Deni Avdija

[doclinkin]

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That soccer player footwork. Defending with positioning more than reaching. Giving no space to dribble, hands free.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

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That soccer player footwork. Defending with positioning more than reaching. Giving no space to dribble, hands free.

I was just about to post this, just some incredibly good defensive work last night in a variety of ways.

[nate33]

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[tontoz]

Deni was 4-4 from the foul line last night.

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

Deni was 4-4 from the foul line last night.

5-5 over the last two. His percentages are now up to where he was last year on more attempts so progress.

[closg00]

Deni's #1 defensive tool? Deni never bites on pump-fakes and he seldom jumps to contest a shot

[nate33]

Deni's #1 defensive tool? Deni never bites on pump-fakes and he seldom jumps to contest a shot

I also like that whenever the guy he is defending steps back to create space, Avdija immediately closes in on that space, preventing any type of up-and-under move and getting himself in position to challenge the shot without jumping.

[tontoz]

Deni's #1 defensive tool? Deni never bites on pump-fakes and he seldom jumps to contest a shot

I also like that whenever the guy he is defending steps back to create space, Avdija immediately closes in on that space, preventing any type of up-and-under move and getting himself in position to challenge the shot without jumping.

It is actually kind of strange. Sometimes watching him I am like where did he learn to do all of this on defense? Someone should ask him about this in an interview.

[Pistol King]

He's leading the team with total RAPTOR at +4.6, Second at RAPTOR WAR (1.1), has the highest defensive rating, has the highest net rating (for players who averaging 13+ minutes per game), and he's third on rebounds. Also the eye test confirms to me the team is better with him on the floor.

I wonder if it's really justified for KCP to average a full 10 more minutes per game than him, and for Kuz to average 12 more minutes per game than him. Let's say KCP gets 3 less minutes, and Kuz gets 4 less minutes and those minutes moving to Deni, it puts Kuz at 29mpg, Deni at 28mpg and KCP at 27mpg. With their output so far this year, I'm pretty sure it would have put the team in a better position to succeed. Kuz gets enough minutes to take his shots but also sit down enough to not hurt you too much on the defensive end, KCP gets enough minutes to be in rhythm but also sit enough to have enough rest and not hurt the team on the boards. And Deni gets enough minutes to get into rhythm while providing the team having a 6'9 wing who can help with great defense, playmaking duties and winning basketball for 7 more minutes. I see a win win situation in such a minutes distribution.

[Frichuela]

He's leading the team with total RAPTOR at +4.6, Second at RAPTOR WAR (1.1), has the highest defensive rating, has the highest net rating (for players who averaging 13+ minutes per game), and he's third on rebounds. Also the eye test confirms to me the team is better with him on the floor.

I wonder if it's really justified for KCP to average a full 10 more minutes per game than him, and for Kuz to average 12 more minutes per game than him. Let's say KCP gets 3 less minutes, and Kuz gets 4 less minutes and those minutes moving to Deni, it puts Kuz at 29mpg, Deni at 28mpg and KCP at 27mpg. With their output so far this year, I'm pretty sure it would have put the team in a better position to succeed. Kuz gets enough minutes to take his shots but also sit down enough to not hurt you too much on the defensive end, KCP gets enough minutes to be in rhythm but also sit enough to have enough rest and not hurt the team on the boards. And Deni gets enough minutes to get into rhythm while providing the team having a 6'9 wing who can help with great defense, playmaking duties and winning basketball for 7 more minutes. I see a win win situation in such a minutes distribution.

Agreed! Deni deserves more minutes and the team will benefit.

The issue is what happens when Bertans and Rui return…

[CntOutSmrtCrazy]

He's leading the team with total RAPTOR at +4.6, Second at RAPTOR WAR (1.1), has the highest defensive rating, has the highest net rating (for players who averaging 13+ minutes per game), and he's third on rebounds. Also the eye test confirms to me the team is better with him on the floor.

