{"id":75021,"date":"2022-12-20T10:31:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/?p=75021"},"modified":"2024-11-03T09:31:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T09:31:10","slug":"despite-the-wizards-woeful-10-game-losing-streak-there-are-glimmers-of-hope-in-deni-avdijas-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/despite-the-wizards-woeful-10-game-losing-streak-there-are-glimmers-of-hope-in-deni-avdijas-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite the Wizards’ woeful 10-game losing streak, there are glimmers of hope in Deni Avdija’s game"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Washington Wizards are on a frightening 10-game losing streak with seemingly no end in sight amidst a brutal 6-game West Coast road trip. Deni Avdija is averaging 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 29.2 minutes per game over the skid that included an unlucky bounce on a near steal against LeBron James and the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Prior to the Lakers game, Avdija was averaging 4.5 assists per game over a six-game sample size, which head coach Wes Unseld Jr. contributed to his playmaking decision-making outside of set plays.<\/p>\n

“Measuring that risk-reward, at times, it\u2019s not going to be scripted so can you put the ball in your hands and trust this is not a play, now you\u2019re just playing the game. Can you facilitate and make the right reads,” Unseld detailed.
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>
\nWith opposing defenses daring Avdija to shoot with a borderline disrespectful amount of space on the perimeter, Unseld was pleased before the Clippers game with how the third-year forward has adjusted.<\/p>\n

“I think he\u2019s shot the three with a little bit more confidence so that helps. Teams have cross-matched, more so for KP [Kristaps Porzingis], put their 5s on him. Doing different things within the offense to keep their 5s in coverage so he becomes our offensive 5 so to speak. That\u2019s helped him as well and allows him to kind of pop into space, drive and kick, play pick and roll, puts more pressure on those type of cross matches,” Unseld explained.<\/p>\n

“I thought he bounced back well, he was very aggressive, more downhill, made some plays in pick and rolls. Thought he defended relatively well, was able to do so without fouling. He played with a different level of confidence which was good to see,” Unseld said back on December 7 after a loss at Chicago.<\/p>\n

Granted it is a small sample size of 4-for-9 shooting from 3 over the last 3 games, but Avdija predicted the subtle bounce back in his jump shooting before Wednesday’s game.<\/p>\n

“Shooting with confidence, making my percentage up. I started the season a little slow, but I believe in myself, I believe in my shot and I feel like it is coming together for me,” Avdija foreshadowed.
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Deni Avdija – Photo Credit: Washington Wizards<\/p><\/div>
\nWhether it is fair or not, Avdija is going to be overly scrutinized on the defensive end for minimal contact and contrastingly not given the benefit of the doubt when he feels like he is fouled on the offensive end. That was the case on Wednesday night in Denver when he felt he was fouled by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter and Unseld had to rightfully tell Avdija to calm down as the most important play is always the next one.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s frustrated, we\u2019re going through a rough patch. Sometimes the fouls, whether they\u2019re fouls or not fouls, he feels like the calls are not going his way. You can\u2019t control it. I understand his frustration, but you can\u2019t linger in that moment. Ok, get your frustration out and you got to think next play,” Unseld expressed.<\/p>\n

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Deni Avdija \ud83e\udd1d Nikola Jokic pic.twitter.com\/hKVT5FaEFh<\/a><\/p>\n

— Neil Dalal (@NeilDalal96) December 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n