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The NBA game forces players into boxes. They’re asked to play specific, and sometimes simple, roles to help the team. The best players can both fit into and transcend that box when they need to.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s unorthodox basketball upbringing has made him a unique player. He didn’t play in the AAU circuits or even in high school. Instead, his skills were developed through high-level pick-up games that reward all-around talent rather than someone who is just an expert at one or two things.
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Most players come into the league having already been forced into their mold. Tomlin didn’t, meaning he possesses skills that are uncommon for someone in his position. Those are seen most when he’s running in the open court or when attacking off the dribble if a defender closes out too hard.
That versatility is intriguing. Yet, it means little if you ultimately can’t fit into the box that the NBA puts you in. This is what Tomlin needs to figure out this season.
The simplest offensive role for him would be as a stretch four who operates mostly from the corner since he isn’t a pick-and-roll finisher. The Cavs tried him in that role last season, but he struggled to make a positive offensive impact once opponents stopped closing out to him, aside from being a strong offensive rebounder.
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You can only attack closeouts if you’ve given your defender a reason to actually close out. Tomlin didn’t do that last season, as he went 26-for-107 (24%) on corner threes. That was the worst percentage for a power forward last season from that spot. That’s on pretty high volume as well, since over a third of his field-goal attempts came from the corner. It’s difficult to envision Tomlin as a valuable member of an NBA offense if this doesn’t drastically change.
Developing a corner three-point shot is easier said than done — especially for someone turning 26 this season. Even though Tomlin is younger than most in terms of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/cavs-season-preview-nae-qwan-110000216.html
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Publish date : 2026-09-23 11:00:00
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