Wiltjer is a keeper for that shot of his. We all love those highlights of his sweet shot. But man, he showed complete disinterest in playing transition D last game. And transition D was one of our biggest problems last year that we need to improve upon. Wiltjer is not Harden carrying the offensive load of an entire team on his shoulders. He is an undrafted rookie trying to make the team. That disinterest to get back cannot be allowed to grow. I'd bench him every time I see him jogging back when he had the ability (if not the RESPONSIBILITY) to get back into the play. Here is Wiltjer looking to reach in (and not even doing it) then not getting back -- just jogging like he doesn't care about defense NOTE: These vids will continue to play. Just stop them after the play that I marked. Here he is getting stripped then just not caring and jogging back
Good catch. I don't believe the carrot/stick approach works with millennials though. Someone has to talk to him and adjust his motivation. Unfortunately MDA is not that guy, but maybe one of the assistants has a good grip of psychology and behaviour. Show him some tape of Steve Novak and how being great at one thing is not special at all in the NBA. Let him sit on it. We don't need him at the moment and there's plenty he can improve on in the D-League and practice. I think the kid has a future in the NBA. If he is a hard worker in practice and on the court, I can see him being as good as Anderson before Anderson's contract is up.
I think he will be ok. Young player, has a lot to learn at this level. He has the shot and Bball IQ that you look for. The other stuff you can teach him. Don't be too hard on him at this point.
those are bad plays on his part yes but I don't see any difference in what any other young player would do and frankly most veterans. That's just something once being coached upon he'll realize more and hopefully make an effort to correct it. You'll see guys run back that are more hussle players that play with a ton of energy not guys that play at a certain pace throughout a game.
It seems to me that even if he were the fastest player in NBA and run his fastest he wouldn't be able do anything in both cases.
That's because you know NOW how the play ends. At the time, no one knew if an extra defender would be able to secure a rebound, deflection or steal.
Well, Play #1 he is supposed to release right away. Not hang around in the backcourt making a half-hearted attempt to guard the ball. He is the primary line of transition defense for that play. In transition D, you do not attempt to stop the ball in the backcourt like that. Play #2, he has plenty of time to harass that ball handler. And (as @Mathloom said), he doesn't know the end result. He should hustle and find a trailer or spot up shooter in case the first responders slow up the play. bottomline: hustle first.
that really applies to hustle first mentality players. Your Beverley's, battier's, tony allen's, varejao's etc. Wiltjer is not that. Can a little bit of coaching help here? Yeah it probably will if they're paying attention to this much detail defensively which is a big if
Nah, Calvin Watkins was on Locked On Rockets couple times, Heypartner has yet to quote Locked On Rockets or Heypartner's twitter commenting Locked On Rockets, so that means he's not Calvin Watkins. Because heypartner tweets about everything heypartner does. InB4 he quotes himself on twitter about replying to me.
But, I have only 2 followers, and they are both my grandma. So if I tweet, and there is no one in the world to receive it, does that make me a twit.
OK I watched the game, but haven't watched the clips you pointed out areas of Wiltjer deficiencies on D. But my reaction is 'a bit harsh' isn't it?
Wiltjer kind of sounds like "welp sir" Wiltjer, he's just not good at defense. Welp sir, he's just not that good at defense.
not the same. novak can only shoot, wiltjer has nice post game, his pump fake and floater is really good
