See something
In the absence of Doncic and Irving, the Lone Ranger has had its gains and losses, lost records, and gained the growth of marginal players. In the three games that Hardy entered the starting lineup, he averaged 24 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, as if he was a former five-star high school student?
Also because of the name of a five-star high school student, many fans at the beginning of the season had fantasies about Hardy replacing the departing Brunson, after all, Hardy's offensive talent in the Development League is attractive enough, and this talent is at a superior level even in the NBA.
In these three starting games, Hardy continued to show the offensive talent for which he was famous, and he showed that he has the ability to complete shots in complex defensive environments, which is a necessary skill to become a good ball scorer; At the same time, his breakthrough ability has also been shown in these three games, especially against the quasi-best defensive player DPOY, which is very impressive.
Hardy does have his unique talent for combining people and balls on the march and finishing at the basket.
(Hit by JJJ during the march)
(Breakthrough march to meet JJJ's block layup)
At the same time, Hardy has shown more in these three games - in addition to the star temperament in the state of the ball, and the scoring without the ball integrated into the tactical system.
When I see that Hardy can do things like open cuts or catch shots around cover without the ball, you probably have more confidence in Hardy's future stay with the Lone Ranger, because this kind of thing that can contribute to scoring without possession is what the Lone Ranger wants to see Hardy do.
I remember a quote in the commentary on the game on duty was in place: "When Irving Doncic returns, Hardy needs to be a person who pulls away space, not a ball carrier." ”
After all, there are Doncic and Irving, and the Lone Ranger needs a reason to put him on the court, and being able to contribute without the ball is the best reason to convince Kidd.
(Catches around cover and hits a C&S three-pointer)
(This bottom-corner three-point is what Hardy needs to hit, and he will have more of this opportunity if he plays with Doncic Irving.)
The biggest problem with Hardy's rookie season is the lack of playing time, especially in a team like the Lone Ranger that has both a big core of ball and little tolerance for rookies, what Hardy is good at is not enough to make the coach look up to him - Cam Thomas's situation is a warning to Hardy that if you only score with the ball, even a 40+ super scorer in a row is not guaranteed to find a place in the playoffs.
Because you're often competing with a higher-grade offensive core, Hardy and Thomas have to give the coach a good reason — why don't I use Doncic for you?
Hardy has to fish in a nobody's pond where the Lone Ranger has to fish, not a fish pond that Doncic has contracted, so he has to learn how to consistently output without the ball. And when you see that Hardy can not only catch and shoot around the cover, but also find teammates to play passes and cuts according to the tactical board one by one, you know that he also understands this truth.
(This kind of off-ball pass is Hardy's highlight and what the Lone Ranger wants to see)
(Reminiscent of Irving, who began his transformation during the Celtic period?) ）
(The Lone Ranger definitely wants to see Hardy like this)
Hardy's scouting reports have two weaknesses: one is that he is prone to blind hitting the ball, and the other is that he is prone to rashness. In short, offense doesn't share the ball, and defense isn't reliable.
Hardy on the offensive end is getting better after accepting the reality of outsiders, but what about the defensive end?
In my opinion, after watching and learning for most of the season, and the influence of the Lone Ranger's already bad defensive system, Hardy has also touched some defensive doorways. It's not a defensive master, but at least it's not a disgusting defensive hole.
The situation of leaking people, it seems that you can't see much in Hardy? At least these 3 starting games are acceptable. At the same time, you can see that he does not suffer in individual defense, and as long as the physical, Hardy stays focused, then he does not fall behind against defenders in the same position, and occasionally changes players who are taller than him.
(Hardy changes defense Ardama)
Judging from his integration into the Lone Ranger's defensive rotation system, you can even expect him to appear in the Lone Ranger's lineup system as a swingman with No. 2-3 positions, in addition to playing a role on the offensive end, but also playing a role on the defensive end, enriching the Lone Ranger's small-ball lineup.
(Protect the weak side like a front)
(Defensive rotation + creating offensive fouls)
In other words, Hardy is eliminating weaknesses in his scouting report, and if he can continue to implement this, then stable playing time and tactical position will not be too far away from him, right?
Kidd said: "I think now that Hardy is ready to play in the NBA, he can contribute a lot of good content to the game. Scoring, shooting, assisting teammates..."
And this sentence has to add a precondition - that is, Hardy can now do a good job of off-ball and defensive like other green leaves.
(As a puzzle integrated into the Lone Ranger's running ball system)
What else didn't you see?
Hardy's restraint in his original style of play, and the transformational changes in it, are behind the compromises made in order to survive in the league. Let's put ourselves in perspective, who wouldn't want to play like a star? Who wants to leave their comfort zone? This is especially true of Hadi, who has always been a core tactical treatment.
And the process of transformational learning is always accompanied by pain, and it can even be said that to some extent, Hardy has to hide the basic plate of becoming a five-star high school student for this, and use the shortcomings that he is not good at to compete with his colleagues, which is not easy.
Of course, the Lone Ranger has the need to play small and three-back, but how far Hardy can do is also a difficult question to answer. Besides, doesn't this team still have Josh Green?
At this stage, the Lone Rangers will want one more "Josh Green", so they will polish Hardy in this direction, but again, Hardy's rarer talent as a star cannot be abandoned.
As Hardy plays more time, you can fully see the possibility of him filling the gap in Brunson on the field, he has a unique sense of defensive movement as a ball carrier on the field, and can often compress the defense to find teammates in open space; Also able to use their propulsion ability to form scores...
(Talent for blocking, compressing, defensive, and then shooting)
(This kind of compression defense and then the ball is not available to everyone)
(Single-handedly disrupting the defense and giving assists, very pleasing)
(One person broke the Grizzlies' defense and caused a foul)
(Single defense + ball holding advance + compression defensive points, this round shows Hardy's tempting possibilities)
To put it simply, you can expect him to be the centerpiece, putting the ball to good use in the vacuum of Doncic and Irving's absence.
Hardy's ideal growth path for the Lone Ranger may be to first become "Josh Green" to get playing time, and then become another "Brunson" on top of that, or even Harden, the sixth man who once stood behind the Thunder.
Finally, use this as a stepping stone, stay in the Lone Ranger and Doncic to form a dual core, go to other teams to play another wide world, anyway, to cash in on their star talent.
(Three-point shot around double cover, this ball looks like Irving, right?) ）
(Facing Sims, who is top in height + bounce, completes small fights, and the lone ranger's offensive arsenal has a new choice)
However, this matter can not be answered by Hardy in just 3 starts. More competition samples are needed to verify authenticity. For example, after Hardy slashed 16 points in a single quarter, followed by 0 points in a single quarter, this stability has already asked Hardy a profound question - "Are you better suited to play the sixth man?" Or is it more suitable as a core cultivation? ”
It will take time for these questions to be answered, and of course, it will take the Lone Ranger to find a suitable growth path for him.