“Kai found me and gave me a great pass.”
The match against the Raptors on December 16 was a big win for both the Nets and Yuta Watanabe. Despite being behind by up to 18 points, the Nets succeeded in reversing, and Watanabe was active with 17 points, including 6 out of 7 field goals and 3 successful 3-point shots.
Of particular note is the come-from-behind 3-point shot that was decided from the left corner after receiving a kickout pass from Kyrie Irving with 14 seconds remaining. After the game, Watanabe said, “They know I’m a good shooter. He let me out. I just hit him.”
“I didn’t have a shot in the last two games, but I want to thank my teammates for encouraging me to hit with confidence. Thanks to the team.”
With this, Watanabe’s 3-point shots this season are 48 and 25 successful, a success rate of 52.1%. To be ranked in the NBA’s 3-point shooting percentage ranking, you need to make “82 in a season,” or one 3-point shot per game. At the moment, the Nets have digested 30 games, and Watanabe has 25 successes. If this number catches up with the number of games played, it will jump to the top of the ranking of 3-point shooting success rate. The reason why he is below the stipulated number is because he has been out of action for three weeks. In other words, it’s a “hidden number one”.
The current top is 48.4% by Celtics’ Malcolm Brogdon, with 45 successes out of 93, which is nearly twice as many as Watanabe’s. He is an experienced player who has been playing as a mainstay for the Bucks, Pacers, and Celtics since this season, and is in his seventh year. Suns’ Damion Lee is second with 47.7%, followed by Clippers’ Luke Kennard (47.3%) and Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram (47.2%). By the way, Ingram has decided 28 of 60, but is currently out due to injury. The Pelicans have played 28 games so far, and one more would remove their name from the rankings.
Watanabe’s advantage in competing with them is the environment of the Nets. The main characters of the Nets are Kevin Durant and Kylie, and Watanabe is just a supporting role. The number of 3-point shot attempts is limited, but in exchange, there is no need to create shots yourself, and there is no situation where you have to shoot with a poor probability, especially when the opponent’s mark is severe. He should wait for the pass in his favorite position and catch and shoot in perfect conditions.
Watanabe himself said, “All the 3-point shots I made today were from the corners, so I don’t have to move and find a spot. If I run to the corner and wait, I can get the best passes. They are my teammates. It was good,” he says with a smile.
“Our team has a lot of players who can do 1-on-1s, and that’s not my job. If I wait in the corner, they know I’m a good shooter, so they can’t miss the mark. So I’m creating space for my teammates.If I’m marked, I can attack inside, and if my mark is off, I can open wide.It’s simple basketball.”
In this way, Watanabe can concentrate on shooting under a clear role. Watanabe’s high 3-point shot success rate is primarily due to his own shooting ability, but his team’s preparation also occupies a large weight.
Watanabe will remain vigilant and focus on raising his own value within the team, demonstrating his usual precipice spirit, but fans’ expectations are only rising. Last season, the Raptors were out of the rotation and their playing time was heavily limited, but the current situation with the Nets making a highlight like every game has improved dramatically. It would be great if he could focus on his role and move to the top of the rankings for 3-point shooting percentage, and if he keeps up the pace, he could be in for the 3-point shooting contest at the NBA All-Star Game next February. right.
With the Nets, Joe Harris competed in the 2019 3-Point Shooting Contest and defeated Stephen Curry to win. Harris, like Watanabe, was a late-blooming player, but this event in his fifth year of career made him a popular player at once. I hope Watanabe follows the same path as Harris once did.