http://nypost.com/2017/06/27/what-does-dangelo-russell-joining-nets-mean-for-jeremy-lin/Atkinson: we've got to get Russell better defensively
It needs to be. His 113 defensive rating was 402nd of 486 players catalogued by Basketball Reference. His defensive box plus-minus ranked 366th. Though his pick-and-roll defense isn’t bad, his physicality and team defense need work.
“We’ve got to get him better defensively. Physically he’s got a ways to go,” Atkinson said. “He’s a 21-year-old guy. We have the best performance team in the league — getting in the weight room taking care of his body and really taking another step there is going to be important in his development.
“His body has to develop. He’s got to make a jump there, and we’re going to push him to play better on the defensive end. … Physical development is part of it, getting stronger. It’s hard in this league when you’re not physically developed totally to be a great defensive player. He has the IQ, he’s got really good positioning. We did it with a team concept this year, and we need to push him to buy in.”