Jazz Spotlight, Week 1: Devin Harris

[phrizzo]

i believe that jeremy evans can also make his name as a great defensive specialist.

[jazzfan1971]

Guarding whom?

[countrybama24]

Out of curiosity, who are you citing as the elite defender? If it's AK, I'd argue Hayward's already a more valuable defender (though AK gets the nod clearly in his prime years). And I think "mediocre at best" is much too harsh for the likes of Devin Harris or Derrick Favors (the latter man will be a force -- perhaps he's who you were referring to).

Derrick is our elite defender. AK's too old to be the force he used to be (and isn't in our long term core), Hayward is solid, but not elite. I'd say mediocre is about right for devin (for starting PGs, not league wide).

[The59Sound]

Out of curiosity, who are you citing as the elite defender? If it's AK, I'd argue Hayward's already a more valuable defender (though AK gets the nod clearly in his prime years). And I think "mediocre at best" is much too harsh for the likes of Devin Harris or Derrick Favors (the latter man will be a force -- perhaps he's who you were referring to).

Derrick is our elite defender. AK's too old to be the force he used to be (and isn't in our long term core), Hayward is solid, but not elite. I'd say mediocre is about right for devin (for starting PGs, not league wide).

I wouldn't call Gordon elite at this stage either, but he's much better than mediocre is all. Agree that Favors will be our best for years to come.

[countrybama24]

I love gordon and all, but people seem to be really overrating his defense. He's adequate, tries hard, but he isn't exactly smothering his man either. I'd say average for a starter is about right given what I've seen so far. If you think he's a SF, I bet I could definitely rattle off 15 starting 3s who are better defenders.

[The59Sound]

Well... I'll respectfully disagree. He was our best defender last year, from where I sit. Stays in front of his man, challenges without fouling (when the phantom rookie calls disappear, things will be even better), and understands how to play team defense.

He's not "elite" presently, but he's already quite good. "Average" is really selling him short.

[countrybama24]

I think we're only debating semantics here. I think "pretty good" is average for starting 3s. He's a starter, and he could have been our best defender, which wouldn't be saying much (and only cause favors got bunch of rookie fouls).

I'm talking about average among starters (which is a complement for a rookie, really), and there are a lot of really good defenders at the 3 presently. I'm not trying to rag on him at all, he's gonna be really nasty. All I'm saying is I know of at least a dozen starting small forwards who are better defenders.