Steve Clifford doesn’t know which foot to dance on with the centimeters he has. He believes his Hornets are having more trouble this season against the smaller five. “ When we have to do without Mark (Williams) or Nick (Richards), our defense clearly has no chance. We can’t take rebounds », said the coach after their defeat against the Wizards, two days earlier.
The Hornets coach asked fewer questions this night, against the same opponents, relying as much as possible on Mark Williams. The latter, limited to 18 minutes of play during the first round (due to a problem with fouls), signed the best match of his young career.
The Charlotte pivot chained offensive rebounds then dunks, or tap dances, to participate in the interior demolition of the Wizards: 67 rebounds captured for the Hornets, including 28 offensive, compared to 36 for the men of the capital, and +20 in points marked inside (74-54).
And so, at the heart of this huge gap which led Charlotte to shoot 22 more shots, the performance of the pivot: 21 points (10/21) and 24 rebounds, including… 15 offensive! The 21-year-old thus captured a franchise record.
Close to a double-double for the season
“ This must become our identity. If you want to play big, it has to be an aspect of the game that you master and it has to be constant. I hope tonight is a step in the right direction “, shyly congratulates Steve Clifford after the match.
He adds that his glutton of the evening, and his replacement Nick Richards (15 points and 7 rebounds), are “ traditional pivots and we ask them to do things on defense that they are not used to doing. The sooner we put them at ease, the better off we will be. Because it’s not just for this match. This is for Boston where they play with a traditional pivot. »
The Hornets technician here refers to the defensive placement of his interiors according to the phases of play to be covered, in particular on pick-and-rolls. “ It is complicated. If you watch them when the ball is moving, they will naturally protect the rim, that’s an instinct I see. It’s not easy for them », he judges.
What is more important about Mark Williams, however, is his ease in finishing under the circle. His big performance of the evening didn’t come out of nowhere. Earlier in the month, he scored 27 points (9/12 on shots) against the Pacers, before following up with 19 points (8/8) and 10 rebounds against the Mavs.
The most skillful player in the league (72%!), the “sophomore”, drafted in 15th position in the 2022 Draft, is approaching the double-double average over the season (15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds).
| Mark Williams | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 43 | 19 | 63.7 | 0.0 | 69.1 | 2.2 | 4.9 | 7.1 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 9.0 |
| 2023-24 | CHA | 7 | 25 | 83.0 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 2.6 | 5.3 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 14.6 |
| Total | 50 | 20 | 66.8 | 0.0 | 70.5 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 9.8 | |
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.
