2019 NBA Mock Draft: The Boston Celtics clean up

It’s tough to gauge the Zags against the majority of conference opponents, but a tight contest on the road against San Diego was helpful as a benchmark test for Hachimura’s ability to run Gonzaga’s offense and create efficient shots in the halfcourt against a surprising Torero defense.

It had been a while since we took a close look at Hachimura (not since an early-December loss to Tennessee in a neutral arena), but his decision-making looked more sound on Saturday night in southern California. While he turned the ball over three times, he was smarter getting the ball out of his hands and initiating the Gonzaga offense when transition opportunities broke down. While the Bulldogs play at a top-60 pace in the country with nearly 72 possessions per game, the team can also space the floor incredibly and has playmakers at every position in the starting lineup. Hachimura is the focal point but is getting better playing off the ball and knowing the right play in simple pass vs. shoot situations.

Several times against San Diego, Hachimura dribbled to about the free throw line in semi-transition before making a good decision — popping for a midrange jumper over the defense before it could get set or dishing to a corner shooter or even dribbling back out to reset things.

Hachimura has already surpassed his minutes total from last season and despite that playing time and an increased usage rate, he has maintained his statistical impact on defense. The junior’s 1.8 percent steal rate and 2.6 percent block rate are very nice for someone his size who handles such a large portion of the offense for an efficient scoring squad. Indeed, Hachimura’s defensive box plus-minus this year is the highest of his career.

The package is obvious, beneath all that: A 6-foot-8 playmaker with the handle and shooting touch to score through and over the top of defenses is immensely valuable. As his decision-making and defensive impact balance his offensive burden, Hachimura will continue to rise back into the lottery across the league and put on a show in March.