In English, we speak of a “backhanded compliment”, or a compliment which can also be taken the wrong way. Doc Rivers is the great NBA specialist in these two-way compliments, and he has just demonstrated it again with regard to Trae Youngwhile the Bucks and the Hawks meet this evening in the semi-finals of the NBA Cup.
“He gained the trust of his teammates” assures the Milwaukee coach. “This team loves playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn't have said that in the past, but I do now. »
Doc Rivers therefore praises the current cohesion of the Hawks, while also highlighting the previous lack of cohesion around the All-Star. What annoys the person concerned…
Its defensive limits better hidden?
“This talk that I'm not capable of doing certain things or that I'm too upset or frustrated with certain things is simply not true.”replied Trae Young. “With our young team, and some of the different things we're doing this year, we're just starting to see it because the results are coming in and we're winning now. We are in the last four of the Cup and that is important. »
For Trae Young, it's only victories that change the perspective of outside observers. “I’ve always been like that. But when you win, everything is settled. This is what is happening now. »
But in another double-sided compliment, Doc Rivers also assures that Trae Young has also “really studied the game on both ends of the pitch”and that he now hides his defensive limits much better, by communicating and “switching” better in order to avoid being targeted by opposing attackers.
“When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution.”however, confirms Quin Snyder, the Hawks coach, on this point. “Every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He played a big role in the growth of our kids and was able to help them rise… We know what a talented player offensively is, but I think his mentality, to succeed as a team , and not just Trae, is that we all have to do our part defensively. And that’s what he does.”
| Trae Young | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | To | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 41.8 | 32.4 | 82.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 60 | 35 | 43.7 | 36.1 | 86.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 29.6 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 63 | 34 | 43.8 | 34.3 | 88.6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 76 | 35 | 46.0 | 38.2 | 90.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 73 | 35 | 42.9 | 33.5 | 88.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 26.2 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 54 | 36 | 43.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 10.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 25.7 |
| 2024-25 | ATL | 25 | 36 | 38.4 | 30.8 | 89.4 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 12.2 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 21.0 |
| Total | 432 | 34 | 43.4 | 35.2 | 87.4 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 25.2 | |
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.
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