Frank Ntilikina has been great this year. But, despite flashes of his ability as a passer, we haven't seen him consistently create opportunities for his teammates. Here's a thread on some of his bigger issues.
When you see the passing charts of some of the leagues best passers (image from this fantastic piece fansided.com/2019/02/17/nyl…) you immediately note that many of them originate from deep in the paint--especially passes to the rim and corner (two highly coveted shot locations). 
When a ball handler gets deep into the paint, whether off of an isolation attempt, a PnR, or a drive and kick they typically force help defenders to come--defenses don't want to give up those shots. Invariably, this results in others being left open, and passing lanes opening up
One of Frank's biggest problems as a passer is not getting deep enough into the paint, to force help defenders to come and to open up those coveted passing windows. And he has the ability to do so/and has had the opportunities to do so but hasn't taken them. Film time!
Perhaps Frank's most impressive offensive play of the season. He beats his man cleanly off the dribble, gets to the rim and forces two help defenders to come. He then hurls a dime to Randle on the three point line who shoot, drive, or swing it to the weakside 2-on-1
On this next play, he doesn't get deep into the paint. BUT he makes the help defender commit. Once he does, it's all over. Frank can throw pocket passes, whips, scoop lobs--especially with his right hand. So, drawing the help often results in good looks for teammates
Now let's look at the bad. Here Frank does a lot right. He has a nice little hesitation dribble to set the defender up for the screen, and comes around it in the clear. But he picks the ball up much too soon. One more step forces Aldridge to commit and creates a layup for Randle
Here we have basically the exact same scenario. Frank comes around the screen clean, but picks up the ball at the edge of the paint. As a result, the drop defender can stay at home on Gibson. One more step, and that pass creates an easy layup
In this play, the lane is there. But Frank doesn't hit it, instead he pulls the ball out and resets. You'd much rather him hit that lane--WHICH IS WIDE OPEN--then the result that we got out of that play.
The same problem affects Frank in transition. Here needs one more step into the paint forces the help, and makes Randle's layup uncontested.
This is something that's pretty easily fixable. On some plays Frank is bothered by the digging defender, and that will get better as he becomes more confident w/ his handle. Others just require him to be more aggressive.
Figuring out how to take these extra steps will be huge, b/c when he opens passing windows he's really quite good.
He's got the right amount of patience
He's got the right amount of trickery
And the right amount of passing skill to be a solid PnR passer for a long time
The only other critique I have: sometimes he misses windows like this to make safe passes. I'd like to see him be more aggressive and make this pass to Ellington. He can hit these windows
Related reading: check out @_prezidente piece last year on Frank's struggles finishing in the lane. Part of the issue seems to be related--he's not getting deep enough in the paint
postingandtoasting.com/2019/2/10/1821…
postingandtoasting.com/2019/2/10/1821…
