His stats line is certainly not transcendent (7 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes, 2/7 shooting), but Christian Wood still proved decisive in the sluggish victory of the Lakers against the Suns. Not on the offensive side… but on the defensive side!
No doubt motivated by this shock broadcast on national television, “C-Wood” came out of the woods in the fourth quarter, which he played in its entirety. It must be said that given his good defense against Kevin Durant, hampered by the size and scope of his opposite number with an intriguing profile on this side of the floor, Darvin Ham could not afford to bring out Anthony Davis’ counterpart in the Californian racket.
“ I thought he did about as well as anyone », analyzed the coach for the Los Angeles Times. “ When we signed him, he engaged with me and assured me that this was an area of his game he wanted to improve on. With his size, agility and concentration, he is capable of contesting shots with significant frequency. He’s trying to be good on that side of the field. We saw that he was in a good rhythm. He grabbed some huge defensive rebounds and I decided to defer to him and throw him in the deep end. »
“ He told me he was going to throw me into the fire », Confirmed the former player from Detroit, Houston or Dallas. “ We were dominated early on the rebound, so he asked me to go there and secure the rebound. My shots weren’t falling in, but he told me to impact the game differently and I think I did. »
Unlock your defensive potential
In a rather unusual register, of being responsible for the dirty work in defense and who is satisfied with the bare minimum in attack, Christian Wood demonstrated that he could have a role to play in this Lakers team.
Provided, of course, that he demonstrates regularity in desire and determination, which he has often lacked in the past.
“ It was an important mission but I accepted the challenge », Reacted the 28-year-old inside afterward, in possession of a nice +17 over the last twelve minutes. “ My teammates trusted me, LeBron trusted me, AD trusted me. I have the feeling that [AD] modified certain firing trajectories of [Kevin Durant]. I just stuck to being big and showing off my length. »
Certainly author of 39 points (and 11 rebounds), Kevin Durant suffered more in the fourth quarter, taking into account the work of Christian Wood, but also of Anthony Davis and LeBron James, on the lookout to take him away. two (or even three). Especially since the Suns were content to give the ball to the double MVP of the Finals…
In the end, “KD” was limited to 4/11 shooting in the last act (10/17 in the first three), also with 3 lost balls (8 in total).
“ Once he becomes more confident on that end of the floor and that confidence is reinforced by his ability to assert himself, be smart and help us finish possessions well on defense, that will take him to a whole new level. », Detailed in conclusion Darvin Ham about his little protégé Christian Wood.
| Christian Wood | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | PHL | 17 | 9 | 41.5 | 36.4 | 61.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.6 |
| 2016-17 | CHA | 13 | 8 | 52.2 | 0.0 | 73.3 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.7 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 21 | 12 | 52.1 | 34.6 | 73.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 8.2 |
| 2018-19 * | MIL | 13 | 5 | 48.0 | 60.0 | 66.7 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.9 |
| 2018-19 * | NOP | 8 | 24 | 53.3 | 28.6 | 75.6 | 1.6 | 6.3 | 7.9 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 16.9 |
| 2019-20 | DET | 62 | 21 | 56.7 | 38.6 | 74.4 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 13.1 |
| 2020-21 | HOU | 41 | 32 | 51.4 | 37.4 | 63.1 | 1.9 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 21.0 |
| 2021-22 | HOU | 68 | 31 | 50.1 | 39.0 | 62.3 | 1.6 | 8.5 | 10.1 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 17.9 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 67 | 26 | 51.5 | 37.6 | 77.2 | 1.3 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 16.6 |
| 2023-24 | LAL | 1 | 16 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 7.0 |
| Total | 290 | 24 | 51.8 | 37.8 | 69.3 | 1.5 | 5.8 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 14.8 | |
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.
