Cooper Flag and Berne?

January is the start of the calendar year, but in the NBA, it’s “Rookie Wall” month. That is, the moment when the rhythm of a long regular part begins to burden the legs of beginners, who have never played so much in their life. Maybe that’s what he’s going through Cooper Flaggvery slow.

He missed the game against the Blazers, with 15 points on 6/20 shooting, and didn’t fare much better against the Sixers, with 12 points on 5/15 shooting. in his defeat…

“Our energy is down”, notes the newbie in the Mavs’ botched second quarter. “We didn’t shoot, we lost balls. We have to do better to avoid losing possession and stop.”

Less energy, clumsiness, turnovers (seven in two games)… This applies not only to the Mavericks, but also to the former Duke, whose legs are heavy according to his coach.

Already played more minutes in the NBA than in the NCAA

“He’s playing really well, but he’s probably a little tired. He’s been playing a lot. He’s never played more minutes in his career than he did in college.”rightly announces Jason Kidd as Cooper Flagg already has 1,177 NBA minutes in less than three months, compared to 1,135 in the NCAA. “Just look at the physical impact. He found his teammates, but we didn’t shoot.”

The author of two beautiful dunks against Philly, the rookie still makes sure everything is going well on a physical level.

“I feel solid. I’m doing well, I’m starting to understand my routine better, what works and what doesn’t. I feel pretty good”he answers. “Obviously there are days when I feel tired, when I don’t feel 100%. But we figure out how to deal with it and how to be tough.”

How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / 3 points in an attempt; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.