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The most interesting thing I heard postgame, after the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Washington Wizards Sunday, was this from coach Mike Dunlap on rookie forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist:
“With Michael, our biggest job is to stay out of his way,’’ Dunlap said, adding you could hinder MKG’s instincts by “giving him a thousand plays.’’
If you saw Kidd-Gilchrist Sunday, or most of his single college season at Kentucky, you knew what Dunlap meant. Kidd-Gilchrist, at his best, is a box score-filler. He won’t just be a scorer. He’ll be a productive rebounder, both offensively and defensively, and he’ll turn defense into offense with his steals.
He made a steal in the open court, reaching around Wizards forward Trevor Ariza, punching the ball out of Ariza’s arms, and scooping it in for a transition dunk. That was more dynamic than any defensive play the Bobcats made last season. (Yes, I know – faint praise – but still.)
Kidd-Gilchrist can dribble and pass with more proficiency than I saw him demonstrate in college. During the Las Vegas summer league, Dunlap told Kidd-Gilchrist to be a point-forward – as in don’t be reluctant to bring the ball up court, or to initiate the offense off the dribble. He’s so quick, and a good enough driver, that opponents will be forced to foul him (illustrated by his six free throws in 27 minutes Sunday.)
Really the only concern with Kidd-Gilchrist is his jump shot, and the coaches are already working to fix the hitch and the side spin. That’s going to take time to resolve.
Preseason – particularly this one, with a new coaching staff and five new rotation players – is about experimentation. One of the intriguing things Dunlap explored Sunday was a small lineup, with Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon and Gerald Henderson all in the game. In that scenario, Kidd-Gilchrist would move from small forward to power forward.
That’s a lot to ask from a 6-foot-8 rookie, but Dunlap thinks it’s worth a try. Based on the versatility Kidd-Gilchrist has already shown, I think he’s up for it.
