8th in the NBA: Danny Avdia's defensive improvement

The season has only just begun, but the numbers of the Israeli forward suggest that he is able to function at the standard of Washington's man for special tasks, the niche designated for him by Wes Anseld Jr.

In the meantime, the coach explains how he progressed, and Avdia himself knows: it's mainly due to experience

Voila system!

sport

10/28/2022

Friday, October 28, 2022, 8:45 p.m

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share by email

• Share in general

• Comments

  Comments

Danny Avdia started his third season in the NBA lazily in terms of offensive output, but defensively, it seems, he is getting better and better.

Avdia averages only 5.3 points in Washington's four games from the start of the season - but at least on the defensive side shows quite positive signs that are well reflected in advanced statistics.

Although this is a very small sample, and not necessarily representative, the beginning is encouraging.

Thus, for example, on the statistics website "FiveThirtyEight" which uses an index called "Defensive RAPTOR", which checks how much a certain player improves the team's defense per 100 possessions - Avdia is ranked among the ten highest places in the NBA.

In the first four games of the season, the Wizards have conceded 7.2 fewer points per 100 possessions with Avdia on the court, which ranks him 8th in the NBA (among players who played 60 minutes or more).

Avdia is even ranked 25th in the league so far in Defensive Win Shares, an advanced metric that examines how much a certain player helps his team win through defense.

When he's on the court, Washington allows just 98.4 points per 100 possessions, which ranks him first on the team, and puts him in the top 10 in the NBA among players who have played three or more games.

There is still room to aspire.

Avdia in front of Donovan Mitchell (Photo: GettyImages, Jason Miller)

Before tonight's game against Indiana, Wizards coach Wes Anseld Jr. analyzed Avdia's defense, saying: "Danny still needs to learn how to guard specific players. Everyone has slightly different habits. He understands that senior players in the league, if you allow them freedom of action , they will hit you again and again."

From the beginning of the season, Avdia is attached every game to the leading guard of the opponents, and from time to time also manages to narrow his steps.

"Is Danny ready for that responsibility? Whether he is or not, he's going to have to do it," Anseld Jr. stated.

"He did it a little bit last season as well, he had difficult match-ups. He is improving in his ability to keep without committing fouls, that was one of his biggest problems in defense last season."

Avdia himself referred to his defensive challenge this season, saying yesterday: "I feel that I am more connected, speaking more in defense. Our chemistry is better, and we see it on the defensive side. Personally, I mostly feel more experienced. I kept stars in my first two seasons as well, And now I know them better. I hope to continue to improve in this area. In the past, I just raised my hands and hoped that the player in front of me would miss, but now I know when to jump to block, when they are trying to make a shooting mistake for me. I feel that I am developing in this area as well."

• sport

• NBA

Tags

• Danny Avdia

• Washington Wizards