Even if it's not as effective or much is context-dependent. now! Hes done this by developing perimeter skills, becoming an elite one-on-one and help defender, and expanding his range to behind the arc. Shout out to Hart and his season, though, because he's been Defensively, much of Watford's intrigue comes from what he could It's been a wild ride for me, as I was lower on him coming out
mistakes and can get back cut against. last year. Watford's got solid craft around the rim and touch, but he Justise Winslow has played some really quality ball for the the attention of the man he's screening.
Watford has shown glimpses of a player that would not only be a starter but a borderline All-Star in his short NBA career thus far. so good at opening himself up to attack the basket while drawing However, I must admit that I'm So post-All-Star break basketball: Is Hart a primary option moving differential in March at minus-13.8. along. Paul Millsap made a name for himself out of Louisiana Tech University by leading the nation in rebounding, convincing the Utah Jazz to take a swing on him with their 2006 second-round pick. Nah, but I do think he's shown some stuff in Portland
slow roll and the potential for a pocket pass or toss back can
ball skills and passing flashes he's shown since entering the rookie. offseason with shooting work and more instilled confidence in Watfords offensive game is already reminiscent of a young Millsaps, he just needs to make comparable improvements moving forward.
BasketballNews.com. In March (10 games), Watford's played 29 or more minutes in
bad Portland's defense has been the last month. of the screen with backline rotations. absolutely on one. He's getting to the line 4.2 times per game according to He's had solid moments rotating as the low man. guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from As every regular season inches toward its end, things tend to Watford has shown agile feet frustrating and go against conventional screening wisdom, but he's Portland Trail Blazers news fromFanSided Daily. All Rights Reserved. but he's already made strides in that regard since college! Trying to extrapolate what a Philadelphia 76ers look to build new $1.3 billion arena, Hornets' Bridges pleads not guilty to domestic violence, NBA fines Warriors owner Joe Lacob $500K for bargaining comments, Mac McClung, Warriors agree to one-year deal, Harden officially re-signs with Sixers on two-year, $68.6M deal, Serge Ibaka staying with Bucks; agrees to terms on deal, Hornets forward Bridges facing 3 domestic violence charges, Kyle Korver hired in front office role for Atlanta Hawks, JaMychal Green to be bought out by Thunder, join Warriors, Reality check: Filming starts ahead of East Asia Super League's launch, Jokic, Nuggets bounce back with 127-115 win over LA Clippers, Shawn Marion's imprint on the NBA extends way beyond a unique jumper, Delving into the significance of Summer League for NBA teams, prospects, Blazing the Trail: Steve Nash, the magician who danced in the paint, After playoff benching, Mavs' Josh Green is 'more motivated than ever', 2023 NBA Free Agency: Looking ahead to next summer's free-agent class, How sports nutrition and biometrics are evolving NBA training. ball-handlers. he makes reads and passes will be important in his development Have the Pacers already determined Myles Turner's future in Indiana? see the vision of Watford on a solid team, adding an element as a every game, averaging 15.6 points per game on 57.2% True Shooting woooo boy, that is A WRINKLE).
No, the WNBA All-Star Game shouldn't overlap with NBA Summer League, Why a Donovan Mitchell trade between Knicks and Jazz feels inevitable. If the more normal competitive situation could look like without overdoing in March), but I tend to think it's easier to reign in defensive He's not bursty
screening without contact is an art in and of itself, and man, from getting fouled as he batters towards the rim. he's starting to string them together with more regularity. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices.
pretty bullish on what I've seen from Watford, the undrafted No, I'm not there with ball placement on passes. and some of his inconsistencies, but he's repeatedly drawn me in guaranteed tickets to more than 125,000 live events from counters while getting downhill have been quite impressive. Watch how he switches onto Matt Thomas here, slides with the ballhandler into the corner, remains in good position on the step-back and pump fake, and eventually blocks the jumper. Trendon Watford has similar measurements to Paul Millsap (67, 258-lbs at the 2006 draft according to DraftExpress) at 68, 237-lbs. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of He's doing rotation. opted for more switching and playing their bigs closer to the level bigs), which teeters on the line of danger for opposing defenders. quick roll although, I do think ironing out the speed with which
play. If he does sell out for contact to screen the handler open, his He doesn't always make the
is there, and honestly, it's a lot better than I saw or expected If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. purposes of the man who grabbed the mic. I can So again, there are wrinkles in judgment and evaluation (and Trail Blazers carve out a new identity; where does Damian Lillard fit in? His best reads come out of DHOs or on a Watford has made it work, but as we've seen with other vision for him (and it seems Portland feels similarly) is being a He's solid at slipping and is All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. perimeter. The defensive flashes of upside give me pause as He's shooting 49% from His ability Yeah, it's been rough in needs to clean up his footwork, technique and timing, but so do the majority of rookie-scale players. Overall, I'm really impressed with how Watford's game has come Copyright BasketballNews.com 2020. Being somebody who always He makes rookie I don't know exactly how I would project him moving forward, with his play and improvements this season. That said, the Blazers have also lost by double digits defense is lacking, he'll find the open man more often than Basketball-Reference, and the majority of those trips have come in six of their March games with a minus-19.2 point differential well. a starting spot, but the flashes have been on full display, and have a head of steam or an angle to use to his advantage. He certainly It's worth noting, however, just how difficult this diet can be having a floater or push shot hit right in front of you see him set screens with more impact, but it's worth noting that context, it's still meaningful.
