Spotlight on: DJ's Defense

Post #1 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:49 am

I thought it might be a good idea to spotlight some things that we could have thoughtful discussion about. These threads are not intended to be bashing threads or "player A Vs player B" threads - more a way to express what we would like to see implemented/changed about a certain aspect to a players game. It's not a thread that is to become a "we should trade him for a PF" type thread. So try and keep it on track!!

DJ's defense:
I think he shows solid on ball D. I think he is really quick at moving backwards and staying in front of his man. I think he has quick lateral movement and good anticipation and is obviously not worried about stepping in front of a much bigger player and taking the full blow of a charge, but he's not defending the pick and roll well at all.

What could he do differently?

I've seen him try going under the screen, and the opposing player just picks and pops. I've seen him go around the screen and seen the opposing player drives on him leaving him to chase.

It's not working but it's not like he isn't trying!!

My guess is that his best bet would be to not allow the opposing player to use the screen. Play up on him and step between the ball handler and the person setting the screen forcing the ball handler to double back and effectively nullifying the screen. He has the quickness and BBIQ/anticipation to.

Long story short, I think he is playing the ball handler a little loose which is making him get caught up in the screen and is leaving him in no mans land. If he plays more up on the opposing player, it might help?

Any other observations or differing opinions?

ohara · Post #2 » by **ohara** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:16 am

I like your assessment and agree quite a bit. But what I like mostly is that I am not so concerned w/ his small size nearly as I was right after the draft. He is small, and just a Rookie, but you can see he has a pretty high BBIQ and is rapidly learning.

Post #3 » by **fatlever** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:10 am

it seems like i notived LB yeslling at DJ a few times today to get up on his man. DJ was playing a few feet off and LB wanted him right in his opponents grill, even though they were 30 feet from the basket.

slam, you're right though, his man defense is decent. he is able to keep in front, but he struggles with defending the p&r. this will hopefully come w/ time. i seem to remember paul struggling w/ the p&r his rookie year as well.

Post #4 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:41 am

fatlever wrote:he struggles with defending the p&r. this will hopefully come w/ time.

Because he will get used the pace and flow of the NBA game or because he will adjust his technique to better defend it?

If it's the latter, do you think it's just a matter of him playing up on his man and not giving so much space?

Rich4114 · Post #5 » by **Rich4114** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:21 am

I think where DJ is going to struggle for a while defensively is just because he's smaller than most other PGs. Paul for example, is not a big PG but he's not nearly as thin and plays really tough. DJ is going to need to hit the weight room and develop and attitude if you're looking for him to become a good defender. Plus, rookies aren't expected to walk into the NBA and be good defenders against NBA level talent.

fluffernutter · Post #6 » by **fluffernutter** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:41 pm

I've give him this: he's a pretty good stripper.

Wonka-wonka-wonka-wonka... ba-ba-ba-booooom...

Ha, no seriously folks, keep your dollars in your pockets...

I'm just talking *wink wink* about his ball-stripping abilities...*wink wink*... really knows how to take it to the big men...

spectre_ · Post #7 » by **spectre_** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:30 pm

He's too passive on his man, esp. when he doesn't have the ball. He "cheats" a lot in those instances too so he's too late to get back when his guy gets it back and shoots. He tries to go under screens vs. fighting thru them and he tends to try and cut off the middle too much (on drives) which will leave a lane nearest to the baseline.

He's getting better on the screen thing; I noticed he did that at Texas but I've since seen him trying to fight thru. I really wish I could have seen the 4th quarter of the NOLA game as it sounded like he did a good job of staying with Paul...which would imply that he can stay with his guy when his full attention is there.

Very quick hands and he racks up steals...showing that he's learned to do what's possible and work with his limitations (Like Knight).

Because he will get used the pace and flow of the NBA game or because he will adjust his technique to better defend it?

If it's the latter, do you think it's just a matter of him playing up on his man and not giving so much space?

Latter...and yes. He has one of the best coaches in the game who just so happened to have been a PG himself. I think he can use smarts and not get burnt too bad by most of the PGs in the league. Some will out strength him like Nelson and others like Kidd and Billups will post him up....but they do that to most PGs in the league.

Post #8 » by **fatlever** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:36 pm

yeah, what spectre said. i have 100% faith in LB to teach DJ the best way to defend the P&R. not sure what LB will say, but i'm sure it will help, in time.

e4Nf6 · Post #9 » by **e4Nf6** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:05 pm

I've been happy to see that he doesn't seem to get pushed around to much (by other PG's anyway) which is good because that tends to be a Chronic problem where as his positioning is fixable. Of course, we will see what happens when he plays Deron Williams/Billups/Jason Kidd etc.

He really can't cheat as much as he does off the ball. He already has trouble contesting shots because he is short, cheating off his guy just makes it worst.

He seems to do well defending 1-1 when isolated, most of the penetration he allows seems to come off PnR.

He really should know that he can't go under picks with Calderon, he even did it a few times when the pick was very deep, inside the 3pt line.