Why TJD’s new Warriors role means fewer thrills in Year 2

Why TJD’s new Warriors role means fewer thrills in Year 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors are 9-2 through their first 11 games, just as they were 9-2 over their last 11 games last season. The records are identical, but there are several notable differences, the most visible being an offseason roster makeover.

Slightly less visible, perhaps, is the usage of Trayce Jackson-Davis. Though the 6-foot-9 center started all 22 of those games, the splits tell a story of a shifting role.

Jackson-Davis as a rookie finished with a flourish, averaging 10.5 points per game, on 66.2 percent shooting, as well as 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Spectacle was common, and he averaged 25.4 minutes as the Warriors squeaked into Play-In Tournament.

Jackson in Year 2? Aside from a slight rise in field-goal percentage (68.4), TJD’s numbers are down across the board: 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, .5 blocks and 16.5 minutes – roughly equal to the 16.1 minutes of backup center Kevon Looney.

No less notable is that the kind of “wow” moments that announced TJD’s arrival last season have been scarce.

So, I asked coach Steve Kerr for an assessment of Jackson-Davis’ first 11 games, and the coach was quick to respond. What is the big man’s role?

“It’s pace, pace, pace with Trayce,” Kerr said Thursday. “The way he played the other night, the force in transition, the buckets he got early in the third by running the floor, protecting the rim, rebounding. When he really sprints the floor, you feel it. And we feel it.”

Jackson-Davis played only 14 minutes Tuesday night, delivering eight points and nine rebounds in Golden State’s 120-117 win over the Dallas Mavericks. He made 3-of-5 from the field, only 2-of-6 from the line. He added two assists and two steals but had zero blocks.

“He’s settled into a role now where he’s going to play a little bit like the Zaza (Pachulia) role, or JaVale McGee,” Kerr said. “He’ll play the first six or seven minutes of each half and then see where it goes.”

TJD is being asked to set strong screens and pass as effectively as Pachulia did a few years ago….

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-tjds-warriors-role-means-153934143.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-11-15 15:39:00

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