Defensive woes.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

We like listing Towns as our center, myself included, but if you've watched him play the last three years you'll see that he often is guarding the opposing team's 4 while Gibson or Dieng or Garnett defended the opposing team's center. It's likely because of several reasons. Firstly, Towns doesn't have a strong enough base [at this point in his career] to consistently body other centers for an entire game. Secondly, he's been our most nimble big amongst those being discussed. In theory, and sometimes in real gameplay, he shows good, active feet and can defend on the perimeter. Thirdly, Towns tends to get roasted in PnR action so having him guard bigs that are more likely to pop and look for a perimeter jumper makes more sense than having him try to hang with the ball handler and the rim-roller. Gibson and even Dieng (who is also pretty terrible at it) are more logical choices to defend that action right now. However, Towns could and should improve all of these aspects of the game because as it was mentioned earlier, you can't hide bigs on defense [anymore?].

Who do you remember mainly guarding Aldridge/Gasol? Who was primarily responsible for bodying DeAndre Jordan? The answer to both questions is Taj Gibson. We're seeing more of the same this season.

Slightly off topic -- you certainly CAN hide guards, though. In order to do so, you have to have multiple game-changers on defense in the frontcourt.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

We like listing Towns as our center, myself included, but if you've watched him play the last three years you'll see that he often is guarding the opposing team's 4 while Gibson or Dieng or Garnett defended the opposing team's center. It's likely because of several reasons. Firstly, Towns doesn't have a strong enough base [at this point in his career] to consistently body other centers for an entire game. Secondly, he's been our most nimble big amongst those being discussed. In theory, and sometimes in real gameplay, he shows good, active feet and can defend on the perimeter. Thirdly, Towns tends to get roasted in PnR action so having him guard bigs that are more likely to pop and look for a perimeter jumper makes more sense than having him try to hang with the ball handler and the rim-roller. Gibson and even Dieng (who is also pretty terrible at it) are more logical choices to defend that action right now. However, Towns could and should improve all of these aspects of the game because as it was mentioned earlier, you can't hide bigs on defense [anymore?].

Who do you remember mainly guarding Aldridge/Gasol? Who was primarily responsible for bodying DeAndre Jordan? The answer to both questions is Taj Gibson. We're seeing more of the same this season.

Slightly off topic -- you certainly CAN hide guards, though. In order to do so, you have to have multiple game-changers on defense in the frontcourt.

I generally like Gibson and think he is solid defensively, but he's not a game changer. He's never been an elite rebounder and he really isn't all that big, so I think he's even a bit over-matched by some of these bigger front court players killing us.

Dieng is just a disaster. He is a total failure of the Timberwolves developmental process (if they even have one). No one has ever fixed his open-hip turnstyle approach to dribble drives and as a result he consistently gets torched at the rim. That to me is totally fixable and the fact he still does this after 5+ years in our franchise is just pathetic. And then to add to that he's another top-heavy/weak base player, just like KAT, so he gets destroyed when someone puts a shoulder into him.

[Lipoli390]

We like listing Towns as our center, myself included, but if you've watched him play the last three years you'll see that he often is guarding the opposing team's 4 while Gibson or Dieng or Garnett defended the opposing team's center. It's likely because of several reasons. Firstly, Towns doesn't have a strong enough base [at this point in his career] to consistently body other centers for an entire game. Secondly, he's been our most nimble big amongst those being discussed. In theory, and sometimes in real gameplay, he shows good, active feet and can defend on the perimeter. Thirdly, Towns tends to get roasted in PnR action so having him guard bigs that are more likely to pop and look for a perimeter jumper makes more sense than having him try to hang with the ball handler and the rim-roller. Gibson and even Dieng (who is also pretty terrible at it) are more logical choices to defend that action right now. However, Towns could and should improve all of these aspects of the game because as it was mentioned earlier, you can't hide bigs on defense [anymore?].

Who do you remember mainly guarding Aldridge/Gasol? Who was primarily responsible for bodying DeAndre Jordan? The answer to both questions is Taj Gibson. We're seeing more of the same this season.

