combination with his great defense.

[tontoz]

He indeed had a very nice all around numbers, but it really frustrated me to see how many times he looked to pass by default instead of showing himself as an offensive threat. I could count 5-6 times when he was in a better position to take a shot but instead decided to pass it. An aggressive Deni who keeps polishing his game can be an All Star one day. But this passive hesitant approach offensively wouldn't take him far.

On a positive note, his dribble seems improving lately. It looks more and more natural. I'd still want him to reduce his tendency to pick up his dribble and rather to looking to pass it while he's still dribbling. Then, also the shift in mindset is needed. I think he has this dawg in him, but it's time to show it.

Yeah with Beal, Rui and Morris out he should have taken more than 10 shots.

[closg00]

He indeed had a very nice all around numbers, but it really frustrated me to see how many times he looked to pass by default instead of showing himself as an offensive threat. I could count 5-6 times when he was in a better position to take a shot but instead decided to pass it. An aggressive Deni who keeps polishing his game can be an All Star one day. But this passive hesitant approach offensively wouldn't take him far.

On a positive note, his dribble seems improving lately. It looks more and more natural. I'd still want him to reduce his tendency to pick up his dribble and rather to looking to pass it while he's still dribbling. Then, also the shift in mindset is needed. I think he has this dawg in him, but it's time to show it.

I keep hoping that the coaching staff is working to break him of this habit, but it's probably a mental/instinctual thing with him that I fear he will always have.

[nate33]

He indeed had a very nice all around numbers, but it really frustrated me to see how many times he looked to pass by default instead of showing himself as an offensive threat. I could count 5-6 times when he was in a better position to take a shot but instead decided to pass it. An aggressive Deni who keeps polishing his game can be an All Star one day. But this passive hesitant approach offensively wouldn't take him far.

On a positive note, his dribble seems improving lately. It looks more and more natural. I'd still want him to reduce his tendency to pick up his dribble and rather to looking to pass it while he's still dribbling. Then, also the shift in mindset is needed. I think he has this dawg in him, but it's time to show it.

Yeah with Beal, Rui and Morris out he should have taken more than 10 shots.

I disagree.

Deni is trying to play to his strengths. RIght now, his strength isn't shooting. He should only shoot when wide open, when he has a lane to the basket, or if the shot clock is getting ready to expire. I think he did exactly that in the Miami game. I only felt there was one play when he absolutely should have taken the shot - the time he was open near the rim after a drive, but opted to pass it out to Gill in the corner while Gill wasn't particularly open.

He is turning down a few looks from 3-point range in favor of driving and kicking. It's hard to say if those were good choices or not. His 3-ball has maybe a 33% success rate for an eFG% of 50%. Are our outcomes better when he drives and kicks? I'm not sure.

He kinda reminded me of a jumbo-sized Satoransky the way he played against Miami. I'd be pretty happy with a Satoransky tier offensive player who is also a top notch defender capable of guarding 1 through 5.

[dckingsfan]

He indeed had a very nice all around numbers, but it really frustrated me to see how many times he looked to pass by default instead of showing himself as an offensive threat. I could count 5-6 times when he was in a better position to take a shot but instead decided to pass it. An aggressive Deni who keeps polishing his game can be an All Star one day. But this passive hesitant approach offensively wouldn't take him far.

On a positive note, his dribble seems improving lately. It looks more and more natural. I'd still want him to reduce his tendency to pick up his dribble and rather to looking to pass it while he's still dribbling. Then, also the shift in mindset is needed. I think he has this dawg in him, but it's time to show it.

Yeah with Beal, Rui and Morris out he should have taken more than 10 shots.

I disagree.

Deni is trying to play to his strengths. RIght now, his strength isn't shooting. He should only shoot when wide open, when he has a lane to the basket, or if the shot clock is getting ready to expire. I think he did exactly that in the Miami game. I only felt there was one play when he absolutely should have taken the shot - the time he was open near the rim after a drive, but opted to pass it out to Gill in the corner while Gill wasn't particularly open.

