Best and worst rim protectors

[Crazysauce]

https://out.reddit.com/t3_6mbrdm?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F991anenqho8z.png&token=AQAA7w5jWX45IJ5lqBvWBfaLRzUU5jht-o-RHdtJ9FmCtwwVpCPk&app_name=mweb2x

Hopefully this link works but some interesting numbers here. Wiggins very rough while dieng around league average but taj very good. I rally think if butler and gibson can help bring out a defensive intensity in towns and wiggins this could be a really great year.

[Lipoli390]

https://out.reddit.com/t3_6mbrdm?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F991anenqho8z.png&token=AQAA7w5jWX45IJ5lqBvWBfaLRzUU5jht-o-RHdtJ9FmCtwwVpCPk&app_name=mweb2x

Hopefully this link works but some interesting numbers here. Wiggins very rough while dieng around league average but taj very good. I rally think if butler and gibson can help bring out a defensive intensity in towns and wiggins this could be a really great year.

Crazy -- I think you put your finger on the key to the Butler and Gibson signings. It's not just what each player brings individually. It's also about what they can bring out in Wiggins and Towns. That has to be what Thibs is thinking. I liked the Butler deal, but didn't like using all that cap space on Taj. Nevertheless, I see what Thibs is trying to do. He's trying to set a tone for the entire team and, while not saying it directly, I think he's aiming straight at Wiggins and Towns with those two additions.

Thibs is making moves I wouldn't have made in trading Ricky and spending the rest of our cap space on Taj. But I have to give Thibs credit for having a philosophy and sticking to it. He believes in building a team around defense and toughness. Bringing in Butler and Taj are strong moves in that direction. His interest in CJ Miles made sense because CJ has those characteristics in addition to his three-point shooting ability. Pursuing Luc as has been reported also lines up well with Thibs' approach. I'm not sure about the Teague/Rubio swap, which seems to be step back defensively, but I sense that Thibs sees Teague as Rubio's equal defensively while improving our pick-and-roll offense. The only move I can't understand in light of Thibs philosophy is giving the RE to Crawford. Crawford doesn't seem to fit the bill as a tough defensive oriented player or a two-way player.

There is no doubt in my mind that we're a better team going into next season than we were coming out of last season. I had high hopes for Zach LaVine and the rest of our guys making a big jump this coming season, but what Thibs has done this summer so far makes a big jump far more certain. I'm also looking forward to a team with an identity. It may not be the right type of team to contend for a championship in the modern NBA, but then again, it might be a very effective model. Perhaps cutting against the grain is just what the doctor ordered. And if Thibs takes full advantage of the three point shooting of KAT, Wiggins and Gorgui, then we might be better that expected in that area as well.

[Shumway]

Crazy -- I think you put your finger on the key to the Butler and Gibson signings. It's not just what each player brings individually. It's also about what they can bring out in Wiggins and Towns. That has to be what Thibs is thinking. I liked the Butler deal, but didn't like using all that cap space on Taj. Nevertheless, I see what Thibs is trying to do. He's trying to set a tone for the entire team and, while not saying it directly, I think he's aiming straight at Wiggins and Towns with those two additions.

That's the spirit Lip. I sense you are slowly coming around to the optimistic view of the offseason. Don't fight it Lip. Join us on the wildly, irrationally optimistic bus for 2018. It's your destiny as a Wolves fan:

1) Swear that you'll remain sceptical forevermore given our history.
2) Rationalise how each of the moves could turn out well.
3) Research further and find out that it may all fit together well.
4) Let go of your concerns and get swept away with HOPE.
5) Return to step 1 by midseason.

You're sitting at Step 2 right now. But I'm way ahead of you. A few of us are having heaps of fun up here at Step 4.

[Shumway]

https://out.reddit.com/t3_6mbrdm?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F991anenqho8z.png&token=AQAA7w5jWX45IJ5lqBvWBfaLRzUU5jht-o-RHdtJ9FmCtwwVpCPk&app_name=mweb2x

Hopefully this link works but some interesting numbers here. Wiggins very rough while dieng around league average but taj very good. I rally think if butler and gibson can help bring out a defensive intensity in towns and wiggins this could be a really great year.

Really interesting graphic, Crazy. Would anyone have estimated that Steph Curry a better rim protector than Cole Aldrich.

Is it any coincidence that the Warriors (who gain such recognition for shooting the 3 and being great offensively) have Curry, Klay, Durant and Draymond all showing in green.

Is it any coincidence that the only Wolves mentioned are in Red?

I'd be really interested to identify the grey dots. Where do Towns, Rubio, Teague (among others) fit?

It really highlights how good Gobert is in this regard. All alone at the pointy end.

