Since acquiring Ben Simmons, the net has been suffering from backup point guard issues. And then there was an unlikely solution to solve it.
In his first two NBA seasons in Portland, Trendon Watford was a backup big name. He wasn't after they abandoned him.
However, in his second season with the net, he emerged as an unexpected one – a 6-foot-9, 240-pound bully ball handler. And they enjoy it as much as he does.
“He'll help you win,” Brooklyn manager Jordi Fernandez said before Watford had 11 points, 7 rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes of a 107-99 defeat to Wizard on Monday. I said to. “And he does that because he can not only score, but also handle and playmaking. He can play four positions, post up and make three. So they are all very valuable in his size and position. He is another guy I am very pleased with. You can see in these 20 games [he’s played]we were really good at court. ”
It's better than you would expect.
On the way to play on Monday, the net was 9-27 this season without Watford, but it went on to an astonishing 12-8 in the aforementioned 20 games.
The most recent example was Saturday's victory in Philadelphia. Watford went into the violation with 16 points and six assists, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter.
Russell went out on Monday with an ankle sprain in Washington, and Watford entered the wizard tilt, averaging 14.4 points and 3.6 assists with 54.9% shooting in five games since Simmons' departure.
He recorded 11 points, 7 rebounds and three assists against the Wizard.
“I've had fun. I've been able to play on-ball and do a lot of different things and make the most of my skill set. I took a break from an injury this year and now I'm back with it. You can now, man, that's fun,” Watford said. “So I'm just happy. We did a lot of work, I did a lot of work, and now it's good to see it pay off.”
His playmaking was tied up and he was a centre that was used a bit.
“We played him many times when he was in Portland. He's not the tallest, but he's five and maybe he can put a little ball on the ground. I don't,” laughed teammate Cam Johnson. “But here he really found a place where he could thrive, and we encourage him to become that man and become his best self.”
Its best self – play with a $2.7 million qualifying offer – involves using that frame to enter paint and posting or distributing small enemies.
“[I noticed his playmaking] early. He was getting the ball and breaking everyone,” Johnson said. “He still loves that post, but now he does it opportunistically. He loves that floater in the lane. I quickly realized that. I said, “They give you this a year ago I didn't let him do it!”
“[His skill set] It's a unique thing. And when you give him a little space and let him use the paint, it does your best. That's really good. Because it adds another dimension to our attacks and makes us think a little about defense. It makes them think about matchups, collapses, and more. So his progress and what he did after he got it with us [are huge]. ”
At 24, Watford, who is set to become an unlimited free agent, has found a valuable role.
“I think I'm one of them,” Watford said.
“I saw a few guys when I was younger. Kyle Anderson, I was watching a lot of Slo Mo. Richard Jefferson said, Boris Dee. I was on the Spurs and the backend. I know Dee and me [didn’t] I really love that comparison, so I have to go and see his films when he was young and see what he's doing. But I'm trying to use my versatility to do everything I can. So I cried to Jordi for letting me show it. ”
