The OFFICIAL Rookie impressions thread pt. II

[Wizenheimer]

looking at those opponent PER and eFG numbers is a little tricky. Somebody like Ross is going to be matched up against a lot of 2nd unit players. Guys like Kidd-Gilcrest and Lillard are generally matched up against starting players

[ComboGuardCity]

I'm a Pistons fan so I'm biased, but for defense:

Interior
1. Drummond
2. Davis
3. Valanciunas


Perimeter
1. Taylor
2. Ross
3. MKG
4. Harkless
5. Beal

[ComboGuardCity]

looking at those opponent PER and eFG numbers is a little tricky. Somebody like Ross is going to be matched up against a lot of 2nd unit players. Guys like Kidd-Gilcrest and Lillard are generally matched up against starting players

Lillard is a below average defensive player at this point...probably because he shoulders such a large load offensively.

[nuposse04]

Whats the closest comparison for Taylor so far? I haven't seen much of his play but he's getting pretty accolades according to you guys. In a league beginning to get dominated by wing play, having two shut down wing defenders in taylor and MKG could be huge down the line for the bobcats.

[ComboGuardCity]

Whats the closest comparison for Taylor so far? I haven't seen much of his play but he's getting pretty accolades according to you guys. In a league beginning to get dominated by wing play, having two shut down wing defenders in taylor and MKG could be huge down the line for the bobcats.

Afflalo Defensively. Thabo offensively. Pretty decent player.

[XtotheDeezy]

Tonight will be another good run for Monroe and Drummond, going up against Garnett. I want to see these guys brush off KG's mind games and throw out a dominant game. It'll be great to start seeing more and more of Drummond pumping his rocks off in terms of impact...something we've been seeing up until now.

[TheKingOfVa360]

January stats for Beal:
48% FG and 60% 3pt. At 19 ppg too

season stats for Beal:

39% FG and 36% 3pt. at 14 ppg

He was playing next to zero talent most of the season. Now that the team is healthy Beal has been playing like a star and is only 19 years old

[Wizenheimer]

looking at those opponent PER and eFG numbers is a little tricky. Somebody like Ross is going to be matched up against a lot of 2nd unit players. Guys like Kidd-Gilcrest and Lillard are generally matched up against starting players

Lillard is a below average defensive player at this point...probably because he shoulders such a large load offensively.

perhaps, but maybe he's not as bad as perceived. He gives up a PER of 13.4 and an eFG of .447 on 17.9 points/48

Lillard: 13.4 > .447 > 17.9 (lower numbers are better)

Jeff Teague: 16.7 > .513 > 20.3
Deron Williams: 13.6 > .493 > 19.9
Rajon Rondo: 14.8 > .499 > 18.7
Kemba Walker: 18.8 > .519 > 21.1
Kyrie Irving: 18.1 > .513 > 21.1
Ty Lawson: 13.4 > .469 > 17.7
Stephen Curry: 16.2 > .496 > 21.9
Jeremy Lin: 15.5 > .475 > 19.7
Eric Bledsoe: 13.4 > .435 > 20.0
Mike Conley: 13.9 > .438 > 17.8
Brandon Jennings: 16.9 > .505 > 21.1
Russel Westbrook: 15.6 > .502 > 18.6
Jrue Holiday: 14.2 > .468 > 19.5

now, those numbers were taken from 82games. They are usually pretty accurate about their data, but I suppose Lillard could be getting a bump because of playing with two of the better perimeter defenders in the league, Batum & Matthews. On the other hand, he's playing on a team that has no shot-blockers or dominant paint defenders

still, it's pretty interesting that of all those young PG's the only two that have numbers comparably as good as Lillard are Beldsoe and Conley. And Bledsoe has spent a lot of time against 2nd unit players

my take is that the narrative of Lillard being a bad defender is probably overstated for a couple of reasons. One is that he's not as bad as people say. the other reason is contextual in that it's nearly impossible to defend NBA PG's and if Lillard is "bad", so is just about everybody else

[ComboGuardCity]

I hate using advanced stats to measure a perimeter player's defensive impact personally. But he's been getting torched by every opposing PG it seems the past few games.

[NO-KG-AI]

Drummond has been really impressive defensively, as I said in another thread, he's been able to use his size without getting in foul trouble, which is pretty rare for someone that young and big. Lately, he's been seeing a spike in fouls, so we'll see which one is the real pattern I suppose.

Anthony Davis hasn't had a huge amount of trouble with strength, but his biggest strength has been what gets him in trouble too. He tries to get to everything, and will chase himself out of plays. He had a block on a 3 point attempt the other day, where he came from so far away to block it.

DAvis has seen his FT% drop some lately, I'd like to see him get back into the 80, but he's been playing really well lately, and I like how he's being handled, even if sometimes he gets his minutes cut despite good play.

[Shem]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu5LyvOe1bY[/youtube]

[Shem]

I hate using advanced stats to measure a perimeter player's defensive impact personally. But he's been getting torched by every opposing PG it seems the past few games.

Sounds like you're just reading the box scores. Like last night's game against the Bucks, Jennings got a lot of his production against Portland's 2nd unit PG's, especially when Nolan Smith came in for that disastrous 2:37 that cost them the game.

