In October last year, I went to see the scene of Venbanyama, who was 18 years and 8 months old at the time.
Conclusions at the time:
All shortcomings can be attributed to thinness and lack of confrontation.
I visually saw on the spot that he probably didn't have as many rebounds as blocks, couldn't grasp steadily, and skated as soon as he was hit - looking afterwards, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks.
The offensive end does not say the important position, once the breakthrough of the face basket is topped, the balance is difficult to master.
The advantages are also clear at a glance:
224 cm, agile and dexterous movement, a defensive threat that really changes the opponent's offensive thinking.
Can block three-pointers, can finish on the line, and immediately interfere with three-point shooting with the bottom corner.
As long as he is there, the opponent's psychological shadow is heavy: any layup, even any shot, is not safe.
The field of view, both offensive and defensive, is excellent. The defensive end makes up for the rotation, the offensive end can find teammates, and you can also jump pass - 224 cm jump pass!
Stepping back three-pointers, arc top 3+1, arc top clearing single pick and turn for a layup - in addition to being too high, there is no need to question the feeling, and any action can be done.
Batum said that he was attacking Poggingis and defending Giannis, which is still a bit too much for the time being.
Whether offensive or defensive, Venbanyama still lacks the ruthlessness of Giannis for the time being, more like the Camby/Davis/Bradley one in college, but it is also enough to cover the sky.
On the offensive end, he is also temporarily a finishing high and face basketr.
When it comes to confrontation, he still has many hurdles to pass.
The main ones are: the size is unconventional, the smooth movement, the spherical feel, the field of view, the reaction, very much in line with this space age - so the possibilities are endless.
If so, probably in October 2022, the strength of Viktor Vembanyama is:
In the French league, the defensive end is enough to change the opponent's offensive trajectory, and the offensive end is not too integrated into the team for the time being, and can only be used as a point shooter, a response axis and an endpoint.
It's so skinny. If you can't pass the confrontation level, you may even be the next Bradley; One collision can lead to a serious injury at the end of your career.
But he has too many possibilities. Batum spared no effort when blowing the Venbanya, "Attack Pokingis, defend Giannis!" "A 225cm person can actually shoot backwards and dribble at his crotch!"
But he said the most important thing about Venbanyama was, "He's 18 years old, but he already has a 25-year-old mentality." ”
Fast forward to March 2023.
Start picking.
Let's eliminate a possibility: Wen Banyama said earlier that he likes Durant, and his 224 cm height and one-hand - by the standard of a long man - good shooting, did make many media think that he would become a large Durant.
——Rationally speaking, the large Durant, unlikely, the connection is difficult.
What makes Durant at its peak is not seven feet tall + basket, but also guard-level movement and coordination, and when the instigator is not necessarily enough, holding the ball to get rid of but dribbling effectively.
Whether in Europe or the NBA, the goal of the offense for the time being is "not to hold back, so that he can stay on the court and exert his defensive influence".
Defense is a magic weapon, and offense is a sending.
Last season in Esville, Venbanyama averaged 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 18 minutes, shooting 47% from the field, 26% from three-point range and 70% from the free throw line.
This season at Mets, he averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks in 32 minutes per game, shooting 47% from the field, 30% from three-point range and 83% from the free throw line.
Defensive influence is a pillar of Optimus not to mention.
But...... Yes, or to say, but.
From November last year to February this year, he played four games for France, averaging 26 minutes, 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks per game, which was good.
But there was only one game in which he shot more than 50 percent from two-point range. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic, they scored mainly by point-and-shoot three-pointers.
In the second game against Lithuania, he had a total of 2 backcourt rebounds in 25 minutes.
In international competitions, when it comes to hand-to-hand fighting inside, he still can't stand firmly.
In the February playoffs, the team lost both games. He had 13 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks but 7 turnovers, and 29 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks but 5 turnovers in one game - against his old club Esville. Real hand-to-hand fighting, he made many mistakes.
In March, he played Eisville, 15 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in 32 minutes, but he shot 2 of 10 from two-point range - although he made 8 free throws - and gave him a foul on the opposite side, and he missed.
Just lost another game the other day, 19 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes.
It depends on what he did.
The Mets are still playing the same routine they did last October: Hanging a pass straight from the back, letting him relay the ball to his teammates outside the three-point line. This kind of long pass in basketball rushes to the header ferry, and only he can play it.
Catch and shoot feint behind the basket break through the dunk, the old routine.
Hold the ball with your back, roll over and step back to hit a jumper.
Backhand low pass assist after blocking inside cut, very spiritual.
The advantages are still very clear: high, can run and jump, have a feeling.
The question is still the old question: are these wonderful shots physically contacted? Not much.
It is said that he is a 224 cm elder, if he can grab the position on the inside, he can eat a high hit rate just by eating bread. But he shot 47 percent from the league and 46 percent from the national team this season. High-pressure confrontation will miss the shot, and there will be mistakes.
— 19-year-old Durant, also thin, 86 kilograms, freshman in Texas, averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds per game, shooting 47% from the field, 40% from three-point range and 82% from the free throw line.
- 19-year-old Luca Doncic averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per game at Real Madrid, and Real Madrid's competitive intensity is not comparable to the French league, which does not prevent Luka from winning the Europa League, Europa League MVP, Europa League Final Four MVP, and Europa League first team.
- In terms of offensive maturity, Venbanyama is far from the 19-year-old Luka and Durant, of course, offensive influence, he can not become Durant and Luka, and in the future can play as Pokingis this season - averaging 62% of the true shooting rate of 23 points per game - can already be satisfied.
Of course, after talking for a long time, it doesn't mean that he hasn't made much progress this season.
As mentioned above: as long as his body is stuffed into the flesh and passes the confrontation level, the presence of the defensive end is terrifying.
Attack, more like sending, to ensure that he does not drag his feet on the field.
Because he needs to wait for his strength, his maturity period will be long.
And his strength on the offensive end...
Venbanyama began training with Coach Geschweiner last year: Dirk Nowitzki's mentor that year.
Coach Gaschwener taught Dirk to first forget about weight, polish all kinds of techniques first, and let Dirk practice fencing, practice dance, be able to do all kinds of difficulty, and then strength.
Now we know how Dirk is old and can still be independent ...
Venbanyama has made 73 percent and 70 percent of his free throw line over the past two years and 83 percent this season.
In six games last December, he made 28 of 31 free throws.
Heading into 2023, four games in January, 16 of 19 free throws.
In two games in February, he made 13 of 15 free throws.
In four games in March, he hit all 16 free throws.
Confrontation is still unreliable.
However, the height of 224 cm in the non-confrontation, the ability to jump in the air relay and the feeling of scoring a steady goal are real.
As well as the matter of free throws, it is very clear: free throws are one of the most important factors to test whether you are willing to work hard and practice. No matter how there is no pitching talent and no matter how late you start, as long as you are willing to practice, you can always practice free throws.
Conversely, if the free throw can be practiced, it shows that it is indeed willing to practice.
For someone like him who has been in his prime for a long time, this is important:
No matter how talented it is, being willing to practice is the first element.