One could wonder what role would be played by Brandon Miller in Charlotte alongside the trio LaMelo Ball – Terry Rozier – Gordon Hayward on the offensive level. While Mark Williams And PJ Washington also had the opportunity to show off in attack at the start of the season, the former Alabama resident was relatively discreet on this side of the field.
With 11 shots taken on average per match, he logically comes in fifth position in the number of shots attempted behind the previously mentioned triplet and PJ Washington. It must be said that the winger confirmed that he wanted to show himself more in defense than in attack at the start of his rookie season, because that is where he feels he has the most to do.
“I don’t have any offensive goals at the moment. I’m just focused on how I can help the team defensively.”did he declare. “On defense, I want to be able to take on the toughest assignments, be in the right place at the right time and really stay sharp and be decisive for my team like I did in the Indiana game. That’s what I’m focusing on right now, making an impact on defense.”
Learn from one’s mistakes
Brandon Miller actually has all the weapons to become a strong defender in the NBA, through his mobility for his size, which allows him to defend in several positions, but also thanks to his long segments. It now remains for him to make the most of his abilities, as he did well in sequence, and a little less well on other occasions. There was notably this excess of combativeness noticed in Indiana when he simply knocked out Aaron Nesmith while he was trying to follow in the footsteps of Tyrese Haliburton.
What is undeniable, however, is that he will actually have to progress at great speed, because he will have to contain the best opposing players on a regular basis, in order to erase these small imperfections.
“My plan is almost always the same. I have video footage to help me prepare for these missions. So I just study their trends and apply them on the ground.”, he added. “I can also rely on my veteran teammates to help me.”
If Brandon Miller has more benchmarks in attack, as we saw from his third match against Brooklyn, his name necessarily comes after those of his elders in the hierarchy. For the moment, he remains a “secondary” option, and his last match in Dallas will probably not shake up the established order, at least not immediately. Author of a small 3/12 shooting, the winger stood out above all by a dramatic loss of ball 8 seconds from the end while Charlotte had managed to return to -3 (119-116).
Playing, the best way to progress
Steve Clifford entrusted him with a big responsibility by making him put the ball back into play. And it didn’t fail, Brandon Miller having made the mistake of the rookie by being sanctioned by the referees for having exceeded five seconds before making a passes, causing the defeat of his team in the process (124-118). For him, the important thing in attack for the moment is to keep a cool head to be more lucid in these moments.
“I wouldn’t say I have to slow down, but I just have to not let opponents push me to rush. I have to be able to go to my spots as I want and be able to create when I get there. I just have to keep playing my game without getting ahead of myself.”
Second choice in the Draft, Brandon Miller will continue to learn in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. And don’t count on Steve Clifford to punish him by calling him back to the bench.
“He’s going to play a lot. When he’s on the pitch, I don’t look at him as an inexperienced player or anything like that. He’s very good, we’re lucky to have him, and he’s going to stay on the field.”, said the Hornets coach from the second regular season game.
| Brandon Miller | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | CHA | 6 | 31 | 43.9 | 30.8 | 81.3 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 13.2 |
| Total | 6 | 31 | 43.9 | 30.8 | 81.3 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 13.2 | |
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.
