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Following potential 2014 draftees

Disagree on Hood. He's too slow laterally to be a very good perimeter defender. Has nice length, but he certainly isn't quick.

He's long enough that he slows his man. Sometimes too much emphasis is on containing a player when sometimes a great defender can just mean slowing the player enough to allow the help to react in time.

I agree Hood isn't explosive, but I think he has the tools to be a very good defender.. having said that, it kind of shows how weak this draft class is with perimeter defense vs. how fantastic it is otherwise.
 
He's long enough that he slows his man. Sometimes too much emphasis is on containing a player when sometimes a great defender can just mean slowing the player enough to allow the help to react in time.

I agree Hood isn't explosive, but I think he has the tools to be a very good defender.. having said that, it kind of shows how weak this draft class is with perimeter defense vs. how fantastic it is otherwise.

I feel like you're describing an average defensive player. It's not that hard to slow somebody down. In my mind, to be a very good defender, you gotta shut em down, not the whole game, but at least part of it. I have yet to see Hood show those skills.
 
One player that I hope can have a nice season, and is one of the better defending SFs in this (or next) class, is Jakarr Sampson of St. Johns.


His shooting has been traditionally suspect-- but keep an eye on him this season. He's a pretty old sophomore (had some eligibility problems) but man he looks great on D from what little I've seen from him.
 
I feel like you're describing an average defensive player. It's not that hard to slow somebody down. In my mind, to be a very good defender, you gotta shut em down, not the whole game, but at least part of it. I have yet to see Hood show those skills.

I can agree with that. I think it's a definition issue. If NAOS had asked who are the lockdown defenders I would have said there are none.
 
I can agree with that. I think it's a definition issue. If NAOS had asked who are the lockdown defenders I would have said there are none.

Have you seen much of Jakarr Sampson?
 
Someone on Florida St. is bound to be a good defender, allbeit with limited offensive skills. Don't know any of their players, but their defense looks pretty legit.
 
Someone on Florida St. is bound to be a good defender, allbeit with limited offensive skills. Don't know any of their players, but their defense looks pretty legit.

I dont trust Florida state no more. I thought Singleton was gonna be better than Kawhi. Egg on face.
 
Have you seen much of Jakarr Sampson?

A few games, yes... but not enough that I have much opinion. He definitely seems to be a great defender if he adds some strength. I'm just not sold on him that much because of his lack of range. Very poor man's MKG is what I saw.. but it was only a few games.
 
Someone on Florida St. is bound to be a good defender, allbeit with limited offensive skills. Don't know any of their players, but their defense looks pretty legit.

Hamilton is a very good recruiter and very good defensive coach. Can't teach O to save his life.
 
Being a homer: Dat Dustin Hogue is an elite perimeter defender and rebounder. Not much else tho, and he's old.
 
A few games, yes... but not enough that I have much opinion. He definitely seems to be a great defender if he adds some strength. I'm just not sold on him that much because of his lack of range. Very poor man's MKG is what I saw.. but it was only a few games.

Yeah his mechanics seem suspect-- and his frame definitely could be added to (~217 for a 6'8 dude IIRC). But I feel like his frame definitely has potential to be added to. If he manages to carve out a Demarre Carrol type-game, then he's definitely worth a 2nd rounder. Just someone to keep an eye on. Really hope he works on his shot (he's off to a bad start three-point wise, though).


I'll keep an eye on him. Hope St. John's has a better season, so we can see him on a bigger stage than the NIT.
 
Steve Lavin isn't a good coach. He'll never succeed at St. John's.

Next year has some good wing defenders if I remember right. Justise Winslow for sure, and I know I'm missing some others. Matt Jones is currently the best perimeter defender on Duke's crappy defensive team. I honestly haven't had much time to watch a lot of games, so I really don't know.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk_3qOcixiI

This btw is an excellent take on defense. To me exellence defensively starts with lateral quickness and ends with willingness to wear yourself out on that end. Against supreme players in the league it's simply not enough to play good team defense. You want to take their moves away and force them out of their sweet spots into more difficult ones.
PJ Tucker should be featured as he's pretty good on that end.
 
Shut down defenders really don't exist especially now with the no hand checking rule. Bruce Bowen, Michael Cooper, Gary Payton were great defenders because they could put their hands on you. Ron Artest was one early in his career but today the rules benefit the offensive player. Besides good defenders might slow down the top players but they don't completely shut them down. Everyone of the "great" defenders have gotten roasted in their careers. When an elite scorer is on fire no one single individual can shut them down.

In today's NBA, a player still needs to be able to score or they become a liability on the offensive end. I am more concerned if they can keep their guy in front of them and put an effort to play defense (many guys can't even do that).
 
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