[Lipoli390]

Crazy -- I think you put your finger on the key to the Butler and Gibson signings. It's not just what each player brings individually. It's also about what they can bring out in Wiggins and Towns. That has to be what Thibs is thinking. I liked the Butler deal, but didn't like using all that cap space on Taj. Nevertheless, I see what Thibs is trying to do. He's trying to set a tone for the entire team and, while not saying it directly, I think he's aiming straight at Wiggins and Towns with those two additions.

That's the spirit Lip. I sense you are slowly coming around to the optimistic view of the offseason. Don't fight it Lip. Join us on the wildly, irrationally optimistic bus for 2018. It's your destiny as a Wolves fan:

1) Swear that you'll remain sceptical forevermore given our history.
2) Rationalise how each of the moves could turn out well.
3) Research further and find out that it may all fit together well.
4) Let go of your concerns and get swept away with HOPE.
5) Return to step 1 by midseason.

You're sitting at Step 2 right now. But I'm way ahead of you. A few of us are having heaps of fun up here at Step 4.

Lol. Yes, I'm definitely starting my progression through the five steps. Maybe this time we can all skip step 5. :)

[Monster]

I'll add to the optimism here and make some comments on Gibson. Last night I watched some highlights and then parts of a couple games. I've always been a fan of Gibson but I was really a bit surprised how well he moved. He is still very fluid and plenty athletic. There were plenty of times he switched onto perimeter players and more than held his own. His post game is legit if teams go too small he will pretty much kill them down there in the post making them pay and would likely hurt them on the boards as well. He is pretty versatile overall. He doesn't shoot 3's but he can basically do everything else. If you like what Dieng brings to this team Gibson is basically better at everything he does by a lot except shooting. He is a true PF and he looks like he will be plenty capable guarding mobile guys plus guard well at the rim. If Belly is healthy it would make some sense to put him out there at SF at times espcially if all he has to do is guard a wing that's basically just good at a couple things. I think Gibson is being undervalued here basically because he doesn't shoot the 3. In the footage I saw he looked like a really good player. I'm glad we ponied up the money for a real starter level impact player who is going to make his teammates better with his skills. This team is going to be pretty dynamic with the additions of Butler, Teague, Gibson and Crawford.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You gotta be careful with this stat. Avery Bradley is one of the worst rim protectors, but his main job is to prevent guys from getting there in the first place. So if once or twice a game he somehow ends up in the paint defending a close-in shot, then yeah, his relative lack of length is a liability. But he happens to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the game.

The other thing it doesn't show with the real elite rim protectors is how well they do closing out on shooters and hedging PnRs. How many of these guys just sink down into the paint and give up lots of open shots?

Still, it's another piece of the puzzle when building up a total defensive profile. It's not surprising at all to see guys like Draymond, Kawhi, and Gobert do well on this. Unfortunately, this is yet another piece of the puzzle that says the same thing about Wiggins' defense: It's not good!

[mjs34]

You gotta be careful with this stat. Avery Bradley is one of the worst rim protectors, but his main job is to prevent guys from getting there in the first place. So if once or twice a game he somehow ends up in the paint defending a close-in shot, then yeah, his relative lack of length is a liability. But he happens to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the game.

The other thing it doesn't show with the real elite rim protectors is how well they do closing out on shooters and hedging PnRs. How many of these guys just sink down into the paint and give up lots of open shots?

Still, it's another piece of the puzzle when building up a total defensive profile. It's not surprising at all to see guys like Draymond, Kawhi, and Gobert do well on this. Unfortunately, this is yet another piece of the puzzle that says the same thing about Wiggins' defense: It's not good!

So G is even worse then?

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

You gotta be careful with this stat. Avery Bradley is one of the worst rim protectors, but his main job is to prevent guys from getting there in the first place. So if once or twice a game he somehow ends up in the paint defending a close-in shot, then yeah, his relative lack of length is a liability. But he happens to be one of the best perimeter defenders in the game.

The other thing it doesn't show with the real elite rim protectors is how well they do closing out on shooters and hedging PnRs. How many of these guys just sink down into the paint and give up lots of open shots?

Still, it's another piece of the puzzle when building up a total defensive profile. It's not surprising at all to see guys like Draymond, Kawhi, and Gobert do well on this. Unfortunately, this is yet another piece of the puzzle that says the same thing about Wiggins' defense: It's not good!

So G is even worse then?

I don't think G is nearly as bad as you think he is, but he also isn't nearly good enough to make up for the defensive disasters next to him. He gets deflections, takes charges, and does a pretty good job hedging and recovering on pick and roll. He's not great guarding in space or holding his ground in the paint.