NBA – In Atlanta, the Nuggets rookie signed his best offensive performance of the year, while being very active on the other side of the field.
When he started his festival, the Nuggets were in bad shape on the Hawks floor. Trailing by 10 points at the end of the first quarter, the reigning champions decided to rely on their rookie, Julian Strawther.
A first 3-point basket in “catch-and-shoot” off the screen, then a second in transition, before catching fire in the second quarter: 13 points, with three new award-winning baskets, and two finishes near the circle. That’s a streak of seven consecutive converted shots!
A rookie like no other
« He has moves, basketball IQ… Sometimes he doesn’t look like a rookie. He looks like a guy who I would say… has already played seriously », Formulated Nikola Jokic, whose rookie allowed Denver to turn with a short header on the Hawks floor. And to compensate for the bad evening with shots from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and especially Michael Porter Jr. (2/17 between them…).
The 29th choice of the last Draft will add a final winning basket in the second half, to complete a 22-point outing (8/16 on shots including 6/11 from distance), the best offensive outing of his young career.
After the meeting, the 21-year-old said he enjoyed watching Mike Malone draw systems for him: “ It speaks to the trust we have in each other, not just among the players, but also between the coaches and the players. »
After showing great offensive promise in preseason, the rookie has not yet stood out much, apart from a 21-point outing in a large victory against the Pelicans. He is very present in Mike Malone’s rotation, but his fluctuating skill (39% including 35% at 3-points) has not allowed him to average much more than 5 points so far.
The defender of the match
This night, in addition to shining in attack, he showed himself in defense. “ Everyone will see that he finished with 22 points and 6/11 at 3-points but his activity, the fact that he did not let himself be pushed down, by being well placed, that he provokes lost balls for allowing us to run, it’s very encouraging
», Judges his coach Mike Malone, according to whom his Nuggets, and their bench, have “ need Julian ».
The latter in fact deflected a number of balls when the Hawks were looking to find a player in the post. Symbolically decorated with the chain of “best defender of the match”, he finished with five stolen balls, as many as… the cumulative number of interceptions over his entire season.
When asked what marks him the most, between the points scored and the interceptions, the person concerned retorts, without hesitation: “ Clearly the interceptions! It’s huge for me to be focused on this side of the field. I think my attacking game comes by itself, so yeah, five interceptions is huge. The match defender channel is great for me. I should wear it! »
He adds, after putting on the chain: “ Coach Malone is very defensive-minded, so he’s always behind me, my veterans are great at pointing me in the right direction. Being able to benefit from the teaching of these guys puts me in the right conditions, which allows me to have an evening like this. »
Julian Strawther Percentage Rebounds Season Team MJ Min Shots 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts 2023-24 DEN 20 12 37.4 31.1 70.0 0.1 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.3 4.7 Total 20 12 37.4 31.1 70.0 0.1 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.2 0.3 4.7
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
2023-12-12 15:19:01
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