How does this 4 who can play outside stop the Clippers from driving to the basket on every play?
Any athletically gifted person can defend. If the likes of O'Neale and 2-years-ago Ingles can defend, then so can Clarkson and Mitchell. It's a matter of will, not ability.
The will to play consistent focused defense is an ability.
In the general public, sure. These are professional athletes. If they didn't already have a decent amount of will power, they wouldn't be in the NBA at all.
Uhh, they got the ability to score or do other things. Being locked in on defense isnt just a thing you can flip a switch on.
Plenty of people get to the NBA level without ever needing to lock in consistently on defense.
There I agree. It's a habit you have to develop.
Of course. Was that supposed to not be harmonious with what I wrote?
You seemed to be disagreeing with Cy's take that the will to play consistent defense is an ability.
To a point. Niang has the will but he doesn't have the agility or speed to even match up with a player like Mann. Both undrafted or late 2nds and end of bench players. One had career games, the other was played off the floor.
Will(power) is not an ability, it's an attribute. Certainly some people have more than others. In todays NBA, everyone has a lot of will.
I completely agree.
How would Gobert having an additional offensive repertoire have prevented Jackson/George/Beverly/etc. from getting to the hoop at will?
Defensively, they limited Gobert by denying passing lanes to the ball-handler. How does an additional offensive repertoire change that?
When we go small, other types drive to the hoop at will. Why can't we do the same when the Clippers go small? What did they do, that we don't?
Gobert is a big strong athletic guy with huge wingspan. And he uses that to play great defense and hes won 3 DPOY. If he could use that to make an impact on the offensive end Jazz would be a completely different team. So he doesnt have to be Hakeem or Jokić, all he needs to do is be able to post up and abuse smaller guys (you know like every other big man in the league can do). That wouldnt prevent Jackson/George/Beverly/etc. from getting to the hoop at will, but that would mean that going small against the Jazz means youre giving up dunk/layup, easy basket every single defensive possesion and Gobert would look like Shaq against small lineups if only he could use his size to his advantage on the offensive end like he uses it on the defensive end. Then opposing coaches would think twice about going small because that would mean they are for certain giving up ******** of easy baskets on the defensive end and effectiveness of their small lineup becomes very questionable. Since Gobert cant do that and can be guarded by almost any player big or small hes a non factor on the offensive end, going small and limiting his defensive impact is always gonna look like a great idea and small lineup will always be the best strategy for beating Jazz if they have Gobert playing the way he has so far, regardless of who the other players on the Jazz roster are
I mean we are literally seeing it in the Suns series. Ty is afraid to go small with Ayton. Having Zubac out there means Rudy gets to be involved at the rim without being punished by wide *** open corner threes.