[Bskey]

the other reason is contextual in that it's nearly impossible to defend NBA PG's and if Lillard is "bad", so is just about everybody else

This is something I've always noticed people ignore. Even the PGs that are considered good defenders constantly get blown by. It's just almost impossible to stop a PG from getting by his man or at least in good position to make a play. A single pick can do the trick quite easily even if you are having trouble. PG defense is the first line of defense and given the nature of basketball it's just strange to expect a PG to somehow stop their opponent on a consistent basis.

There are times when Lillard plays great defense on his man, but it's still not easy to stop them.

[ComboGuardCity]

I hate using advanced stats to measure a perimeter player's defensive impact personally. But he's been getting torched by every opposing PG it seems the past few games.

Sounds like you're just reading the box scores. Like last night's game against the Bucks, Jennings got a lot of his production against Portland's 2nd unit PG's, especially when Nolan Smith came in for that disastrous 2:37 that cost them the game.

I know you love your guy, but Jennings isn't the only one who lit him up. Everyone has been doing it. And he did not score the bulk of his points against the second unit.

[lukekarts]

I hate using advanced stats to measure a perimeter player's defensive impact personally. But he's been getting torched by every opposing PG it seems the past few games.

Sounds like you're just reading the box scores. Like last night's game against the Bucks, Jennings got a lot of his production against Portland's 2nd unit PG's, especially when Nolan Smith came in for that disastrous 2:37 that cost them the game.

I know you love your guy, but Jennings isn't the only one who lit him up. Everyone has been doing it. And he did not score the bulk of his points against the second unit.

Opposing PG's are averaging 13.4 points / 6.6 assists vs Lillard (per 36) on 44.7% eFG% / 13.1 PER. Conversely Lillard is 17.2 points / 6.2 assists on 49.6% eFG% / 16.1 PER. (82games.com).

There's absolutely nothing to worry about.

[Shem]

I hate using advanced stats to measure a perimeter player's defensive impact personally. But he's been getting torched by every opposing PG it seems the past few games.

Sounds like you're just reading the box scores. Like last night's game against the Bucks, Jennings got a lot of his production against Portland's 2nd unit PG's, especially when Nolan Smith came in for that disastrous 2:37 that cost them the game.

I know you love your guy, but Jennings isn't the only one who lit him up. Everyone has been doing it. And he did not score the bulk of his points against the second unit.

Again, you didn't see the game. And Jennings got a lot points off of fast breaks and was fouled intentionally down the stretch which would explain a lot of foul shots. Plus he did light up Price and Smith for almost half of his point production last night.

[ComboGuardCity]

Jennings: 30/8 45%
Irving: 31/5 54%
Lawson: 24/12 52%
WestbrooK: 18/9 25%
Curry: 22/12 32%

He's been inconsistent to say the least over the past 5 games. I also saw a full 48 minutes against the Pistons and he got torched by Brandon Knight.

[Shem]

Jennings: 30/8 45%
Irving: 31/5 54%
Lawson: 24/12 52%
WestbrooK: 18/9 25%
Curry: 22/12 32%

That's a small list considering the Blazers have played 40 games.

He's been inconsistent to say the least over the past 5 games. I also saw a full 48 minutes against the Pistons and he got torched by Brandon Knight.

You mean Brandon Knight had a hot hand. Any player who has that can't be stopped no matter what unless you don't want that guy to beat you and throw double teams at him, which is what Lillard gets every night now. Impressive that a rookie PG is being treated like he's the best player on the Blazers that includes LaMarcus Aldridge on it.

[ComboGuardCity]

Jennings: 30/8 45%
Irving: 31/5 54%
Lawson: 24/12 52%
WestbrooK: 18/9 25%
Curry: 22/12 32%

That's a small list considering the Blazers have played 40 games.

He's been inconsistent to say the least over the past 5 games. I also saw a full 48 minutes against the Pistons and he got torched by Brandon Knight.

You mean Brandon Knight had a hot hand. Any player who has that can't be stopped no matter what unless you don't want that guy to beat you and throw double teams at him, which is what Lillard gets every night now. Impressive that a rookie PG is being treated like he's the best player on the Blazers that includes LaMarcus Aldridge on it.

Its the most recent 5 games. Jesus, I know you have a hard on for lillard but any sort of criticism when justified doesn't mean he isn't a good player. He's a below average defensive player at this point. Every analyst has said it and even Lillard himself says he's weak on defense.

[ComboGuardCity]

Jennings: 30/8 45%
Irving: 31/5 54%
Lawson: 24/12 52%
WestbrooK: 18/9 25%
Curry: 22/12 32%

That's a small list considering the Blazers have played 40 games.

He's been inconsistent to say the least over the past 5 games. I also saw a full 48 minutes against the Pistons and he got torched by Brandon Knight.

You mean Brandon Knight had a hot hand. Any player who has that can't be stopped no matter what unless you don't want that guy to beat you and throw double teams at him, which is what Lillard gets every night now. Impressive that a rookie PG is being treated like he's the best player on the Blazers that includes LaMarcus Aldridge on it.

Its the most recent 5 games. Jesus, I know you have a hard on for lillard but any sort of criticism when justified doesn't mean he isn't a good player. He's a below average defensive player at this point. Every analyst has said it and even Lillard himself says he's weak on defense.