Q12543 wrote:To further LST's point, you ideally want complimentary pairings on the wing. Right now it feels like we have a bunch of different flavors to choose from at SF and very few flavors at SG. So yeah, as long as Martin starts at SG, you really need someone that is a willing defender at the 3.
From the look of it the other day, Shabazz is a more than willing defender. He played intense D on Tucker who was really giving us a hard time.
Q12543 wrote:To further LST's point, you ideally want complimentary pairings on the wing. Right now it feels like we have a bunch of different flavors to choose from at SF and very few flavors at SG. So yeah, as long as Martin starts at SG, you really need someone that is a willing defender at the 3.
From the look of it the other day, Shabazz is a more than willing defender. He played intense D on Tucker who was really giving us a hard time.
I agree he put in a good effort, although PJ Tucker is hardly a top notch offensive threat. It takes a phenomenal amount of energy and effort to defend the likes of Durant, Harden, Hayward, Gay, etc. These would be the players he'd be matched up against nightly if he started next to Kevin Martin. While I don't think Corey Brewer is a great defender, he at least relishes the assignment of being a second fiddle on offense so that he can really focus on defense. Would Shabazz accept the defensive challenge as willingly and effectively as he would accept the instant-offense-off-the-bench type of role? Because if he started next to Martin, Love, and Pekovic, he would be the guy asked to focus on defense while having to claw and scrap his way for shots. Not sure he's ready for that, both in terms of skill and willingness.
Q12543 wrote:To further LST's point, you ideally want complimentary pairings on the wing. Right now it feels like we have a bunch of different flavors to choose from at SF and very few flavors at SG. So yeah, as long as Martin starts at SG, you really need someone that is a willing defender at the 3.
From the look of it the other day, Shabazz is a more than willing defender. He played intense D on Tucker who was really giving us a hard time.
I agree he put in a good effort, although PJ Tucker is hardly a top notch offensive threat. It takes a phenomenal amount of energy and effort to defend the likes of Durant, Harden, Hayward, Gay, etc. These would be the players he'd be matched up against nightly if he started next to Kevin Martin. While I don't think Corey Brewer is a great defender, he at least relishes the assignment of being a second fiddle on offense so that he can really focus on defense. Would Shabazz accept the defensive challenge as willingly and effectively as he would accept the instant-offense-off-the-bench type of role? Because if he started next to Martin, Love, and Pekovic, he would be the guy asked to focus on defense while having to claw and scrap his way for shots. Not sure he's ready for that, both in terms of skill and willingness.
I agree that Shabazz is usually going to look willing on defense...it's easy to see he has a good motor and work ethic on the court. It's his defensive technique that is often lacking. Obviously I haven't had a lot of opportunity to watch Shabazz on defense in the NBA, but he had some issues at UCLA. He had a tendency to bite on fakes, making him susceptible to fouling or getting beat on a drive. Similarly, he had a tendency to close too quickly on his man, with the same results. So much of defense is effort, though, and defensive technique can be taught. Shabazz is probably a below average NBA defender right now, but I think he can develop into a good defender.
