clippertown wrote:OkcSinceSGA wrote:clippertown wrote:Dunn has been the biggest surprise on the team so far. His intuition on defense has been elite. Not sure where to put Dunn once Norm and Kawhi come back, but I am starting to believe he is deserving of the starting SG spot, and that is saying something when Norm is playing at an all-star level. Defensively, the starting lineup would be a nightmare, and the bench is also very solid.
C = Zu / Bamba / Kai
PF = DJJ / Batum / Kobe
SF = Kawhi / Mann / Coffey
SG = Dunn / Norm / Miller
PG = Harden / KPJ / Bones
Dunn has a real argument for DPOY race and the best bargain free agency signing. They got him at like 4 million per year for 3 years? Having a +3 EPM as a 6’3 guard is insane. I hope he gets a top 3-4 DPOY nod. I know Wemby is likely to run away with it, but if the Clippers finish a top 3 defense and Spurs are mid.. it’s a conversation to have
I am astounded that Dunn is proving to be a more capable defender than Derrick Jones Jr, who has improved on his stellar defense from last season with the Mavs. Also better than Mann or Coffey, our best defenders last year. DPOY or MIP possibilities here.
For sure. I agree I expected DJ to be the better defender, but it's been Dunn by a mile actually. His tenacity off ball with the passing lanes is just creating a nightmare for teams. He's getting through screens and just terrorizing teams with those interceptions or deflections. What's impressive is most of his deflections are controlled brilliantly to teammates. They aren't just knocking them out of bounds. The mad man will literally break up a pass, then save it from going out of bounds to a teammate.
The underrated part that isn't getting discussed enough that JVG I'm sure has his fingerprints all over is them getting through screens. In prior years the Clippers played the same switch everything defense but they got ANNIHILIATED on screens. Everyone would just die on screens leading to SO many open shots for other teams. The difference I'm seeing is guys like Dunn/DJ and even seeing it with Harden/Powell now... are successfully getting through screens or at least navigating them MUCH faster for closeouts.
To be about 20 games in and still have the defensive motor is probably the first time in 25 years as a Clippers watcher I've seen a team with this much defensive tenacity up and down the roster. I think if you didn't have the Boston beatdown they could really push into a top 3 defense this year, which considering the talent being much less than OKC for example, that's amazing.
I imagine if they had Kawhi since game 1 they could be a shocking 2-3 seed currently (probably a similar or better record than the Rockets have) and a top 3 defense. I think the big thing is Kawhi HAS to start advancing in his recovery. Him still not practicing isn't good IMO. They need a general idea of when he's returning.
“This kid reminds me of a 6-6 Chris Paul. He wants to win everything.”
Olin Simplis- SGA’s trainer.
