Ott views Tobe Awaka's offensive rebounding against Khaman Maluach as valuable early reps showing the rookie what the NBA level demands.
“Wings come in, you can't double team the 5, he has one versus Man Man and he got the better of Man Man. So I think those reps are great for Man Man to get right now early in the preseason just to see exactly what it takes at this level. It's every possession and it's only going to increase.”
Maluach will defend in space and in pick-and-roll with drop coverage still an option.
“We feel comfortable with Man-man all over the floor, up the floor, in pick-and-roll, and then obviously we can drop it back to protect the rim, but he's gonna get into some of those scenarios. In games, you get cross-match in transition. He's gonna have to know personnel, and he understands it, and the biggest piece, he wants to take the challenge to that.”
