If the start of the season Jaden Ivey was chaotic, with a lot of bad choices on both sides of the field, the 5th choice of the 2022 Draft gradually found a certain comfort in attack.
On defense, however, he was often caught in screens, attempting too many interceptions and putting the entire team in danger behind his back. Overall, the fullback (1m93) knows that he will have to progress in the field next season, alongside Cade Cunningham. But he also knows that he has the ideal physical profile to do it.
“Just by using the gifts God gave me” he responds on how which he can improve defensively. “Just defending better, that’s what I’m focusing on.” Use my speed to navigate between screens and not give up. Stay in the action, stay focused defensively. I have improved in this aspect. »
If he adds concentration to his speed and his wingspan (2m06), Jaden Ivey indeed has the weapons to become a solid defender, while it is necessarily a key element of progression for Monty Williams.
“I feel like we’re starting to feel like we can be a really good defensive team, so we just have to keep working hard and trusting what Monty is building for us.”continues the sophomore. “He taught us a lot, like all coaches. We are very excited. »
27th defense last year (117.8 points conceded on 100 possessions), the Pistons can hardly do worse.
They also have a group that worked together quite a bit this summer, with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren having played sparring partners for Team USA in Las Vegas, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, Ausar Thompson, Marcus Sasser and others having joined them during Rico Hines’ summer sessions at UCLA.
“It’s been great. That’s what we needed, to be together, to play together and to understand how each other works. It is by doing these repetitions that we will become a better team. We see a lot of teams, like Golden State, that have been together for a long time. We have a core that continues to work hard in practice every day, play together and rack up the reps. »
| Jaden Ivey | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | DET | 74 | 31 | 41.6 | 34.3 | 74.7 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 16.3 |
| Total | 74 | 31 | 41.6 | 34.3 | 74.7 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 16.3 | |
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.
