Chris Finch must make a key adjustment to maximize Ayo Dosunmu’s impact
Ayo Dosunmu’s on/off numbers have been a level of criticism early on. I’ve preached that this is a small sample sizeand have been impressed by Ayo’s impact eye test-wise. However, the Wolves being 22.6 factors worse per 100 possessions with Ayo on the courtroom, in accordance to Cleaning the Glass, is definitely value noting.
Watching the video games, I’ve been shocked by how a lot Chris Finch has paired Dosunmu with Bones Hyland. To me, this does not maximize Ayo’s offensive talent set, and the numbers again it up. Thus far, Dosunmu has spent 43.7 p.c of his minutes with Bones, and these lineups have a minus-23.4 internet ranking. However, within the 220 possessions with simply Ayo and never Hyland, the Wolves have a a lot better plus-1.2 internet ranking.
For the remainder of the season, Finch ought to largely abandon these Ayo-Bones minutes with the hopes of maximizing Dosunmu’s impact.
I’m not saying Ayo and Bones ought to by no means contact the courtroom on the similar time. That’s fairly unrealistic to name for, given that they are the workforce’s seventh and eighth males. Regardless, making an attempt to stagger their minutes extra could be in everybody’s finest curiosity.
Pairing Ayo and Bones collectively is not ultimate
Dosunmu is rather more of a jack of all trades and a higher defender than Hyland. Still, one clear similarity they share is the power to generate rim strain and inject tempo.
On paper, it is smart to pair these two gamers collectively because the Wolves can absolutely learn into this fast-paced style. In actuality, although, Bones usually takes on lead ball-handling duties, which forces Ayo to play a spot-up position.
Given that Dosunmu is taking pictures 44.2 p.c from past the arc this season, a spot-up position is not inherently dangerous. At the identical time, relegating him to a pure spot-up position would not optimize his talent set, significantly his skills as a bodily downhill finisher. This is very the case since many of those lineups function Anthony Edwards and/or Julius Randle.
While he’s a true combo guard reasonably than a level guard, Dosunmu supplies a sense of stability and playmaking that Bones would not, as he’s extra of a microwave bucket getter. Using Ayo in a pure 3-and-D position is not absolutely the worst factor on the earth, and I assume the numbers with this Dosunmu/Hyland pairing will enhance.
If the Wolves need to get probably the most out of Ayo, although, then he must be used extra as a lead ball handler to optimize his skills as a finisher and playmaker. To me, Ayo is just too gifted to be in a pure 3-and-D position, particularly given the Wolves’ want for extra rim strain.
Of course, if Ayo is enjoying with Edwards and/or Randle, he’ll nonetheless play off the ball a lot. However, if he is empowered because the “point guard” in these lineups, it might be a distinction maker for him and the Timberwolves.
