D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

And honestly, there aren't many "defensive guards" that can really keep up with elite guards. Patrick Beverly would not have slowed down Curry at the slightest. Most of these elite PG's will usually get where they want, that's why it was crucial we have an anchor like Hibbert.

 

That too. Between Byron and Kobe I think he will get better on that end of the floor.

 

Even on the top of the perimeter his passes are just so smooth and crisp. I also like how that highlight tape shows the dope passes he makes that aren't caught by his teammates. Still getting it right to them, they just have stone hands.

That double back screen with the pass coming through the lane play is incredible

 

no one stops speedy guards because every team runs the high pick and roll to death. pg defense has become less about lateral quickness and more about recovering after being screened. you don't see a ton of clear-outs anymore, and when you do, it's only the very best players (curry), who can't be stopped by even the very best defenders (see: kobe's career prior to the achilles injury).

 

NBA's about help defense. There are very few on ball, one on one defenders that are able to shut people down and even then you'll see the top players in the league still get theirs on them.

I remember a while back Kobe talked about what he had worked on in the offseason and much of what he had done was how to react and score on help defense. He said that he could get any shot he wanted with a single defender on him and that it was always the 2nd and 3rd defender sliding over into help that made him have to force a shot or pass the ball.

 

And it will all go back to D'Angelo's size which will be perfect for a switch all type of defense. Being the size as Clarkson and Kobe and the other guards, and sometimes SF, it will be okay to switch.

I particularly liked Kerr's defense on Lebron the last 3 games doubling on the pick and roll and forcing him to make a play rather than allowing him to go one on one with Curry on a screen.

 

All those blow bys by LBJ against us are now going to run into Roy at the rim. Am liking that lots.

 

Hibbert = Lebron's Kryptonite

 

i don't know, you tend to slow down when you can't walk...

 

You still need a defensive guard who's quick/strong enough to at least stay on the hip of an elite guard when they explode to the hoop. That way, it makes it much easier for a shotblocker like Hibbert to know where to go to protect the rim.

When elite guards can just blow by a defender, shotblockers like Hibbert often end up picking up fouls.

 

“They’re open & don’t know half the time that they’re open."

Thats really funny. True PG though.

 

Now that GoldenThroat is among us, I hope he posts in this thread. His posts on D'Angelo at LG singlehandedly placed me on the "D-train" before the draft.

 

Already loves this kid

The more familar they get with him the more ready they will be the next time the ball comes their way

 

Magic used to crack new guys upside the head with a pass at least once or twice before they got the message that they should always be ready.