Averaged 15.3 points per game! He is Durant of the Lakers. Pelinka faces happy troubles

Since joining the Rockets, Durant has averaged 27.2 points per game and a true shooting rate of 68.6%. What needs to be explained about the offensive data is:

1. The scoring is a new high since the 22-23 season;

2. The true shooting rate is a new high since the NBA career.

To sum up the above two points, I have to admit that Durant's adaptability is really strong. More importantly, the Suns paid a huge price to acquire the former this summer, and at least for now, it has a positive effect on winning games.

Speaking of which, let’s look at a set of interesting data:

1. 11.5% of shots taken under the basket, 77.8% shooting rate;

2. 21.8% of shots taken near the basket, 64.7% shooting rate;

3. Mid-range shots accounted for 19.2%, and the field goal percentage was 53.3%;

4. Large two-point attempts accounted for 19.2%, and the field goal percentage was 55.3%;

5. Three-point attempts accounted for 28.2%, and the field goal percentage was 40.9%.

Looking at the split data, Durant has finished the half without any blind spots. The advantage is that the "magic ball" style of play like Harden, Antetokounmpo and others is not easily targeted by opponents. More importantly, no matter which region it is, it is the top player in the league.

It's still related to projection.

Since the 25-26 season, Hachimura has taken a total of 71 shots. They can be divided according to the region as follows:

1. The shots under the basket accounted for 21.1%, and the shooting rate was 73.3%;

2. The shots near the basket accounted for 9.9%, and the shooting rate was 61. 6%;

3. Mid-range shots accounted for 18.3%, and the field goal percentage was 53.8%;

4. Large two-point attempts accounted for 9.9%, and the field goal percentage was 57.1%;

5. Three-point attempts accounted for 40.8%, and the field goal percentage was 44.8%.

Looking at the split data, Hachimura can also finish the half without any blind spots like Durant. The only difference is that one sample is not as big as the latter; the other does not face as much defensive intensity as the latter. But as a role player, it is very rare to be able to do this.

Based on this, in my opinion Hachimura is the Lakers' Durant. What I mean is that as far as the offensive end is concerned, the two players play the same technical and tactical role - there are no blind spots in the half court and their efficiency is not lower than the league's elite level.

Of course, I think Hachimura’s outstanding performance also brings happiness to Pelinka.

Happiness

Take today's second game against the Trail Blazers as an example. When Doncic, Reeves, and James were all absent due to injuries, Hachimura made 10 of 15 shots and scored 28 points efficiently. Potentially, it's hard to say whether a highly effective team can win without him.

In fact, Hachimura has averaged 15.3 points per game since the new season, which is second only to Doncic and Reeves on the Lakers. In other words, Hachimura is an indispensable part of the Lakers at this stage - when he is on the court, the team wins by 8.0 points per 100 rounds, which is very close to Reeves' 9.7 points.

Trouble

With the start of the new season, Hachimura has an expiring contract worth 18 million in one year. Normally, it would not be too much for Pelinka to extend his contract with an average salary of 20 million, but the problem is that Hachimura's shortcomings are obvious, and that is the defensive end.

In terms of data, Hachimura's real offensive plus-minus value so far in the new season is 0.1, and his defensive real plus-minus value is -1.9. Obviously, this is a typical case of strong attack and weak defense. More importantly, due to the slow lateral movement caused by physical conditions, the shortcomings of poor defense are difficult to improve.

brings about Pelinka’s worries about contract renewal. I mean, a big contract, right? Because of poor defense, it can easily become a junk contract in the future. You won’t be given a big contract, right? It will be difficult to retain people tomorrow.

Finally, just for Rui Hachimura's contract renewal, I think it is not too much to extend the contract with an average salary of 20 million even if the current stable performance continues. After all, today's league focuses more on the offensive end, and this is what Hachimura is good at.

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