I wonder if it's really justified for KCP to average a full 10 more minutes per game than him, and for Kuz to average 12 more minutes per game than him. Let's say KCP gets 3 less minutes, and Kuz gets 4 less minutes and those minutes moving to Deni, it puts Kuz at 29mpg, Deni at 28mpg and KCP at 27mpg. With their output so far this year, I'm pretty sure it would have put the team in a better position to succeed. Kuz gets enough minutes to take his shots but also sit down enough to not hurt you too much on the defensive end, KCP gets enough minutes to be in rhythm but also sit enough to have enough rest and not hurt the team on the boards. And Deni gets enough minutes to get into rhythm while providing the team having a 6'9 wing who can help with great defense, playmaking duties and winning basketball for 7 more minutes. I see a win win situation in such a minutes distribution.

Agreed! Deni deserves more minutes and the team will benefit.

The issue is what happens when Bertans and Rui return…

I’d give him some of KCP’s minutes for sure.

[dckingsfan]

Just a thought - but it seems like Wes has done a really good job building Deni's confidence with the minutes a roll that he has been playing.

Would it be terrible if he continued to play those minutes but really grew into the roll?

[Ruzious]

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Wow, that is textbook defense - as perfect fundamentally as you can get - against a future HOFer.

[tontoz]

In November he is shooting 35% from 3. That includes the 1-7 against the Hornets.

[Pistol King]

Just a thought - but it seems like Wes has done a really good job building Deni's confidence with the minutes a roll that he has been playing.

Would it be terrible if he continued to play those minutes but really grew into the roll?

I don't really see how it would help his confidence to automatically be limited to those 21mpg. If he plays bad, understandable, but if a 20 years old gains good momentum( and I think he's outplaying KCP for the last 8-10 games), but still sees the vet gets his 30mpg automatically, it can cost frustration and hurting confidence because he doesn't feel he can be rewarded for an improvement. I'm also personally a guy who would always rather give more minutes to the younger player with the higher ceiling as long as their current impact is similar (or better).

[closg00]

I hope the coaches are working with him to stop him driving to the basket and into defenders instead of shooting when he has an open shot.

[nate33]

Just a thought - but it seems like Wes has done a really good job building Deni's confidence with the minutes a roll that he has been playing.

Would it be terrible if he continued to play those minutes but really grew into the roll?

I don't really see how it would help his confidence to automatically be limited to those 21mpg. If he plays bad, understandable, but if a 20 years old gains good momentum( and I think he's outplaying KCP for the last 8-10 games), but still sees the vet gets his 30mpg automatically, it can cost frustration and hurting confidence because he doesn't feel he can be rewarded for an improvement. I'm also personally a guy who would always rather give more minutes to the younger player with the higher ceiling as long as their current impact is similar (or better).

I disagree.

20 minutes a game is fine for his confidence, as long as those minutes are regular and not intermittent. Wes is giving Avdija one long stint each half, and if he is playing well, Wes is leaving him on the floor in the 4th quarter. That seems totally appropriate to me. Very few players get 30+ minutes after just 70 career games, particularly while playing on a playoff-contending team with a lot of depth.

I think Avdija is being handled just right. He has earned those 20 minutes a game on defense alone, and that's great. If he starts getting more efficient and more consistent on offense, he'll get more.

[Dolevi]

Agreed. Sure you can cut some of Kuz and KCP minutes for Deni, but you can not give him that much gifts. He needs to earn those extra minutes and i like how Wes is doing the rotation and managing his minutes in the game. The problem is, right, what's gonna happen when Hachi and Bertans come back. the small-power forward positions are very dense and you have limited minutes for players. I guess Deni will play at 4, not 3, but still his minutes gonna be a problem unless he suddenly explodes offensively. Otherwise he needs to keep doing tremendous defense in order to stay on the court.

[AFM]

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[nate33]

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