By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zalgiris Kaunas coach Andrea Trinchieri addressed the adjustment of Lonnie Walker IV to the EuroLeague defenses that can be far more physical than in the NBA.
“We struggled in the third quarter due also to the fact that Efes raised their physicality on their defense,” Trinchieri said after Zalgiris‘ win over Anadolu Efes. “We have to learn how to play against this. Especially Lonnie, who was amazing in the first half. But this kind of treatment doesn’t exist in the NBA. He has to pick it up quick because he’s an important player for us.”
Walker had a spectacular first-half performance with 16 points on 3-4 triples to push Zalgiris toward getting a 48 – 30 lead at the break. Efes took the former NBAer out of his rhythm in the third quarter by becoming far more physical against him.
He ultimately finished with 18. “He had an amazing first half and a so-so second half,” Trinchieri added.
“We started going more aggressive on Lonnie Walker as a pick n’ roll user,” Efes coach Tomislav Mijatovic had previously commented. “We had to do it because we had some difficulties guarding him in situations that were more conservative in the first half. He scored some very easy pull up shots and threes. Then we started switching more aggressively with our ‘4’ man.”
It’s a tricky process to adapt to European baskeball – especially EuroLeague – for any US player who makes the overseas journey for the first time in his career. After a scoreless start and some some struggles in the beginning, Walker had managed to gradually unfold his offensive talent and is now averaging a team-high 16.3 points in 22:38 over seven games.
“Every player is important,” Trinchieri later commented regarding Walker. “I don’t want to have a system depending on one player. He [Walker] could not find a way to play against a very very physical defense, to the limit of the foul. Holding, pushing and hitting. He’s not used to this. We won the game with him on the bench. This is a team sport. Of course my job will be showing him clips and film of the game, showing him where he can improve.”
Trinchieri then compared Walker to Panathinaikos superstar Kendrick Nunn. A fellow former NBAer to Walker, Nunn signed with the Greens last year in October and it took him some time to learn the tricks of the European basketball trade. Once he did though, he proceeded to have an MVP-caliber run and made the EuroLeague First Team to help the team win the championship.
He’s now considered as arguably the best player in the EuroLeague.
“I want to remind you that last December, Kendrick Nunn is not the Kendrick Nunn he is now,” Trinchieri said. “Lonnie, to tell you the truth, he’s ahead of schedule. Ups and downs will be there. 85 percent of the things he’s facing, he hasn’t faced in his life. I like that he’s humble. He plays hard. Sometimes he’s overdribbling. But he’s able to put his talent at the service of the team.”