Really perplexing.
Beginning of the season, the guy was fearless. It really caught me off guard because he STUNK playing for the Canadian team. I mean, Andrew Nicholson was their best player and it wasnt even close. Then Tristan showed up for training camp, and surprised me with his conviction and the way he was playing off instinct.
I wonder if it was feeling like he had a leadership role and just having supreme confidence in himself as a result? I dont know, but I watched the Brooklyn game again last night after the game and this kid looks like two entirely different individuals. Here lies the problem, against Brooklyn and then Charlotte, Tristan was playing off instinct and not worried about his feet or sizing up the defender. Personally, I feel he will always be awkward and unorthodox to a degree but if he's out there thinking instead of just reacting like he did in the first two games, thats when he becomes very pedestrian.
But when you play this game, if you are out there thinking instead of reacting and trusting in yourself to react accordingly, you will look how Tristan has been looking lately and being outplayed by these 3rd tier big men.
And I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but, coaching plays a MAJOR part in that. Trusting your coach to put you in a position to attack. Trying to counter what your coach is doing that you know doesnt work. Playing in a system that puts you in positions not conducive to you playing without having to think too much. This truly is amazing to see and hear people totally excuse a major part of what determines how players produce on the court. A coach truly can/does make a difference.