He’s not a meme anymore. Although he’s still a fan favorite, it’s time to start taking Bol Bol seriously if you haven’t already. The Phoenix Suns have already traded Royce O’Neale and Thaddeus Young.
in their playoff standings, but all the while, Bol Bol could have been the deficit to push them over the top. Yes, veteran additions were sorely needed, but Bol’s rise to prominence raises the bar for championships.
Bol Bol over the last 3 games: 15.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 BPG with 70.6% TS in 21.5 minutes per game. It’s not just the raw numbers and efficiency that stand out to me, but also the lack of turnovers (just one in his last six games). His recent growth has earned him the attention and respect of Suns superstar Kevin Durant.
with whom he has a close relationship. Durant said: “He was more than I expected. His intangibles, his work ethic, his IQ, and all the things I didn’t think about Bol are the foundation of his game.
“\ nFrank Vogel continued on Bol: “We all love him, but Fiz pulls him. He’s just trying to teach him the game.”The big man confidently sinks shots over LeBron James. attacks the aggressiveness.
end That’s what we call growth. The confidence started even before these last few games when he showed some flashes before a leg injury sidelined him for a while. It was called a breakout game. Against the Rockets, he put him in orbit. The length of the close-ups also adds an element of the size that the Suns lacked from their “non-centers”.His ability is successful. handle playing with Nurkic/Eubanks and Durant, adding a dynamism to this Phoenix team that makes them dangerous. This too may just be the tip of the iceberg. There are some fun lineups they can mix up with a pseudo-five with Thad Young or Royce O’Neale with Durant and Bol, and they excite me.
He’s ditching the fake switch and found the perfect mix of range and confidence.
That balance of confidence yet decisive can often be the deciding factor in whether a young player can hold onto a crutch in clutch situations or the playoffs. The ContestBol’s performance in the hitting contest is something that may not get the credit. , which it deserves, but that’s what our Bright Side staff is for. I highly recommend reading this piece by Stephen-Garner: Stephen’s research: The Bol Bol effect is helpful and he makes his point.
main around here, Stephen digs into Bol’s ability to compete for shots and how that affects the Sun’s defense as a whole. Here’s what stood out to me most about his piece:\ nBol + Durant – 48 minutes, DEFRTG 98.10\ n- 108 not garbage -time – 97.1 DEFRTG (equivalent to 100th percentile tandem) and 81.1 in the half court.Bol + Durant + Eubanks – 23 minutesBol2 , 88 Bol. it’s here to stay, folks. I
f he can stay healthy and improve his play/stamina, this could be a breakthrough that is happening right before our eyes. Every team needs a piece that “breaks” other teams in the playoffs. A wild card, if you will. The Suns can have their minimum contract.
Leave a Reply