Talen Horton-Tucker came down to help Jonas Valanciunas, Kyshawn George found himself all alone behind the arc. Served, the 24th choice of the last Draft could go to sanction in an armchair. But this winning shot from the rookie will be the only one converted (1/6 for 9 points) in this match against the Bulls.
His exit confirmed his difficulties in punishing since the start of the season: only 25% success with 5 attempts on average. A greedy shooter who, during his best career match against the Warriors (20 points at… 6/17 at 3-points!), did not hesitate to chamber Draymond Green, about the fact that he couldn't shoot.
Should we see adaptation problems for the Swiss, who had a 41% success rate at the University of Miami, considered one of the best shooters of this vintage?
“ I talk about this with Key very often, Kyshawn is a very high level shooter “, begins by responding Jordan Pooleasked about the centimeter gap between the university line and the pro line. For the record, in June 2019, the NCAA adopted the arc of circle at 6.75 meters from the basket (and no longer at 6.32 meters), i.e. 50 centimeters closer than the NBA line, placed at 7.25 meters .
A very clumsy rookie too
Jordan Poole, who shot 37% at Michigan, also experienced this transition to which he never fails to refer to his young teammates.
“ I constantly tell them that I only shot 27% from 3-point range my first year. I couldn't even throw a stone into the ocean. It made me better, it took me time, a whole year to adjust to the line, to the game, to the physical dimension », Expands the former Warriors player.
By his second season in San Francisco, he had increased his percentage to 35%, before experiencing other very average seasons in this register despite a high volume of shooting. This season in Washington, he posted his best scoring average based on his best long-distance skill season in his career (41%) by far.
“ We defend, we run, we play 82 games, we travel, so it affects the body. And it takes time to get used to it. Congratulations to our rookies for continuing to hang on, for not changing their game, (demonstrate) unshakeable confidence. It's a matter of time before they're all comfortable with this line », continues Jordan Poole.
The latter salutes the work of their coaches “ by wanting us to take a lot of 3-point shots, to play quickly in transition and to have confidence in others. He's a threat, especially with Alex (Sarr) to be able to stretch the game. » While Kyshawn George is struggling and the Frenchman is progressing in this register, the third rookie Carlton Carrington is the most skillful, with 35%. Enough to raise the collective percentage a little (32%), among the lowest in the league.
