8305 wrote:Wizop wrote:8305 wrote:Interesting question debated on the Game Theory podcast. Can this roster be coached up to an acceptable defensive team?
The progress of Mathurin is key to this. No question he is bad now but, physical skills are there.
OBI too. I listened to the podcast. I'm a little less pessimistic than they were because both have improved.
I've got more hope for Ben. Thinking back early Anthony Edwards. I think he struggled defensively and now is good. Don't know that Ben is that level of athlete but, certainly a good enough athlete to defend at a high level. Less optimistic about Obi. He played 3 years for a coach known for defense and was older when he came into the league. Hope you are right.
I heard a number of coaches / analysts / players say, and number of times, that learning & executing defense just takes more time than offense. I really appreciate the focus of the conversation on Game Theory (Thank you 8305 for the heads up on the podcast.) not 'are they good' or 'can they be good', but 'do they have the potential to be good enough'. At this point, as a team, I think it's too early to tell. The early impression doesn't look as favorable as I could hope.
Ben does seem to have considerable potential as a defender. Even before the pre-season, in the summer, he said that his defense isn't where it needs to be. He wants to be a complete 2 way player. I have to believe that he is showing the 'growing pains' of going from a player that was the team, into a team player. That is showing up on both ends of the court. Physically, he can be a good defender. He lack skill in some of the defensive fundamentals. He lacks experience. I gotta believe his growth defensively is going to be more mental. Figuring out what good defense really is & working with and in the team scheme?
I don't think Ob1 has as much potential as Ben defensively. CC noted in one of her pieces that his lateral quickness just wasn't there. That he was game, but there were somethings he just couldn't do. That's the primary reason I can see him as a second unit 4/5. defensively, he does a much better job switching from the 5 behind a screen, than as a 4 across a screen. (I hope that makes sense?)
There observation about Myles made a lot of sense. He does seem to need more help now from the wings & less able to adjust on switches. That makes the defense from the wings all that much more important?
This will be a fun year. I won't be too worried about defensive execution this early in year two, but the playoffs & next year should show us the defensive potential of the team and if it could ever be 'good enough'.