A Scout’s Take: Evaluating Trentyn Flowers’ Resume Game Against the Illawarra Hawks
Trentyn Flowers delivered a breakout performance and resume game against the Illawarra Hawks. The NBL Next Star and 2024 NBA draft prospect dropped 23 points including 18 points in the fourth quarter to spark the 36ers to victory. What should we take away from his best game of the early season?
Box Score: 20 minutes, 23 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 turnovers, 8-10 FGA, 5-5 3PA
Off-Ball Production
YES! YES! YES! (in my Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson voice). This was essentially everything that I and other evaluators wanted to see from Flowers off the ball. Before the start of the regular season, Flowers was moved from a lead handler role to an off-ball role and this game appears to be a signal of his growing comfort with that switch.
His perfect 5-of-5 from deep all came from off-ball catch-and-shoots where he was ready to confidently let it fly. There was some diversity in those including a transition, movement and stand-still corner three.
Flowers’ off ball production wasn't just limited to three-point makes. He drew a foul on a timely and purposeful cut, curled around a screen into a spin and scored through contact, and took a DHO (dribble handoff) into the lane to finish with his off hand around the defender.
More On Ball Opportunities Coming?
If Flowers can continue to develop and thrive off the ball, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him progressively receive more on ball opportunities throughout the season to tap into the playmaking ability he showcased on the high school/grassroots scene.
In what I believe was his only pick-and-roll rep, Flowers got downhill then utilized a hesitation move to slightly freeze the defender before delivering a drop off pass in traffic to Humphries for an and one finish.
Until those on ball reps are increased, be on the lookout for how Flowers can create for others in transition, on cuts and closeout attacks.
Competitive and Engaged Defense
Flowers was consistently active and engaged defensively throughout, often fighting through screen and willing to defend both and off the ball. Although he does not project to be defensive stopper at the next level, he does possess the physical tools in his 6-foot-8 size, 6-foot-10 wingspan and quick twitch athleticism, to at worst become a competitive, multi-positional defender with some switchability.
A few defensive possessions stood out that were very encouraging, starting with defensive event creation. While helping in the pick-and-roll, Flowers rotated over underneath the basket to strip the ball from the roller, leading to a made three for the 36ers.
Below, he switches the pick-and-roll then fights through another on-ball screen to stay in front of his man to effectively contest the shot and force the miss then takes off to run the wing.
In the next clip, Flowers chases the sharpshooting Tyler Harvey around a down screen and forces him to give the ball up. Flowers then closes out under control to the open corner man to prevent a 3-point attempt and eventually gets scored on by a tough pull-up three despite a great contest. Can't play much better defense than that, you just tip your hat to the shotmaking of Wani Swaka Lo Buluk.
Probably the only real negative defensive possession from Flowers came from being too high in his stance, which he generally got away with in the game because of his activity and length. It’s very correctable, just comes down to desire and consistency.
Closing Thoughts
This was an incredible resume game for Flowers and a tremendous sign of the type of value he could eventually provide to a team. There will be ups and downs just like any prospect, but the way he’s adjusting to a role switch and infused the 36ers with life as he led them to a thrilling win is something all evaluators should take note of.
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