RealGM

Discuss.

Im not good with defensive stats and advanced metrics and all of that for defense (dunno where to find em).

but from what I can see.
Griffin looks like he's been a solid defender aside from the few times it looks like he's simply just not giving an effort.

DeAndre started off pretty hot to me.
But I was troubled by his job on Brook Lopez.

what are u guys thoughts on their defense early on?

From the games I've watched (probably around half, rest I haven't been able to)

Griffin: a lot better for the most part, his job on Love I could definitely tell he's improved and overall I think he has quite a bit. Sometimes (more on help defense) it's pure lack of effort which I'm surprised with as even as late as Kaman today said Griffin is the hardest working player he's ever met. So hopefully that's just a focus thing but definitely when he's focused and knows he's got a job to do (which should be every night) like on Love, I'd say much improved.

DJ: still jumps way to much and gives up easy baskets which he shouldn't for his size. Has on and off patches where he's really good then quite bad.

Overall they give up to many easy baskets and it shows. Still a lot of work to do but it's getting there. Defense is our main problem as a team so it's not just those 2 that need working on.

Griffin seems to get his hands on the ball more on D. I see him tipping the ball a lot more than previous seasons, but he still isn't the best defender and is more or less the same.

DJ just isn't consistent and I don't know if VDN restricting his minutes when he isn't doing well is the best idea to fix the issue. In the beginning of the season he looked great, even against good bigs like Duncan and Aldridge. Then every now and then he goes back to old DJ.

Both of them still struggle on rotations. You see them communicating afterwards, so, that's a good sign. You should add in rebounding too, cause both still struggle with that/refuse to get position and box out.

griffin's defensive rating has improved at 100, and DJ at 101. that means now both are respectable defensive players among all NBA players and that is a great improvement from where they started. If DJ was getting a real starter's minutes, I'm sure he will lead the league in blockshots and look much better as a defender, but as other posters have pointed out he still jumps on fakes and gets unnecessary fouls and both DJ and Griffin needs to boxout more consistently, but i am satisfied with their progress so far and expect nothing less than excellence in their future.

DJ couldn't beat Ibaka because that guy is a blocking machine, DJ is at 2.8 blocks/36, Ibaka had 4.8 last season and is at 3.7 this season, so yea, he's way ahead of the pack.

Watch Blake hedging on screens, he's a lot more aggressive, hands moving to block passing lanes, and gets into position on time more consistently, which helps prevent splits, etc. He also rotates back into position better, he's communicating better, and he's improved in terms of closing out on shooters, which was one thing he used to be really lazy in doing. He's also more active wih his hands and getting deflections, which are always valuable. It's a good mixture of better understanding and increased effort.

DJ wasn't bad defensively last season. His faults were highlighted too much that the good he did was forgotten. He alters shots, he communicates, he generally gets to his spots, but he does still struggle with getting a body on a man. His man to man defense is good or awful depending on the matchup, but it isn't awful overall by any means. Problem is that people don't remember the games when he plays good man to man defense, just the one where he's a jumping jack and gets beat on or fouls a lot.

They aren't perfect, no one is, but the team is better defensive because of them. DRTG has to be observed relative to the team. Clippers team DRTG is 103, and Blake's is 100, second lowest on the team, and DJ is 101. 3 points above the team number is pretty impressive, this could imply that the team is better defensively with Blake on the floor.

Blake had 2 blocks the other day.

both are doing great Blake had a off game on d against Boozer and DJ was in foul trouble against the Bobcats but played Noah well