Q-is-here wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2023 10:27 am
We have multiple seasons of data/observation on KAT now defensively and here is what I think we've learned:
1. He most certainly can't be a defensive anchor in the traditional sense. Whenever he's been utilized as a full time Center in drop coverage he's been absolutely murdered in the pick and roll. He just never developed the technique or feel on how to guard that action.
2. He can be a solid defensive Center when utilized in a more active sense such as the high wall, where he hedges hard and they put two on the ball in high pick and roll. This is what we saw two seasons ago and the team was #13 in defensive rating - not great, but slightly above average overall. Of course it also helped that we had Vando, Jaden, and Patrick Beverley.
3. Now that he's playing PF with a legit defensive anchor at Center, his mobility has proven to be good enough to be part of an elite defense. I don't quite buy that he is suddenly this amazing defensive player, but he obviously is doing his part in this scheme.
4. Having said all of that, I do agree that when he does play Center and Rudy sits, he has improved in his ability to wall up and not bite and be as jumpy as compared to earlier in his career. I've seen a lot of missed attempts where he's stayed grounded and just made himself big near the rim. May be he's put on some man strength over the past few years, but I feel he is at least an average defensive Center at this point and definitely an average to above average defensive PF.
I think the biggest area he hurts us on both sides of the court are his out-of-control drives that result in a missed shot or turnover and him tumbling along the baseline out-of-bounds area. That's just a killer because it not only is an empty possession, but usually ends up in an open look for our opponent on the other end.
Great analysis, Q. I haven’t looked at his individual defensive stats this season, but he’s definitely played above average defense so far this season. You can’t overstate how much KAT has improved this season at walling up and not biting on pump fakes. That’s been the biggest area of his defensive improvement this season. We’re also seeing his increased mobility that we didn’t get to see last season because of his injury. He’s clearly toned his body for extra mobility to play the PF position and it’s paying off. The last frontier for KAT’s continued improvement is to further limit his out-of-control drives. You’re absolutely right about how that tendency of his kills us on both ends. He also picks up offensive fouls on those out-of-control drives.
