For an ordinary preseason match, the reaction is unexpected to say the least. While his rookie teammate Ausar Thompson just equalized at 3 pointsto send the Suns and their team into overtime, Marvin Bagley shows himself to be hyper expressive with a cry of rage.
The Pistons interior had just had an equally unusual evening. The left-hander had to wait 30 minutes of actual play on the bench before being asked by his new coach, Monty Williams, to get up.
“ I made sure my body stayed warm. I stood there, focused the whole time. I watched from the bench as if I was playing. I stayed in it whether I was on the field or not “, sums up the 24-year-oldwho also says he relied on “ God “.
It must be said that his late entry into play did not seem to disturb him much. As soon as he arrived on the floor, he was put into orbit by Cade Cunningham in the alley-oop. “ I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been on the field with him in a match. Being able to do it again, like we’ve done it in the past, is a good feeling », Appreciates the former Kings player, who did it again a minute later on a serve from Jaden Ivey.
Also supplied with good balls by Killian Hayes, Marvin Bagley chained interior finishes against weak resistance from the men at the end of the Suns bench. On arrival, an outing with 25 points (10/14 on shots including 1/2 from distance) and 7 rebounds in 22 short minutes. With a +19 when he was on the floor, his team, which ended up losing in overtime, being led by more than 20 points when he was called upon.
Congratulated by Monty Williams
“ He changed the match. He played with a lot of power. I was very pleased, not only with the production, but also the fact that he sat for most of the game and then came in and made an impact. Which says a lot about him, his state of mind and his discipline », Congratulates Monty Williams who, as expected, started Jalen Duren (6 points in 15 minutes).
The first player called to replace the latter was James Wiseman (4 points and 7 rebounds in 16 minutes) with whom Marvin Bagley is therefore in competition for the status of replacement pivot. In addition to being left-handed, the two men have in common that they were drafted second and transferred by their first club. Older and experienced, the former Kings player may have a head start on the former Warriors prospect.
Especially since he already knows Cade Cunningham well.
“ We mutually know where we are going to be. He knows how to open up space for me and I know when he’s ready to go up for the dunk. That kind of thing creates chemistry between you and the screener, and I feel like that’s been the case since day one. », Reports the leader of Detroit, estimating that his teammate, in this match, “ trusted his work and that’s why we can have evenings like this “.
