NBA.com: Thad Young's defensive versatility gives Pacers options
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:41 pm
I was a little surprised not to see Thad Young playing defense on Lebron. I thought he had done a good job of it this season. I guess that's always an option that the team can go to if it needs, though.
Greg Rappaport
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/thad-youngs-defensive-versatility-gives-pacers-options
Because Cleveland starts small, playing Love (6'-10") at center and Jeff Green (6'-9") at power forward, Indiana was able to use Young's defensive elasticity as a weapon to slow down the Cavs during the series-opening win.
...
Young, who stands at 6'-8" and sports one of the largest wingspans on the team, has has drawn tough assignments all season and has proven to be a linchpin to Indiana's defense.
"I call him the glue," McMillan said of Young. "He's the guy whose playing spread fours at times, guys who are playing on the perimeter, he plays guys who play in the post, and Love basically does both of those things. And you gotta have a guy that has that versatility to guard the perimeter as well as guard in the paint. And Thad has been able to do that, so that's allowed us to matchup with most teams."
Greg Rappaport
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/thad-youngs-defensive-versatility-gives-pacers-options