Nuggets Defense

[NuggetsWY]

We often hear that young players struggle to learn defense more so than offense and that seems to be a clearly true observation. For the Nuggets, we can asks some questions about their defense. I'm not talking about the team approach, because I haven't figured that out yet. So I'm going to ask questions/make observations about our players on the defensive end.

1. In this PG dominated NBA, is Mudiay quick enough to be a an elite defensive PG?
In my opinion, he's starting to improve in his man-on-man defense. He's probably not even adequate for a contender - not yet. But playing smarter can overcome most of the issues with not being as quick as your opponent. ((( Murray seems like a better defensive player; maybe not yet, but he seems more court-aware and is learning. The difference might drive opponents nuts if they have to face both players at PG in the same game.

2. Which of our veterans is a good defender? Gallinari? Chandler? Nelson? Barton?
Nelson and Barton have their moments, especially man-on-man; Gallinari can be great, on the too rare occasions when he is engaged on that end of the court. Chandler's easily the best defender among the vets IMO.

3. With Jokic and Nurkic being a little slower than many NBA centers, is there a concern about transition defense?
OK, this goes into "team defense" but yeah, I'm concerned. I love these guys in half-court defense/offense - Jokic on offensive fast breaks; but ... ...

4. One more "team defense" (not about the actual approach though): Which Nuggets are good at help-defense?
Two stats that canindicate help-defense are steals & blocks. With no Nugget averaging more than one block or one steal per game; this mightindicate this is an issue. The eye-test on every game shows too many opportunities where the opponents blow by their man and are often uncosted to the basket, even in half-court situations.

Let's not even talk about helping-the-helper - aka rotations. Other teams seem to seek opportunity to find an open man off a double team and then make that "one-extra-pass" for a wide open shot.

[mcmurphy]

1) elite no way, but more than average maybe

2) Gallinari, very good defender on the perimeter and bad inside
Chandler , average on the perimeter and very good inside
Barton average overall
Nelson very bad overall

3)
A standard coach would use Faried-Jokic in the starting lineup, rotating Gallo-Chandler-Faried into PF and using Chandler with Nurkic, using the energy of Faried to help-defense when Jokic is beaten.
Last season the 2man-lineup Jokic-Faried was 17th in terms of minutes played (707min, 14mpg) and the second better in terms of NetRtg (+0.6).
This season the 2man-lineup Jokic-Faried is only 41th in terms of minutes played (150min, 6mpg) and between these is the best in terms of NetRtg (+16.5).

It doesn't need a rocket scientist to figure it out.

[skywalker33]

Nuggets Defense...sounds like an oxymoron to me,

[NuggetsWY]

2) Gallinari, very good defender on the perimeter and bad inside
Chandler , average on the perimeter and very good inside
Barton average overall
Nelson very bad overall

Gallinari? "Very good defender on the perimeter"? Then why do I see his man driving free-and-clear to the basket so often. I agree he can be excellent but he seems to not make an effort at defense; at least most of the time.

Considering only the Nuggets; as a SF, Gallinari is third in FGA defended against. That makes sense for a SF. There are a lot of big scorers at that position. However, Gallinari ranks ahead of only Hernangomez on the Nuggets in DFG%. That is NOT a "very good defender".

3) A standard coach would use Faried-Jokic in the starting lineup, rotating Gallo-Chandler-Faried into PF and using Chandler with Nurkic, using the energy of Faried to help-defense when Jokic is beaten.
Last season the 2man-lineup Jokic-Faried was 17th in terms of minutes played (707min, 14mpg) and the second better in terms of NetRtg (+0.6).
This season the 2man-lineup Jokic-Faried is only 41th in terms of minutes played (150min, 6mpg) and between these is the best in terms of NetRtg (+16.5).

Some of what you say here makes sense but you can't consider only PF/center in the consideration. Gallinari and Chandler are our top SFs - although you could consider Barton and Hernangomez into that position, if you choose. Plus, you left Arthur out of your discussion and no matter how you slice statistics, he is one of the Nuggets' best defenders - especially at PF.

I've expressed my opinion of Malone's rotations enough that I'm not going to go into that. My opinion is out there too many times. But your Faried-Jokic pairing is a very strong statement. I'm a fan of trading Faried but I'm also a believer that he is of more value than many give him credit for.

[mcmurphy]

Considering only the Nuggets; as a SF, Gallinari is third in FGA defended against. That makes sense for a SF. There are a lot of big scorers at that position. However, Gallinari ranks ahead of only Hernangomez on the Nuggets in DFG%. That is NOT a "very good defender".

I don't know what kind of stats you talk.
Could you show me a link at your stat?

I see in stats.nba.com
http://stats.nba.com/players/defense-dash-overall/#!?Season=2016-17&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&TeamID=1610612743&sort=PCT_PLUSMINUS&dir=-1

on Denver Nuggets in DFG% (or better DIFF%) only Hernangomez is lightly better of Gallo in Defense Overall.
However Hernangomez has a little sample size (95 FG defended against a sample of 364 FG defended by Gallo) e played in garbage time against last bench player.

Hernangomez -3.8%
Gallo -3.6%
Chandler -2.6%

From all F in the West with at least 10 DFGA overall, Gallo is only behind Aminu, Anthony Davis, Robertson, Green of Memphis and on par with Green of GSW.

If we talking all the F that defend the perimeter (> 15ft):

Gallo is the best in the league (-6.3%)
http://stats.nba.com/players/defense-dash-gt15/#!?CF=FGA_GT_15*G*6&Season=2016-17&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&sort=PLUSMINUS&dir=-1&PlayerPosition=F

So, I do not understand what we're talking.

[NuggetsWY]

Perhaps I am misreading the stats - so I shall ignore the various NBA analysts and internet writers and reports of other sorts, who have repeatedly said Gallinari is not a very good defensive player.

I will also point out that perhaps his stats which you refer to, for greater than 15 feet are so nice because he lets his man drive past him in order to score from much closer. But I do not have the statistics to prove that, so I'll just let it go. Thanks for the conversation.

[mcmurphy]

Perhaps I am misreading the stats - so I shall ignore the various NBA analysts and internet writers and reports of other sorts, who have repeatedly said Gallinari is not a very good defensive player.

I will also point out that perhaps his stats which you refer to, for greater than 15 feet are so nice because he lets his man drive past him in order to score from much closer. But I do not have the statistics to prove that, so I'll just let it go. Thanks for the conversation.

This is my 2 cent.
Gallo is elite to contest the shooter greater than 15ft, but when the player drive, Gallo is not so good to defend the drive towards the basket.
My guess is that Gallo having a first step not too fast, he knows that anyhow it would have problems defend the drive, so prefers defend very close to the shooter limiting the outside percentage.

The frequency of the shoot defended by a F is around 60% for shoot greater than 15 ft and for 40% inside the 15ft.
So, is not incorrect to say that Gallo is elite to defend greater than 15 ft and bad inside the 15ft.
Defense Overall is like a weighted average (0.6* elite + 0.4*bad = good).

Sorry if sometimes I express myself rudely but English is not my nativer language.

[NuggetsWY]

Sorry if sometimes I express myself rudely but English is not my nativer language.

No problem - your English is fine and your knowledge of stats is always impressive - I appreciate your thoughts always (although when you disagree with me ... ... OK, that's all right too