Game Report: Abramo Canka | BC Siauliai@Nevezis, 10/25/2020
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Stats
24 minutes
11 points — 1.15 PPP — One +1
- 4/5 2 PTS
- 1/2 3 PTS
- 0/1 FT
Three assists
Two pass to assists
Three rebounds — all defensive
Matchups
#4 Eimantas Stankevicius: 22 years old, point guard, 6-foot-0
#10 Elvar Fridriksson: 25 years old, guard, 6-foot-0
#79 Mindaugas Lukauskis: 41 years old, forward, 6-foot-6
Abramo Canka is an 18 years old 6-foot-6 guard-forward.
Offensive Summary
Abramo Canka has shown such a serious performance for the first time in his professional basketball career in my opinion. I mean, Canka had well in Legadue Gold in Italy and ANGT in youth events. But against Siauliai, he made a significant contribution to his team’s 96–77 victory by scoring 11 points in 24 minutes in his serious test in the top league of Lithuanian basketball.
Nevezis’s offensive tactic throughout the match was based on two things. The first is to play the zipper offense, in which Panagiotis Kalaitzakis is key, in the left offensive channel. Nevezis broke the opponent’s matchup with the zippers a ton of times in this match. Created chaos in the opponent’s defensive geometry.
Second, feeding backdoor cuts with passes from the post or top of the key. Vaidas Kariniauskas, Domantas Vilys and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, in particular, did well in this.
Abramo Canka was generally on the right side of the offense. So he was on the weak side. He was between the right corner and the right-wing. He used the balls that came to him well, while the opponent focused on the play on the strong-side, Canka scored quick and unexpected points as off the ball or secondary-third ballhandler. Managed to cut the opponent’s defense line well.
Siauliai does not have the strongest defense line of LKL of course, but I think it was very important for Canka to show his burst and strong attack to the rim abilities against experienced players. He also created his own mid-range shot in one position using his body. In one position, AC hit the 3-points shot as a spot-up shooter.
The only thing that made me doubt the offense was this after this match about him. Canka dribbled in transitions one time. He was quick, really quick with the ball, but despite he did not make TO, his live dribble look really problematic. Bounces were not good. I think that he has to work on his primary ballhandling ability on the full court.
On the passing side, he did three assists, two of these assists were craftiness but in some possessions, he forced the pass, but no TO.
Defensive Summary
His flashes on the defensive end were the fifty/fifty situations. The best thing defensively about his body positioning.
Canka kept his stance lower against the offense. Thus, he was able to react quickly and accurately to the possibility of his opponent’s sudden change of direction or speed. He was quick laterally, he made the right moves. Also, one hand was always up while the other was always down to avoid foul. He really used well his entire body to cover all the angles of his opponent. Contested some shots around the mid-range by using his BBIQ and good timing.
However, after watching this game, two big question marks came to my mind about his defensive performance. Abramo Canka is a factor on the glass, energetic in the passing lanes, and a high-level motor defender in general. But in this game, his closeouts defenses were bad. He did mistake six times on closeouts situations due to his lack of elite quickness and athleticism for this level. I mean, he was not bad on closeouts at the ANGT level. The other question mark is his physical fight. Canka is a defender who can fight chest to chest and back to back. But in this game, the offense pushed him three times in live dribble actions. And the first 76 seconds in this game, Canka did two fouls due to lack of experience, physical tools, and athleticism. So, I think his improving curve physically will be important on the defensive end particularly.
Overall
Abramo Canka had a great game. Scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds, made three assists, had two steals and 0 TO in 24 minutes at the top of the Lithuanian basketball. Also, it is important that he showed he can play as a third ballhandler/cutter/off the ball manipulator/slasher. Defensively, okay, not too bad, but clearly should work on technique but at the end of the day, he is just 18 years old. Last and probably the most important note. In the third-quarter, Siauliai did a great job by using Canka’s defense and did trap on him. After six-seven possessions, Canka went to the bench because he struggles. But head coach of Nevezis, Marius Kiltinavičius showed his trust in Canka and gave chance, told what to do while on the court.
Clips
It was really good possession for his ceiling. Because Abramo Canka is not a great passer. Overall, read and reacts. But in this offensive sequence, he goes to the left post after pindown and left PnR, draws help-side and gives pretty basic pass with good timing. Court vision and BBIQ are important here.
***
It was my favorite and have very simple reason. Canka can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end but his shooting ability always creates concerns for me. However, in this possession, he drives to the defender, uses his left hand to push him, pushed, creates space, nice elevation despite the bad loading, and hit the mid-range.
***
Meanwhile…
***
Too impressive in my opinion. After takes the ball, gives a great body and eye fake, manipulates the defender, uses burst, attacks aggressively, finishes with his left hand after protected the ball with his body very well.
***
Nice d. Despite has a mismatch, does not step back, uses his hand actively against face-up shooting.
***
Smart move. After takes the ball in transition on baseline, waits on post-up game, try to understand Nevezis’ formation, what the other mans doing, protects the ball by using his lower body, nice distance between his legs, turns to the basket, draws the defenders, jumps and gives a perfect pass.
***
The down screen comes here for Canka. Takes the ball, drives to the basket without hesitation because sees the open line, first step is almost excellent, looks like jumps unbalanced but this is his style. And finishes by using the glass smoothly.
***
Runs on the open door, takes the ball, before jumps to the basket, looks the right-side defender’s footwork to understand what will he do to protect the rim, uses his body, shifts his weight to the defender, uses the glass and scores.