Slightly off topic -- you certainly CAN hide guards, though. In order to do so, you have to have multiple game-changers on defense in the frontcourt.

Great breakdown, Cam. I remember one of KAT's best game defensively was against the Warriors in March of 2016 under Sam Mitchell when Sam had KAT come out and guard Curry.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Seems like a guy like Dewayne Dedmon could be a helpful acquisition this offseason. He's not really full time player, but I don't think we really need a full-time Center. We need a guy that can give us around 15-25 MPG (depending on matchups) that can rebound, defend, and not be a total liability on offense. He seems to fit that bill without costing a ton.

[Monster]

Thinking about this team being weak in the lower body and it's various moves I've the past few years made me think about Ryan Gomes. I know he was sort of a how got was he really type of guy but he would have been an interesting player in this modern NBA he was a guy that was strong in the lower body and became a pretty good 3 point shooter. This also made me think a guy like P.J. Tucker would be interesting next to Towns also. Thinking about those guys and this conversation kinda brings around the value of Draymond Green. He really is a versatile player that adds a completely different dimension to the Warriors.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Oh, and guess who also is an unrestricted free agent next offseason? Kyle O'Quinn! Is it Lip that loves him for his rebounding and defense?

(he does have impressive numbers as a bench big).

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

PPG given up with Butler: 109 (9th best in the league)

PPG given up without Butler: 140(dead last, by more than 8 points per game!)

Still a very small sample size, but I'll continue to update. While there are other factors in our defensive woes (Thibs' schemes, lack of a rim protector, poor PnR defense), they all fall far behind one fact: this team can play some defense with Jimmy on the court, and are helpless without him.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

PPG given up with Butler: 109 (9th best in the league)

PPG given up without Butler: 140(dead last, by more than 8 points per game!)

Still a very small sample size, but I'll continue to update. While there are other factors in our defensive woes (Thibs' schemes, lack of a rim protector, poor PnR defense), they all fall far behind one fact: this team can play some defense with Jimmy on the court, and are helpless without him.

It's amazing how a wing can make that big of a difference, but the numbers don't lie. Amazing. Hopefully eventually Okogie can have that big of an impact. He certainly has the potential. His issues are on the other end of the court.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

PPG given up with Butler: 109 (9th best in the league)

PPG given up without Butler: 140(dead last, by more than 8 points per game!)

Still a very small sample size, but I'll continue to update. While there are other factors in our defensive woes (Thibs' schemes, lack of a rim protector, poor PnR defense), they all fall far behind one fact: this team can play some defense with Jimmy on the court, and are helpless without him.

It's amazing how a wing can make that big of a difference, but the numbers don't lie. Amazing. Hopefully eventually Okogie can have that big of an impact. He certainly has the potential. His issues are on the other end of the court.

Thx for giving me a pass on my ridiculous sample size, Q :), but we know Jimmy will miss games for injury and BTB reasons, so the data will become more significant. I wish I could have seen Josh and Jimmy playing defense together last night...must have been fun to watch!

[kekgeek]

PPG given up with Butler: 109 (9th best in the league)

PPG given up without Butler: 140(dead last, by more than 8 points per game!)

Still a very small sample size, but I'll continue to update. While there are other factors in our defensive woes (Thibs' schemes, lack of a rim protector, poor PnR defense), they all fall far behind one fact: this team can play some defense with Jimmy on the court, and are helpless without him.

It's amazing how a wing can make that big of a difference, but the numbers don't lie. Amazing. Hopefully eventually Okogie can have that big of an impact. He certainly has the potential. His issues are on the other end of the court.

Thx for giving me a pass on my ridiculous sample size, Q :), but we know Jimmy will miss games for injury and BTB reasons, so the data will become more significant. I wish I could have seen Josh and Jimmy playing defense together last night...must have been fun to watch!

I know super small sample size but to continue to your point. Thibs keeps mentioning when the starters played last year they had the 7th best defense. Huge impact when Jimmy is in there.

To knock thibs you would hope your defensive system would not be so reliant on one player