HotelVitale wrote:Nuntius wrote:Sane wrote:Sengun is very flashy so his offense will always steal the spotlight but the reason he has elevated so much is that in the other 50% of the game, he is playing very good defense. This is a shocking development, most people thought he wouldn't be able to do that in his entire career.
It shouldn't be that shocking of a development, to be honest. Sengun has always been a really solid defender. Even before being drafted in the NBA, he had very good stock (steals+blocks) numbers in his native Turkey. Anyone who thought that Sengun would struggle defensively wasn't really paying attention.
Steals don't necessarily make a good defender, especially not for a center or rim defender type. (He's also one of the lowest centers in the league in blocks per minute, the numbers aren't horrendous but they're not going to make an argument for him as a good defender.)
People at draft time thought he might struggle defensively because of a lot of the usual things: not very tall or long (also can't really jump to make up for it), doesn't have quick lateral feet, pretty hopeless on the perimeter. Even his strongest supporters thought he'd be at best underwhelming on the defensive end of the court.
If he's actually good now on defense, I'm guessing it'd be because he's been great at positioning and anticipation, and uses his strength and quick hands well.
I agree that steals do not necessarily make a good defender and this is indeed even more true for Centers. Drummond, for example, has always been adept at generating steals but he hasn't been very impactful defensively throughout his career.
It is also true that Sengun's blocks per minute numbers this year have not been good. They were pretty good in his rookie year, though, (1.6 per 36) and they were similarly good in his native Turkey (2.1 per 36) so I do think that there's some upside there.
And, yes, that upside is largely due to positioning, anticipation and quick hands.
