The rookie to be introduced today is Chet Holmgren, the No. 1 pick from the prestigious school Gonzaga.
Personal information
Position: Center, Power Forward
Height: 7 feet 0 inches (213 cm)
Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)
Wingspan: 7 feet 6 inches (229 cm)
Stats: 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 3.7 blocks, 60.7% shooting, 39.0% three-point shooting, 71.7% free throw shooting
Advantage 1: Defense scare resistance
With a height of 7 feet and a wingspan of 7 feet 6 inches, Holmgren is one of the strongest rim protectors in the NCAA in recent years, with an average of 3.7 blocks per game, ranking fourth in the country. In addition to his good height and wingspan, Holmgren also has excellent natural defensive sense and over-aged defensive judgment. He can also effectively block the opponent’s cutting threat when he is one-on-one with the ball carrier on the strong side. one of its strengths. When the opponent picks the basket under the basket, Holmgren’s wingspan, height and even natural defensive instincts are enough for him to fan the opponent’s hot pot in the air. He is very good at identifying the best time to take off to interfere with the opponent. What is more valuable is that his average per game The fouls are lower than the average block per game. For a penalty area defender to interfere with the opponent, there is a high chance of losing a foul due to various collisions, but Holmgren has proved that he has a good sense of defense as well as good outsiders. Foul control, the above points make his rim protection ability appreciated by most scouts.
In addition to being the last line of defense, Holmgren also has a very high talent to become a top-level helper. His mobility is above the standard, allowing him to exert good mobility on the defensive end. With his own defensive judgment and long-arm interference, his defensive cover The degree is very wide, so his defense on the weak side is actually not inferior to the rim protection ability under the basket. In Gonzaga’s games, it is very common to see Holmgren play an important part in the team’s defensive rotation. He can wait on the weak side and judge the best time to help defense or even cover defense. All in all, excellent mobility and agility, Excellent defensive IQ and sense of smell, above-average height and wingspan, all of the above give Holmgren the basic set to be selected as the defensive team of the year in the future professional basketball stage.
After talking regarding Holmgren’s defensive features such as rim protection and help defense, let me talk regarding the last advantage he has on the defensive end: switching ability. In the NCAA arena, Holmgren is capable of defending five positions on the court. Regardless of whether he switches to a career, he may not be able to carry most of the beasts inside. His coordination and agility are among the top 7-footers in recent years. Delusions, defensive positions, or even concepts cannot limit the defenders on the perimeter, but he has good speed and agility, which allows him to have a better ability to defend and defend in the future when the advanced concept of defense is deepened.
Advantage 2: Amazing shooting ability
Looking at the current league, how many 7-footers have above-average perimeter shooting ability? The only centers who can shoot at least 38% from 3-point range this season are Karl-Anthony Towns (6-foot-11), Christian Wood (6 feet 9 inches), Kevin Love (6 feet 8 inches), although Holmgren may enter the league mainly as a 4, but the 7-foot frontcourt averages at least 3 three-pointers per game. With a perimeter shooting percentage of over 39%, it’s scary to hear.
During transitions, Holmgren can stably hit the perimeter heavy artillery. In half-court battles, he can also serve as an ambush shooter at the bottom line. His shot speed is not too slow, and his natural height and wingspan also allow him to pull in front of defenders. up, and scare opponents with cold arrows from time to time. In terms of teamwork, he can also execute pick and pop and hand off well, and when he has the ball on the perimeter, sometimes defenders are too concerned regarding his cut, so Holmgren can also have a wider jump shot. Holmgren has a rare shooting ability, and his natural soft shooting touch also gives him an extra guarantee for his future development.
Advantage 3: Excellent finishing touch
In the NCAA arena, Holmgren is still a very good basket scorer on the offensive end to some extent. He has the ability to score points in collisions such as post up. Although he is not confrontational enough, he can make good use of his wingspan and height. To score points, and he also has a natural excellent basketball feel, he can often be seen frantically competing for offensive rebounds under the basket and finally points the ball into the basket in the crowd. Holmgren also has a good continuous take-off ability and jumping speed, and his natural rebounding sense allows him to pick up key rebounds in a chaotic crowd, and then score a tip.
