Ayo Dosunmu desires to be pushed. That was the primary request he gave to teach Billy Donovan when the guard joined the Chicago Bulls as a rookie.
Donovan has been constant in pushing Dosunmu since, a continuing on the second-year guard’s elbow as he ranges enter and recommendation throughout video games, practices and one-on-one movie periods.
“He just wants me to reach my full potential,” Dosunmu mentioned. “He tells me a lot. He’s always coaching with tough love. I love that because it’s making me the best player. I want to soak up as much as possible.”
Tough love has been key for Dosunmu in his second season filling in as the start line guard. Even earlier than starter Lonzo Ball was dominated out earlier than the beginning of the season, Dosunmu understood the expansion the Bulls wanted from him.
He devoted his summer season to rushing up his shot, leading to extra 3-pointers and an total scoring leap. But an important space for Dosunmu’s enchancment is much less tangible than statistics: courtroom imaginative and prescient.
“I’m still trying to find those ways to impact the game in different areas, but also have an awareness of where guys are on the floor and how I can help them,” Dosunmu mentioned.
When rookies make the bounce to the NBA, the sport typically comes at them in waves. The most profitable first-year gamers adapt to the strain and tempo of the skilled recreation.
But for second-years like Dosunmu, the subsequent step is shifting from response to proactivity, particularly on the level guard place. That’s the place Dosunmu is focusing his development: studying to command choices with intention somewhat than letting the sport come to him.
“It’s just little things like reading coverages before the play starts, knowing what actions we can run through our offense to get good shots based on who’s guarding,” guard Alex Caruso mentioned. “Little things like that put the team in a position to have success, rather than waiting for the moment to arrive right in front of him and then react.”
Dosunmu’s inconsistent function throughout his rookie season stored him from establishing a real rhythm. Last season, he cut up his time nearly evenly between on-ball and off-ball possessions as he shifted between taking pictures and level guard. Now, he begins almost each possession with the ball in his fingers.
That stability in his place has helped Dosunmu discover his footing. The second-year guard is turning into extra decisive in his decision-making, particularly in transition when launching coast-to-coast drives or discover his teammates on the opposite finish of the courtroom.
Dosunmu mentioned he depends on two elements to construct poise: movie and expertise. His eagerness to soak up the trivialities required for his place has been his hallmark since arriving within the NBA. Now, his teammates really feel that attention-to-detail is turning into seen on the courtroom.
“He’s a smart player,” Caruso mentioned. “I don’t know if people talk about that enough. For how young he is, even last year, being a true rookie and coming in, to be able to play that many games at such a high level — he understands the game and he’s only going to get better.”
Dosunmu remains to be far off from the participant he hopes to turn out to be, however excessive expectations have helped the guard progress a lot sooner than the Bulls anticipated.
Even after tough night time’s reminiscent of Sunday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets — by which Dosunmu went 0-for-4 from 3-point vary whereas struggling to spark the offense — the younger guard is never rattled.
“Trials and tribulations, that always makes someone better,” Dosunmu mentioned. “How you do when you go through adversity, good games, bad games, those are what help you get better.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com