Two sides of DeAndre Jordan's defense

[og15]

The brunt of the issue lies with the second unit. It’s well documented: The Clippers’ bench is a problem, one that persists on both ends of the floor. With the exception of Reggie Bullock and Ryan Hollins, the second unit is allowing perilous individual defensive numbers. The starting lineup has been impeccable, permitting just 100.9 points per 100 possessions. This figure, expanded to the entire club, would rank the Clippers amongst the leagues best ten defensive teams

When Griffin and Jordan played reversed roles on the defensive end (essentially, DeAndre zoning up the backside with Griffin hedging), offense came a lot easier for the Warriors. According to SportVU’s Player Tracking data, when he’s within five feet of the rim Jordan allows 4.9 made field goals at a rate of 62.0 percent — Al Jefferson is the only starting center in the league to allow a higher accuracy (Anderson Varejao is third at 61.8 percent). Griffin allows 1.4 less attempts at the rim and concedes 55.6 percent of them.

Even when he steps away from the rim though, Jordan has clearly discernible faults. As much as he’s improved his pick-and-roll coverage this season, he’s still spotty in hedge-and-recover situations and often has trouble keeping up with the NBA’s faster guards. Here’s a clip from L.A.’s second victory against the Rockets this season.

http://clipperblog.com/2013/11/19/the-t ... s-defense/

[TheNewEra]

Man to man defense does seem a better option for us.

[og15]

Man to man defense does seem a better option for us.

Most teams are playing man defense with zone principles. The issue isn't man vs zone persay, but that when the opposing big is defending the pick and roll, the big that isn't in the action is playing a type of zone defense in the paint. DJ might just be having issues with the reads when he's in that position and isn't cutting off players early enough, etc

[Neddy]

can't fix stupid. we need a trade to assist DJ with better perimeter defense.

[QRich3]

Very good article, nice read. I wouldn't worry too much about DJ's bad percetage on shots defended at the rim, it's early and he's just adapting to a new way of playing defense. Numbers look bad and a lot of that is probably his fault, but I see him going on the right direction. As we can see in those examples his decision making is, while not surprisingly great, quite ok most of the time. He probably won't ever be Roy Hibbert but if he can be an average to good rim protector by the end of the regular season it'd already be a huge thing for us.

Those stats are also probably a bit skewed by us playing at a really fast pace (we're still 6th in the league at 97.5 possesions a game) and the coaches giving priority to getting up the court to score and crashing the offensive glass, rather than having time to set up the defense. We are 7th in ofensive rebound %, something unheard of for a Rivers coached team, and most of the good defensive teams so far (Indiana, San Antonio, Golden State) are at the bottom of that ORB% list.

[og15]

I think Chicago is a testament to the fact that offensive rebounds and great defense have no bone to pick with each other. I don't think I've noticed any extra fast break points being given up because the bigs were on the glass.

[QRich3]

I think Chicago is more like an anomaly nearly impossible to replicate, they've been for years the only team able to have a top defense and be at the top of the offensive rebounding list. Their coach is a maniac who somehow manages to transmit that OCD to his players, I really don't know how to explain their numbers in this case.

I think crashing the offensive glass hurts your defense not only in transition or semi-transition points, if your center is slow to get back, he's gonna be more tired when he's back and he's already gonna be out of position when the other team is already running a play. Even if they don't score inmediately, your center not being back when they start the play means you're gonna be rotating and scrambling out of position to defend it.

And DJ is by far the guy who crashes the boards the most on our team, he's already got more than double the offensive rebounds Griffin has, an over six times more than every other player on our roster, so it's only natural his defensive numbers are affected by this the most.

[og15]

I think it would affect team defensive numbers, not really the individual, but the article is speaking more of his defense in certain sets, not his whole defense. His whole defense has been fine, just making some wrong reads once in a while. It is something correctable really.

I think the Clippers have a tough time saying their two big men are guys who can't crash the offensive glass and get back before the other big men though, considering they can both consistently beat all the other big men down the floor when running to offense.

According to team rankings, so far in the season, Clippers are the 6th best team in opponent fast break efficiency:
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/op ... efficiency

Also despite the pace, Clippers are the 5th best team in limiting fast break points:
http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/op ... s-per-game

Rivaling Chicago and Indiana, so that's why I'm not sure offensive rebounding or fast break points are the issue, at least it isn't supported by any data, and in the games I haven't felt it was. Half court defense has been the issue, too many breakdowns and opponents getting too many easy baskets.

[Woodsanity]

I have seen DJ just flat out not bother to contest shots so many times this season. Last game I saw several players make runners/floaters right in his face and he didn't even put his hands up. He has been disappointing to say the least.

[og15]

I think some of it is trying to avoid foul trouble, and that's a hard situation, though at least he doesn't do the Mullens and give weak fouls where the opposition gets an AND1. The perimeter guys have to help him out with not allowing easy penetration too, because if the penetration is too easy, then he doesn't really have time to get to proper contesting position either.

Blake used to do that a lot where he would just let guys go back and do nothing, but it is more about position than effort, he wouldn't be in the right position. He's gotten better. Of course, if a good FT shooter is going in for an easy two and your only option in contesting is to foul, is it really worth fouling? You get in foul trouble and that player has an 80%+ chance of still getting two points at the line. it's really not worth it , despite people having the "make them earn it at the line idea. It's worth it against mediocre FT shooters,

On the other hand, if you are in good position and you foul anyways, that's just a gamble you take, but attempting to contest when there is a high chance of a foul really doesn't benefit anything to the team. Sure a small percentage of the time you might contest well or get away with a foul, but that 10% isn't worth the 90% of the time that you pick up a foul and the 10% of that 90 that you give up an and 1.