Forget hitting a beginner’s wall or tripping over exhausted and slammed playoffs.
The breakdown of the NBA due to the coronavirus pandemic gave beginners a low season in one season. They had the chance to heal, study movies and gain a few pounds needed to better manage the grueling season in a league full of seasoned veterans.
Some beginners will resume playing a little smarter and stronger, giving them a chance to finish their debut seasons in style.
“I really took some time to … focus on my body, do the right things to keep improving,” said Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, the probable NBA debutant of the year. “I have studied a lot of films. A bit like if I had a low season but I was still preparing to come back and play. “
Getting better during a pandemic had its challenges.
Some beginners filled the garages with weights. Those who lived in apartments or condominiums had to be very creative also to find a basket to raise the shots.
“It has been stimulating for everyone. Nobody has ever passed it, ”said pelican coach Alvin Gentry, whose club has three choices in the first round in this season’s rotation, guided by the overall first choice for the Zion Williamson draw.
“The younger players, I think the thing with them is that they tried to keep fit and tried to stay in a conditioning situation that they felt like when they came back they wouldn’t be behind. … we’ll have to see how it works, but I think those guys put to work during the break. “
Refinement of the 3-point shots was also the focus.
Heat guard Tyler Herro spent a day putting together a portable circle sent to him by teammate Jimmy Butler.
“I definitely put it to use outside to get some shots,” said Herro. “I’m happy to finally be able to return to the gym. Working in the driveway wasn’t necessarily the best time. “
Not all beginners will play while the NBA ends the season. Coby White and his Chicago Bulls skipped the cut to continue playing in Florida. The same goes for RJ Barrett and the Knicks and Eric Paschall of Golden State.
Beginners to watch when the NBA resumes its season:
JA MORANT
Morant worked with the coaches in his Memphis home and put on 12 pounds of muscle. This is what the Grizzlies have been craving since they enlisted him at number 2 ever last June behind Zion Williamson’s best choice.
The point guard also watched a lot of movies, trying to improve after averaging 17.6 points in one game and 6.9 assists in one game.
“He is a big student of the game,” said Grizzlies’ first year coach, Taylor Jenkins. “So I think he spent a lot of time pausing doing those things, and I think we’re already seeing it right now.”
ZION WILLIAMSON
Williamson’s weight was a problem when he arrived at the training camp in September. Less so now. His prolonged rehabilitation from knee surgery has brought special attention to weight loss and flexibility, and it has been evident that he has stuck to his new training regimen in recent months.
Williamson is listed at 6 feet-6,25 pounds. The team declined to specify how much weight he lost, but teammates noticed how thinner he looked when the pelicans got back together a few weeks ago.
“It looks fantastic. It looks healthy. It looks even stronger than before, if possible, ”said the pelican guard Lonzo Ball. “I was happy to see him, happy to see he’s in shape.”
Williamson’s state when pelicans resume play on Thursday is unclear why he left the club on July 16 to deal with a family medical issue and did not return to the Orlando area until Friday, when he was asked to begin. a four-day quarantine. The team claims to be tested daily while it should be able to practice by Tuesday night if all goes well during its quarantine.
“I think there will be parts of my game that you have never seen before that you will all see in the future when we start playing,” said Williamson.
RIU HACHIMURA
The first Japanese-born player enlisted in the first round, Hachimura also spent the break getting bigger. The 6-8 Hachimura added around 10 pounds, compared to 230. He has been working on his 3 point shot and handling the ball and is now looking to improve his defensive skills.
Wizards will also need more Hachimura with Davis Bertans and Bradley Beal giving up on restarting the NBA. This leaves Hachimura as wizard’s top scorer with 13.4 points per game. He also finished second with six rebounds despite playing only 41 games before the break.
Brandon Clarke
It would be easy to overlook the 6-8 forward on a Grizzlies roster led by Morant and second-year forward Jaren Jackson Jr. But the 21st overall pick last June played a key role for Memphis and averaged 12 points and 5.8 bets a game.
For Clarke, working on his 3-pointer was an important key. Jenkins said that he and some of his assistants also spoke to Clarke a few times each week, stopping the film to help the rookie perfect his game.
HEAT’S ROOKIE DUO
Technically a novice, Kendrick Nunn has gone from the unknown to the starting point for the heat guard, and may be ready for seeding games even after losing the first two weeks of testing at Disney. Only Williamson and Morant score more than Nunn among beginners.
Herro has shown the ability to go back to the moments: his pull-up, the green light, the passage to 3 pointers in the last seconds of a victory against Philadelphia earlier this season is among the Miami highlights of the year. He recovered from an ankle injury that cost him 15 games.
He watched the video of shooters like Klay Thompson and Ray Allen, focusing on how they catch the ball and shoot during the break.
“I’m excited to be back out there,” said Herro.
