By: Ben McCormick
December 5, 2022
Dariq Whitehead, or at least the version of him we know he is capable of being, is still waiting to be unleashed. Whitehead hasn't scored more than seven points in a game so far this season and is scoring 5.3 PPG. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but looked hesitant at times. Whitehead appears to force a lot of shots as he hopes to see big shots go down. It has not worked out in his favor thus far, but as more time passes and he becomes more comfortable on the court and more removed from his injury, opportunities will present themselves for Whitehead.
I like to think of Whitehead's start in similar terms to A.J. Griffin last season. Griffin failed to score more than five points until his fifth game in a Duke uniform when he had a breakout game vs. South Carolina State with 18 points. Even after he had that game, it was followed up with just two combined points over the next three games. Griffin similarly dealt with a foot injury, and was slow to start, but now, he has two 24 point games as a rookie in the NBA and is knocking on the door of a double-figure average just over a month into his career.
Both players were projected to be top-five picks heading into the season, Griffin's slow start and inconsistency at Duke likely even made some teams weary of drafting him on draft night. That may account for (at least in part) for his slip to the 16th pick. But Griffin has been quick to carve out his role in the NBA. His skill level was always there, it just took some time to get over the injuries and into a groove.
I believe the same to be true for Whitehead. The start has been less than desirable, but you watch this highlight reel and tell me that this is a bad player...the only thing holding Whitehead back are playing time, injury, and confidence.
He is clearly lacking some of the same explosiveness, and that is detracting from his overall game. But that is easily attributed to injury, and reluctance to go all out due to the injury. He is lacking a bit of confidence. But when you are talking about a player with the talent level of Whitehead's, the confidence will return. And when it does...look out.
If anything, Whitehead's slow start is something that should bring optimism for the team. They have already performed well. Certainly not perfect, but well without the player projected to be the team's best prospect. That says a lot about where this team can go come March once Whitehead (and Dereck Lively II) have gotten into a real groove.
Kommentare