Difficult to be weaker as an opposition for the Wizards, since they faced the Cairns Taipans, an NBL team (the Australian championship), and the score is clear: 145-82! The opportunity for Wes Unseld Jr. to integrate the newcomers and work on the automatisms, and we note that he started the meeting with Tyus Jones at the lead, Jordan Poole at position 2, and especially Bilal Coulibaly at 3, to support Kyle Kuzma and Daniel Gafford.
As in Summer League, the Frenchman impressed with his defense, with very active hands, and his wingspan allows him to hinder many shots. On the other side of the field, Bilal Coulibaly took what the defense gave him, without forcing anything, and he finished the game with 5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 interceptions and 1 block!
Before the meeting, he recalled that he would be patient for this first season in the NBA. “I know I’m young, and it will take as long as it takes”, he warned. “Last year I was patient until I started playing with the pros and everything else. So, yes, it can be the same thing here. I’ll just be patient and wait my turn. I’ve always been like that, waiting my turn. I’m never in a hurry. People here say it’s very French. »
An athletic phenomenon for his coach
No doubt he did not expect to start, even for a pre-season match, but his defensive qualities will quickly make him essential to mask Jordan Poole’s shortcomings in this area.
For his coach, Bilal Coulibaly can steal Deni Avdija’s place as a starting winger. “He already has a good balance between aggressiveness and calmness,” notes his coach. “I think he can have an impact defensively. … He’ll feel better once we get to know the roster better as the season progresses. I think that’s where he’ll flourish.”
For Unseld Jr., the Frenchman is the most athletic player on the team alongside Daniel Gafford. “There is only one other player on this team with such athleticism and stature. And then just as quick to come out on a 3-pointer. These are things that cannot be learned. »
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
