August 2020 On the table of Matan Simantov, Danny Abdia’s agent, lands a telegram from the NBA: “The draft was canceled due to the epidemic. We are placing Rockies for teams. Abdia is scheduled to start in a five in each game, playing 24 minutes on average, with season opening numbers of “6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game, and 45 percent of the three (the statistics do not include the last game against the hit). If you are interested – sign us here.” Signed? Happily signed.
And back to the present. Despite the hysterical measure of anxiety issued by most of the broadcasters, commentators and basketball fans referring to “the child of us all” – Danny Tov’s condition. It may not be great, but it must not be repeated. He is a rookie developed in the top five, gets a lot of minutes, shows maturity and a deep understanding of the game, is loved by the players and appreciated by the club.
The last three games have seen a drop in numbers (the column was written before the game against the Miami Heat), but this is typical of a training year that is always fickle, certainly in a corona season full of changes and unexpected situations. And the main thing is that most of the ingredients for Abdia’s success are not in his hands.
Poor attack and intrusive defense
First, the NBA draft is a kind of catch.22 The better you are, the more money you get, but your fate is determined by others. This is one of the mechanisms that keeps the league competitive, and you need a lot of luck there. See Zion Williamson, struggling for his prestige and future in the Louisiana swamps. I guess he could have, Abdia and his team would not have voted for Washington. Of course after the selection you search and find the points of light. A positive attitude is the basis.
Second, the Wizards are built on two wizards, superstars who need a ball in their hands all the time and leave only remnants of opportunities to others. And because of the solo play of Bradley Bill and Russell Westbrook, which has recently become really hard to watch, the other players are also in a hurry to throw with the ball in their hands. Thus Washington is the team with the highest number of passers-by (PACE) in the league, but this is a poor attack backed by a penetrating defense, and below is the weak balance (, 7: 2 as of yesterday).
Nor does Abdia’s position improve his chances of seeing many balls at the moment. In a team with two dominant guards the game does not start with the forwards, and the exercises – if any – are not built for them (a minority for Roy Hachimura in color). In 14-second basketball there is perhaps time for three dedications until an aggressive move to the basket, and Danny is also not called upon to block pick and roll because most of the time it will not produce a Miss Match, so he stays in the corner waiting for a ball that might go to a three.
Keep the game aliveAs
But above all, it’s a matter of a coach. In the movie “Manibul”, coach Art Howie claims to general manager Billy Bean, who cannot coach the team under a one-year contract: “It does not show much confidence.” Scott Brooks entered the final season of his five-year contract, with a cloud over his future. A smart basketball man, who brought Oklahoma City with Durant, Westbrook and Harden to the 2012 Finals Series (how did they not take a championship? LeBron).
But these are other times, and the players are the dominant force in the league, and there is a feeling that at the moment at least, in his last season on the contract, Brooks is weaker than his two stars, and fails to force team basketball on their egos.
So what does depend on loss? First of all be on the field. A team needs one player in a quintet to complement the others, to have one last option on offense, to save for others. Danny does it excellently, and while studying the league, the type of game in it, the players.
At the same time, improve the weaknesses, which are shooting in motion and out of dribbling. After a rebound, instead of handing over, leading the offense and also finishing with an assist. And move a lot without a ball, color cuts, offensive rebounds, produce for himself more scoring opportunities. But there is nothing to stress about, and nothing to go wild and get out of the way. Need to keep basketball smart and tidy, not get dragged into a rush. When it works out, it will bloom. And until then, quiet, learn.