NBA – Also used to direct the play of the Spurs, Malaki Branham was recently “sanctioned” by Gregg Popovich.
The days of Big Branham Are they counted in the Spurs major five? A week ago, against the Jazz, Gregg Popovich replaced him with Tre Jones two minutes after the start of the second half. We didn’t see the Spurs leader/back again until the last two minutes of a match already played in favor of Utah.
While he remained in eight games in a row with 10 points or more, the 20th choice of the 2022 Draft finished the meeting, for the second time in December, without scoring a point (0/3 on shots, 4 rebounds and 4 assists ). At the end of the match, his coach made enigmatic comments on the need to demand consistency from certain players, otherwise changes in the five could take place…
Aimed or not, Malaki Branham has since reacted by continuing in the following match with a much better outing at 13 points (4/10), 5 rebounds and 4 assists. “ It’s a whole new world for him and he’s absorbing it every game, trying to understand his role, the most difficult role on the field, in a way », Judge Gregg Popovich, referring to the need to make the right choices, to be aggressive.
« He faces it all and does well », Finds despite everything the one we saw attacking the player in the middle of a match earlier in the season.
His assistant Mitch Johnson assures him that the Spurs are waiting for a “ maturity in constancy » from Malaki Branham and other young people on the team.
The Spurs in full experimentation
« He’s being asked to make big decisions while still being able to play, score and do some of the things he does so well naturally. We therefore expect him to show consistency, by setting objectives, which he does. This won’t happen every night, it’s nice when he doesn’t and bounces back to do it the next night
», Expands the assistant.
More aggressive towards the circle during the double trip to Portland, the 20-year-old is also expected in defense. “ They want me to be involved in defense. I feel like I made progress throughout last season, so it’s a work in progress. That’s what Pop wants me to do, focus on defense, what I can do on and off the ball », he testifies.
We will understand with these different declarations and experiments that the question of position 1 at Spurs, first occupied by Jeremy Sochan, is still not resolved.
Not enough to worry Victor Wembanyama: “ It’s no problem to try lots of different things. These guys took advantage of opportunities every time they got one. They are not there by chance. The staff believes in them and we believe in them. We trust them. »
Malaki Branham Percentage Rebounds Season Team MJ Min Shots 3pts LF Off Def Tot Pd Fte Int Bp Ct Pts 2022-23 SAN 66 24 44.0 30.2 82.9 0.4 2.3 2.7 1.9 1.7 0.5 1.2 0.1 10.2 2023-24 SAN 32 23 44.1 31.8 90.5 0.3 1.8 2.2 2.5 1.4 0.4 1.3 0.1 9.2 Total 98 23 44.1 30.7 84.6 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.1 1.6 0.5 1.2 0.1 9.9
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.
2024-01-02 18:04:29
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