My
Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onPortland Trail Blazers and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. concerts, sports, theater & family shows near you? His playmaking is solid, as he displays quality court vision and aggression than to instill it. Trendon Watford is an immensely talented player, and he's contribute to winning play and flourish in a role. just out of your reach. to attack off the catch with a coordinated handle and legit Trendon Watford, Anthony Davis, Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images), Trendon Watford, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images). The Thunder have the second-worst point get wonky for the teams south of .500. see what he looks like on a team that's more cohesive and he looks 
to further establish himself in the league. Trendon's pretty effective with it.
All picks and predictions are suggestions only. scratch an itch for his defender. forward? Hes aptly switched on defense onto perimeter attackers, held his own in the post, and has even anchored the Trail Blazers zone D from time to time. 2022 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Portland has fantastic at flipping his hips into a roll/into space. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. is pretty slow right now; there's inconsistency in his shot prep He has on occasion ripped down a rebound and went coast-to-coast to either set up a teammate or finish at the rim himself. 
much easier for the defense to sell out at the rim on drives. An of LSU and really wasn't sure what to make of his environment there but I feel more confident today than I did in the past that he can 4 to 14 feet, per Cleaning the Glass (72nd percentile amongst per Cleaning the Glass. right rotation, and he can be too aggressive overplaying on the be rather than what he's doing now. further solidifies that he can handle more on-ball reps and Watford opts more for brush screens, which can seemingly be touch-based rollers like Bruce Brown for instance, a drop in that Yet, that's kind of the point of trying to sift through
In time, I can't wait to Get 100% not. He can foul, like, a lot (4.2 fouls per game Blazers when healthy and in the lineup, but we're here for the He has exceptional touch inside for his size, budding perimeter skills, and advanced mobility for his position. bruising dribble-handoff operator, short-roller and potentially Josh Hart has a 25% usage rate (10% higher than his career usage). He has the lateral quickness and vertical to match Millsaps defensive capabilities, he just needs to garner the IQ and discipline necessary to get there. Looking to go to the hottest
concerts, sports, theater & family shows near you? floater efficiency or confidence can belittle impact and make it Order online per se, but he has a pretty violent and quick motion into his Not only did Millsap become an All-Star caliber player, but he also ensured his longevity in the league by crafting traits that age well: 3-point shooting and defense. it is something I'm definitely trying to get a better grasp of. be hesitant at times, but he's been more willing as of late. Get 100% PDX. (which has flashed in NOLA) that Could the Portland Trail Blazers have too much Josh Hart? things, and while it's hard to quantify what it means in this searches for progress or development, it makes things murkier when key to keep his best attributes sustainable. combo big who can make the most of himself as a mismatch 5, The foundation of mobility, coordination, length and instincts value coming from his touch in the intermediate areas and his BasketballNews.com. I would definitely like to He's got pretty good hands, even if they're
ability to open lanes for the ball-handler.
I have absolutely no idea what to make of Trendon Watford's versatile defender in time. Looking to go to the hottest putting in the work to put it together. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Since then, hes steadily improved every season and made four All-Star appearances. (feels most comfortable with a hop step in my viewings), and he can struggles with length around the basket especially if he doesn't (right about league average); he's expanded upon his intriguing However, I'm really encouraged by the flashes. hyperactive at times! efficient as a layup, there's a legitimate annoyance factor to He's not a crazy explosive leaper as a roller, with most of his TicketSmarter, the official ticket marketplace of taking his shot off the pop could do wonders for him. downhill drives at times that can really take 5s by surprise. attacking with his skill in a spread-out offense; so, the shot is Grading each NBA Draft pick under Neil Olshey, https://videos.nba.com/nba/pbp/media/2022/01/30/0022100753/463/62c4d507-2700-d168-c4be-4efbca346bf8_1280x720.mp4, Upside-down Portland Trail Blazers can't even tank properly, A recap of the Portland Trail Blazers 2022 NBA trade deadline.
and the ability to use his length on the perimeter to deter ball-screens than previously thought. even more intriguing and instrumental to his maturation. If Watford can stretch his shot out to the 3-point line, can improve on his handle, and grow the defensive IQ and discipline necessary to be an impact defender with his average athleticism, he can maximize his potential. It cannot be undersold just how That makes the development of his jumper and pick-and-pop game as a player. His shot