How have I changed my opinion? I’m still set 19-21 points is a given and 23-25 is a possibility?
Bogdan’s game is remarkably well suited to the pick and roll dominated NBA. His ability to make good decisions off the dribble, step back and nail a 3 pointer, see and hit the open shooter, and throw quick lobs in the paint all paint to a very bright future in my opinion. I think he will be better here than in Europe because NBA bigs 1) have the athleticism to catch and finish his quick lobs 2) can pass out of the post to open shooters on the perimeter 3) have to be respected on the pick and roll. If Giles is what people have hinted at, he and Bogi could be a deadly tandem in the half court.
Of the two passes Skal made to Bogdan last game Bogi drained both wide open 3’s. I expect we will see more of that going forward. The delta between 19-21 and 23-25 is how lethal his step back 3 becomes. It is already looking better and better and I expect him to work on it all summer. I also expect Joeger to increasingly build the offense around Bogi and his skills. That means finding was to get Bogi 15-17 shots a game.
Just off the eyeball test, supported by the stats below, Boggy has taken it upon himself to be incrementally more assertive. I would not surprised the Kings coaches pulled him aside, and said look, you are shooting 58% TS. That's great. As a team we are 53.2% TS, second worst in the league. We want you to be more assertive, more selfish, to look for your offense while still making the high percentage play. Your efficiency justifies shooting as much or anyone else on the team. You are the most potent offensive player we got (Buddy is only 55% TS after 60% TS in 25 games last year).
Look at the steady rise of Boggy's FGAs:
March (3 games): 13 FGAs
February: 12 FGAs
January: 10 FGAs
December: 9 FGAs (too passive here)
November: 10 FGAs
I don't necessarily think Joerger needs to find ways to get him his shots. He can pretty much get his shot when he wants. As you probably noticed too the Kings will alternate with Fox or Boggy bringing up the ball in the half-court set. This enables him to use the high pick and create for himself or pass and relocate.
Boggy was deferring more in the first few months that led to a degree to his modest struggles because when he would look to score he would be out of rhythm. Instead of looking to get others involved first, I would prefer he go get his first. With this slight tweak in mindset he will be at 14-15 FGAs and become that 20 PPG scorer we need him to be.
There are other variables too like quality of defender and recognizing and exploiting mismatches but in general I say Boggy will look to defer less and assert himself more as a scorer over the remaining game as a natural occurrence of his experience and performance so far and relative to his teammates.
For a team to have any chance at respectability, they need to define their primary scorer and Boggy is as leading of a candidate as any other. The torch needs to be passed from Z-Bo to Boggy leading into next season though I would content Z-Bo never should have had the torch to begin with.
Boggy 58% TS
Buddy 55% TS
Randolph 54% TS (leading scorer 15 PPG)
Willie 52% TS (yikes)
Fox 49% TS
Skal 52% TS
Justin Jackson 50% TS