“ They learn to play without the ball, when and how to pass. » At the heart of his long outing against the American training system, Steve Clifford did not fail to highlight the sense of the game instilled in young European players.
The Hornets coach now has a pure product of this training in his ranks: Vasilije Micic. The two-time Euroleague MVP proved for years with Efes Istanbul that he was a formidable attacker, stringing together seasons with 16 points or more.
A high-level shooter (37% at 3-points in eight European seasons) coupled with an outstanding creator, with nearly 5 caviars per match. The Hornets have had the opportunity to realize this more than once since his arrival in Charlotte. With more playing time (20 minutes in Charlotte, compared to 12 in OKC) and more often with the ball in his hands than in Oklahoma, the 30-year-old has the opportunity to distribute more often.
So he distributes. The playmaker set the tone from his first appearance in his new jersey, with 18 points and 9 assists against the Grizzlies, including some wonders over the shoulder on the “pick-and-roll” under the eyes of the absentee. , LaMelo Ball.
Very early mobilized on the “pick-and-roll”
A two-person game that he masters to perfection. “ We practice 'pick-and-roll' from a very young age. The ability to read in the moment is something that one must possess naturally. We have to find a way to play against very athletic guys, like the Americans. They dominate a lot physically. You have to find different ways to contribute and one of them is to read the game well “, Vasilije Micic analysis.
Growing up, he was greatly inspired by a certain Steve Nash, who didn't have any great athletic qualities either. In contrast, the two-time Suns MVP was a master at reading the game and creating space with his dribble. With five titles as best passer in the league.
In the same vein, Vasilije Micic cites his compatriot Milos Teodosic, but also Sarunas Jasikevicius, players with the same style of play, more accustomed to playing on the ground than in the air, except to put teammates into orbit. Not much more skillful than with the Thunder, the Serbian increased his passing average to around 6 units with the Hornets, in addition to his 8 points average.
“ For my specific game, the pass is something I mainly show here because it's a means of transition. (In Europe), I was also a very aggressive scorer and that's something that helped me be very productive when it came to passing. We have to find a way to break down the defense. There's a lot of coverage, a lot of traps, which forces everyone to be creative with their passing abilities. There aren't as many plays in isolation. It's a different type of game, but it forces you to think faster and create from passes », Continues Vasilije Micic, who makes people happy among the Hornets.
| Vasilije Micic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 37 | 14 | 41.2 | 25.8 | 74.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 4.3 |
| 2023-24 * | OKAY | 30 | 12 | 40.7 | 24.4 | 73.7 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 * | CHA | 7 | 21 | 42.1 | 28.6 | 75.0 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 8.6 |
| Total | 37 | 14 | 41.2 | 25.8 | 74.1 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 4.3 | |
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.
