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FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:Sullinger was actually a pretty darn good defender while he was here as well.
do you have empirical proof or is this just yer opinion
FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:Sullinger was actually a pretty darn good defender while he was here as well.
do you have empirical proof or is this just yer opinion
Homerclease wrote:FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:Sullinger was actually a pretty darn good defender while he was here as well.
do you have empirical proof or is this just yer opinion
My opinion, I don't think it's a coincidence that our defense took a slight hit this year without Sully and Evan Turner. Box scores against Demarcus Cousins would be my other sticking point although I admit I have no advanced data on the subject.
FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:FakeScreenName123 wrote:
do you have empirical proof or is this just yer opinion
My opinion, I don't think it's a coincidence that our defense took a slight hit this year without Sully and Evan Turner. Box scores against Demarcus Cousins would be my other sticking point although I admit I have no advanced data on the subject.
my opinion was that he was a definite below average defender who could only defend low post players (rare) with his wide, low frame and was a liability on p&r coverage (a lot).
AKFO wrote:FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:My opinion, I don't think it's a coincidence that our defense took a slight hit this year without Sully and Evan Turner. Box scores against Demarcus Cousins would be my other sticking point although I admit I have no advanced data on the subject.
my opinion was that he was a definite below average defender who could only defend low post players (rare) with his wide, low frame and was a liability on p&r coverage (a lot).
He became a guy that was strictly a 5 and could not play any 4. At the 5, he positioned himself well, rebounded well, held his ground against bigger centers, and took charges. He just became too fat to guard 4's and defend the pick and roll/pop.
I laughed out loud when the Raptors thought they were gonna start Sully at the 4 next to Val. That frontcourt would get abused in pick and rolls.
Promising offense
In accordance with pre-draft reports, Yabusele's offense is more advanced than his defense. Over the two games, he averaged 18.5 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 11 for 17 (64.7 percent) from the field, including 4 for 6 (66.7 percent) from behind the arc. Especially if he can continue knocking down above-the-break 3-pointers, it's easy to see how he will one day fit into an NBA system: by picking, popping, spreading the court, and attacking closeouts. Despite his strength, Yabusele generally stayed away from the low post; he appears to be more of a face-up guy, which is funky but intriguing for someone with the build of an oversized tight end....
At the other end...
While it's easy to envision how Yabusele will impact an NBA offense, his fit at the other end wasn't so obvious during his first two games in Maine. Though he has quick feet (which earned him the nickname "the Dancing Bear"), they did not help him stay in front of smaller guys in space. Every switch turned into an adventure, which typically did not end well for the Red Claws.
Most NBA big men either switch screens, protect the rim, or find a way to do both. Yabusele did not block a shot in either game and hardly impacted any attempts near the rim. With his strength, long wingspan (nearly 7-foot-2, according to DraftExpress) and solid lateral mobility, he has potential to grow into a versatile defender, but, last year, draft experts voiced concerns about his production at that end of the court. Kevin O'Connor, now with the Ringer, questioned Yabusele's effort, rim protection and mentality. DraftExpress wrote, "Yabusele did little to help matters (on defense), frequently seeming to be going through the motions."
Developing into a stretch 5 (a super valuable commodity) isn't out of the question. Growing into a switching 4 wouldn't be shocking. But, like a lot of young players (he's 21), Yabusele needs to learn how to harness his physical tools. He has compared himself to Draymond Green, but might want to watch hours of tape on how Green leverages his strength, quickness and knowledge of angles.
FakeScreenName123 wrote:Homerclease wrote:Sullinger was actually a pretty darn good defender while he was here as well.
do you have empirical proof or is this just yer opinion
Banks2Pierce wrote:Defense was 5 pp100 better with Sullinger than it has been with Horford on the court this year. You're fighting a tough uphill argument against the stats if you think Sullinger was a definite below average defender.
CrowderKeg wrote:^^ Defenses are 2.3 points per 100 possessions worse this season on average compared to last.
I'll leave the two of you alone to that debate now lol.
Parliament10 wrote:Nader, with 14 points.