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Utah Jazz coach Will Hardy believes rookie Ace Bailey is settling in on the court through the first half of the season, leading to some sensational performances of late.
Bailey is averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 33.8% from 3-point range in 47 appearances with the Jazz. He is eighth in scoring among rookies and is one of seven first-year players with at least seven 20-point performances.
The fifth overall pick appears to be in a solid offensive groove, as he continues to be more comfortable each time he steps onto the court. He has good chemistry with his teammates and seems to be picking his spots to score or facilitate effectively.
"Ace is doing it in a variety of ways," Hardy said. "He is finding his opportunities to shoot 3s. He is finding his opportunities, trying to get on the rim, especially in transition. He has done a good job of recognizing when to shoot his pull-up. I think I've been most impressed with his cutting. I think it has allowed him to get some easy baskets. He and (Jusuf) Nurk have a good understanding of each other, and Ace's athleticism really shows up when he cuts, because he can create a lot of separation quickly."
Bailey returned to the starting lineup from a hip injury on Jan. 14, averaging 15.2 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15 games. He became the youngest player in franchise history to score at least 25 points in a game on Jan. 22 (19 years, 162 days).
The 19-year-old has also managed to stay on the court longer for the team as the season has progressed, averaging 32.3 minutes over that span. He is adjusting well to the physicality and taking care of his body to impact games at a high level.
Bailey has impressed those around him ahead of the All-Star break and is showcasing himself at a high level nightly. With the Jazz appearing to be in full tank mode, Bailey should have plenty of opportunities to continue seeing extended playing time over the duration of the season.
"I think it has also been great to get him to a point where his conditioning is at a level where he can play harder for longer," Hardy said. "It is hard to be successful in this league, especially when you're younger, when your conditioning is not up to speed. It is physical out there, and it is moving quick and fatigue does not help anyone, especially the young players."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Jazz news: Will Hardy explains recent offensive surge by Ace Bailey
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Bailey is averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 33.8% from 3-point range in 47 appearances with the Jazz. He is eighth in scoring among rookies and is one of seven first-year players with at least seven 20-point performances.
The fifth overall pick appears to be in a solid offensive groove, as he continues to be more comfortable each time he steps onto the court. He has good chemistry with his teammates and seems to be picking his spots to score or facilitate effectively.
"Ace is doing it in a variety of ways," Hardy said. "He is finding his opportunities to shoot 3s. He is finding his opportunities, trying to get on the rim, especially in transition. He has done a good job of recognizing when to shoot his pull-up. I think I've been most impressed with his cutting. I think it has allowed him to get some easy baskets. He and (Jusuf) Nurk have a good understanding of each other, and Ace's athleticism really shows up when he cuts, because he can create a lot of separation quickly."
Bailey returned to the starting lineup from a hip injury on Jan. 14, averaging 15.2 points, five rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15 games. He became the youngest player in franchise history to score at least 25 points in a game on Jan. 22 (19 years, 162 days).
The 19-year-old has also managed to stay on the court longer for the team as the season has progressed, averaging 32.3 minutes over that span. He is adjusting well to the physicality and taking care of his body to impact games at a high level.
Bailey has impressed those around him ahead of the All-Star break and is showcasing himself at a high level nightly. With the Jazz appearing to be in full tank mode, Bailey should have plenty of opportunities to continue seeing extended playing time over the duration of the season.
"I think it has also been great to get him to a point where his conditioning is at a level where he can play harder for longer," Hardy said. "It is hard to be successful in this league, especially when you're younger, when your conditioning is not up to speed. It is physical out there, and it is moving quick and fatigue does not help anyone, especially the young players."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Jazz news: Will Hardy explains recent offensive surge by Ace Bailey
Continue reading...
