Valuable winger with both physical ability and shooting ability
In 2023, Rui Hachimura was traded to the Lakers at the deadline, advanced to the conference finals in the playoffs, and his performance there earned him a three-year contract extension worth 51 million dollars (approximately 7.6 billion yen) during the off-season. is averaging 24.4 minutes and 12.2 points per game this season. Although he is playing the role the team needs as a winger who brings scoring power off the bench, it is also true that he has not performed as well as was expected before the start of the season as a “LeBron James replacement”.
His physical ability, which combines physicality and speed, is a weapon that can be used in the NBA, but even when he drives, he prefers jump shots, which prevents his shot probability from increasing. This season, the team has grown larger and has become easier to run fast attacks, so we have increased the number of finishes by penetrating into the bottom of the goal. It is a good trend that the number of shots with a high scoring probability is increasing.
Also, his outside shooting is stable with a 3-point shooting success rate of 37.3%. Although the issue of having too many options in the middle continues, Hachimura is highly anticipated as a valuable winger with both physical ability and shooting ability, as he is equipped with a highlight play with a dynamic dunk and a reliable outside shot. There is no doubt that it has been done.
However, these stats remain in his third season with the Wizards, and his fit with team tactics and improvements in defensive details are not particularly noticeable. Although he has grown, he has not matured, which is why he is limited to playing from the bench and is unable to move up the ranks within the team.
Spacing is important for players who are on the court at the same time as LeBron and Anthony Davis, but starter Taurean Prince is hitting 2.5 3-pointers and Cameron Reddish is hitting 1.7 3-pointers from the corners. On the other hand, Hachimura’s number is only 0.8, and it is difficult to say that he is effectively utilizing his high shooting ability in the team’s offense.
Work commensurate with the salary of a “core player on the team”
Defensively, Hachimura has not been able to fully utilize his abilities for the team. The current Lakers are focusing on making use of Davis’ strong rim protection and using man-marking around him, and Jarrett Vanderbild, who is also a winger but can chase up to guard, has become the starter. Hachimura is unable to use his strengths in rotation or rebounding, making it difficult to use him, but the Lakers, who have a big lineup, would like to utilize Hachimura more because of his physical ability.
Even though he is strong in 1-on-1, defending directly against the opponent, details such as positioning and off-ball tactics have been issues for a while, but by learning defensive skills such as chasing while dodging screeners, his playing time will increase. must.
The issues that were allowed for the Wizards, who would have been successful if they advanced to the playoffs, are no longer allowed for the Lakers. Anything other than a championship would be a failure for the Lakers, and they are not a team that wants or can wait for Hachimura to mature. Even though he has signed a long-term contract, Hachimura is no longer a young player with potential for growth, but as a central player on a team aiming for a championship, he has a responsibility to play in a manner commensurate with his salary. If they continue to compete on the same level as players with good cost performance who were recruited with low salaries, they will eventually become trade pieces to acquire new talent.
Hachimura’s current position is that he has a place to play in the team’s option position, but he is not into the tactics in terms of LeBron and Davis’ team. That’s why even though he is part of the rotation, he is not seen as an indispensable player, and trade rumors have surfaced. Given that the Lakers have around 50% interest in the deal, we may be looking forward to a sudden development unique to the NBA this year, as to what decision they will make for Hachimura at the trade deadline in February.
This is the fifth season of his career, and since he spent a lot of time with the winless Wizards, the current environment where he can compete for a championship should be exciting. There’s also the immeasurable benefit of being able to play alongside LeBron. However, now that it is almost a year since he joined the team, he is expected to mature and step up to become an indispensable force for the team.
2024-01-01 02:00:00
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