He is turning down a few looks from 3-point range in favor of driving and kicking. It's hard to say if those were good choices or not. His 3-ball has maybe a 33% success rate for an eFG% of 50%. Are our outcomes better when he drives and kicks? I'm not sure.

He kinda reminded me of a jumbo-sized Satoransky the way he played against Miami. I'd be pretty happy with a Satoransky tier offensive player who is also a top notch defender capable of guarding 1 through 5.

To add... Sato was 26 when he became that player and Deni's usage is already higher than Sato's at his peak in DC.

[tontoz]

Deni has really been struggling from 3

[Dat2U]

The Ared Effries vibes are uber strong. He was the only young guy I had hope for as a legit two-way player and it feels like he's slowly become a specialist Instead.

[badinage]

They’re “specializing” him.

Let him have the ball. At least some of the time. Let him be in the offense. Let him get more than — at best — eight shots. Even if he misses. He’s got to not be made to think that his play is dependent upon his never or rarely making mistakes.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

They’re “specializing” him.

Let him have the ball. At least some of the time. Let him be in the offense. Let him get more than — at best — eight shots. Even if he misses. He’s got to not be made to think that his play is dependent upon his never or rarely making mistakes.

Thank you. It's as simple as this, but too many big veteran egos for WUJ to control to play to a young dudes strength or even deal with the pain of going through some growing pains.

[nate33]

The Ared Effries vibes are uber strong. He was the only young guy I had hope for as a legit two-way player and it feels like he's slowly become a specialist Instead.

He is a much better defender than Effries though. Effries was our designated defender because he couldn't do anything else, not because he was actually a good defender. I'd say Deni is a better passer too.

All that said, you are right that his lack of a shot is massive liability. It's the difference between Deni panning out to being an above-average starter on a good team, versus a 8th man caliber role player.

I'd like to see some more of Deni at PG. It's easier to hide his lack of shooting if he is the one with the ball. It worked pretty well against Charlotte when Morris was out. His individual numbers were good in the two Miami games with Morris out, but we lost those games. (It's really hard to gauge when playing that gimmick Miami zone defense.) Basically, I want him to be Satoransky but with superior switching ability on D. That would be a good starting point, and then hopefully he will progress as a shooter over time.

[Pistol King]

I'd like to see some more of Deni at PG. It's easier to hide his lack of shooting if he is the one with the ball. It worked pretty well against Charlotte when Morris was out. His individual numbers were good in the two Miami games with Morris out, but we lost those games. (It's really hard to gauge when playing that gimmick Miami zone defense.) Basically, I want him to be Satoransky but with superior switching ability on D. That would be a good starting point, and then hopefully he will progress as a shooter over time.

I think you pretty much nailed it here.

On a side note, to be frank, more then the shooting, I'm disappointed in him he didn't made that mental switch to be more aggressive chasing numbers. Now don't get me wrong Nate when I'm saying chasing numbers, not saying by any means he should put his own interest above the team's, but I really think he needs to find this inner motivation to be aggressive offensively on a nightly basis, which will benefit the team and also help him also finding confidence in his shooting, and his defensive-only assignments seem aren't doing enough to motivate him in that area, so at some point on his third season I thought that's the time for him to start and setting some personal goals that would make him a much better player, which will resulting in a much better help for the team. Like, chase after every rebound you can get, set a goal on every game to show one new offensive move you didn't show before, or set a goal to have a stretch of games with insanely high amount of boards and assists, especially if you see the team has enough scoring and you don't 'feel it' offensively in that specific game.

Basically I want him to be much hunger to be an exciting player and not just a meh one, which I'm sure he's capable of. I believe in his potential, and I think that Heat game when he was 1 rebound shy of a triple double reflects his current capability (with room to grow) more than his current meh numbers suggests, but I really want to start seeing him start looking more for exciting numbers that would be his motivation to also upgrade the team to the next level. There is untapped potential there. I really want somebody from his circle to wake him up, shake him off his frustrating passivity, and set him 'numbers' goals and not just defensive ones. And your idea of letting him be that Sato combined with his defense, can be that good starting point of firing that aggressiveness up in him, while also increasing the ceiling of the team having a 6'10 PG with defense and room to grow offensively.