The ascension of a player is a beautiful and addicting thing to watch.
First, you see his potential and invest. It’s even better when you see immediate returns. At this point, you want more. You want to see him grow up and glow up. You want to see the All-Star appearances. You want to see, if he is as good as you believe, championships and MVPs. More realistically, you want to watch him thrive as a solid rotational piece and a main contributor to your team.
However, the process of progression generally doesn’t work this way. This road isn’t smooth and linear. It’s a road with its share of potholes, loose gravel, and detours.
No one knows the realities of development more than the Golden State Warriors’ young quartet of Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson-Davis. They are playing through fluctuating minutes (Moody, Jackson-Davis) and their own mistakes (Kuminga, Podziemski), all amid expectations of a fifth title for the aging core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. It’s too much for young players to bear all the while trying to find their niche in the league.
Here are some observations on the flaws of each of these players and suggestions to move forward.
Trayce Jackson-Davis
In his limited minutes, the rookie big from Indiana has shown promise with his athleticism. His pivotal blocks on Giannis Antetokounmpo in last week’s Warriors blowout of the Bucks were enough for him to earn a start against the Spurs three days later.
In his 23 minutes, Jackson-Davis showed why he’s earned the opportunity, scoring 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting, six rebounds, and four blocks.
However, those minutes revealed a few flaws in his game. What sticks out to me is Jackson-Davis’ proclivity to foul, trouble at the free throw line, and his need for a reliable shot at least 10 feet out.
Against the Spurs on Saturday, Jackson-Davis had four fouls and even in his limited minutes, he’s shown this tendency. He’s baited into fouls like this mainly because he’s chasing blocks.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis’ athleticism allows him to effectively rim-run, dunk, and use his muscle for easy baskets. The problem is that he will need a few counters when opposing defenses pack the paint and dare him to shoot.
The solution: Jackson-Davis’ fixes are easy to identify. He can keep that same energy on defense but be disciplined. He doesn’t have to go for the blocks every time. He can position himself to contend shots without going for pump fakes.
Offensively, Jackson-Davis isn’t likely to be a floor spacer. However, developing a reliable 10-to-14-foot jumper would be enough to keep opposing defenses honest.
Jonathan Kuminga
Kuminga’s jump on offense, for me, has never been a concern. He’s getting downhill almost at will. He also can consistently draw fouls. The jump that the Warriors need him to take, however, is on the defensive end.
In his third year, Kuminga struggles with lapses on rotations and man-to-man. Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan exploited this weakness for most of his game-high 33 points in last week’s matchup.
In the final minute of that game, Kuminga fouled DeRozan for a go-ahead three-point play. He stayed with DeRozan until biting on the pump fake. In that instance as well as the others in this game, Kuminga should have stayed put and contested a firmly established shot.
Against the Spurs, he set his feet in transition but still gave Spurs guard Blake Wesley a line drive to the basket. The line drive forces Jackson-Davis to help. Dario Saric sagged off of Julian Champagnie for the easy 3. The Warriors’ defense was shot at the point of attack.
The solution: Kuminga’s issues with awareness will improve the more he shares the floor with Green. In terms of his man-to-man defense and even rebounding, it’s about effort. Kuminga has the tools to be a complete and solid defender but he has to want it as much as the team and fans want it for him.
Moses Moody
A quintessential professional, Moody has shown great poise and preparation for any moment. He stays ready so he doesn’t have to get ready. He has been rewarded for his work with a spot in the rotation. He has shown glimpses of being a solid defender. It’s his offense that needs work.
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In theory, Moody would be a solid 3-and-D player who could space the floor. The problem is that he is inconsistent. Against the Bulls, Moody shot an efficient 4-for-9 from the field. In the next game against the Spurs, he shot 2-for-11 from the field. Monday in San Antonio, he made just one shot on three attempts.
Granted, this is a small sample but it’s enough to be noticeable. I’ve also noticed that Moody struggles with ball handling. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr prioritizes players who can consistently take care of the ball which gives some insight as to why Moody was getting limited minutes before.
Also, Moody appears to feel more confident in situations where the game is already decided.
The solution: For Moody, the only way that he can improve when it comes to shooting and even his confidence in other moments in the game is to get more reps in. He needs more freedom to play through his mistakes. More time in the rotation will help with that sooner.
Brandin Podziemski
The rookie guard from Santa Clara has scrapped and hustled his way into the Warriors’ starting lineup. He’s a very capable ball handler and a solid rebounder for his size.
However, Podziemski’s biggest flaw is his tendency to pound the ball too much and his tunnel vision at times.
In one third-quarter set against Chicago, Podziemski failed to wait for the Warriors’ offense to set. He decided to shoot a 3-pointer from the right wing just six seconds in the possession. Had Podziemski let the play develop, there would have been better options. Curry will always garner the most attention, bringing two defenders with him at a time. Thompson is always a threat and a floor spacer, while Gary Payton II and Jackson-Davis are always lob threats. Shooting a 3 early in the shot clock wasn’t necessary.
Late in the second quarter on Saturday night, he drove against a larger defender in Jeremy Sochan. The Spurs’ defense was willing to concede shots to Moody, Saric, and Green. Podziemski’s options were kicking it out to Moody at the top of the key, or Saric in the corner. Instead, he drove and attempted a fadeaway hook shot in the paint only to get it blocked by Sochan.
In addition to Podziemski’s tendency to have tunnel vision in his floor game at times, he also needs improvement on his layups and finishing. I also wouldn’t mind to see him develop a solid mid-range jumper.
The solution: When it comes to seeing the floor, Podziemski has one of the best point guards ever in that category in Chris Paul to learn from. As much info as Podziemski is absorbing from Curry, he should do the same in terms of seeing the floor with Paul.
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