dckingsfan wrote:DCZards wrote:dckingsfan wrote:This is the most interesting part of this thread. The notion that Rui could eventually be a SF.
It does seem like he can cover SFs on the perimeter. And he rebounds like a wing
On the offensive side if/when he starts consistently knocking down 3s he would be really good (IMO) as a SF in the offense.
And that brings us to Deni or the "new" PF. Deni rebounds like a PF but doesn't alter or block shots like one. Now, he is 20, so I expect to see the defensive rebounding go up over time.
Either way, it seems like we are going to have the dreaded "redundant" problem with Rui/Avdija. I guess that isn't optimistic though.
I don't ever expect Deni to be good at blocking or altering shots. I don't think he has the hops or quickness for that. But Deni is a good defender who is better suited to defend an interior player like a PF while Rui is quicker and longer and better at defending perimeter players like SFs & SGs.
With respect, Deni needs to get much stronger to defend PFs. And I am not seeing a "quickness" difference at this point. Deni may very well get there (become stronger and he may grow as well). But at this point neither are viable defenders at PF.
Both at this point are below average defenders, IMO. Which takes us back to the redundant/tridundant dilemma.
Rui is absolutely a viable defender at PF. He pretty much shuts down or contains every PF he faces.