Identify perfect fits for Tatum and Brown

[RodyTur10]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

[Ed Monix]

IMO the perfect fit for Jayson Tatum from a talent only standpoint, would be Anthony Davis & Kyrie Irving.

[Somebody]

The role Nate Archibald played for the Celtics in the early 80s is the type of PG I would the Jays to have.

I do not believe the Jays provide enough passing and playmaking to play without another playmaker in the lineup. Horford and Smart are more facilitators than playmakers (enable ball movement rather than creative playmaking). The Jays need another playmaker whether that is a big (Jokic is probably the only one), a wing (like Hayward) or a PG (easiest to find).

I want a PG who is happy as the 3rd or 4th option on offense. Who will create easy offense for the team by pushing the ball in transition creating transition opportunities & by driving the ball into the heart of the defense forcing defenses to collapse creating easy opportunities in the halfcourt.

That is what I want. It does not have to be high volume creation (like CP3) but it does need be there. I worry about having a PG who does only one (transition but not halfcourt - Lonzo) or neither (Smart) of these things.

Cameron Payne could be a genuine possibility to provide these qualities.

So basically Kyle Lowry?

[Jvalin]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

[BudweiserCeltic]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

[Jvalin]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

[RJD1974]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

[BudweiserCeltic]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

I'm just not arguing anything, just that using rookie year videos to illustrate something is not useful at best.

[Jvalin]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

TP! Cool video, can't argue with that. Still, Timelord almost always drops back. It's nice to see that he somehow managed to stay in front of Harden in that particular play.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

TP! Cool video, can't argue with that. Still, Timelord almost always drops back. It's nice to see that he somehow managed to stay in front of Harden in that particular play.

Yeah, some of Williams biggest plays and highlights are blocking step back jumpers on switches. Anecdotally, I can’t agree on this. I think he is on of the most unique players in the NBA with those plays, because he’s able to play back and still has the length and quickness off the floor to bloc/contest a shot. In other words, he can take one option away from the offense while not giving up that much for counters.

[footey]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

TP! Cool video, can't argue with that. Still, Timelord almost always drops back. It's nice to see that he somehow managed to stay in front of Harden in that particular play.

Actually you seem to be stuck on Rob Williams plays from 2 to 3 seasons ago, when he didn't get the playing time due to injury to develop into the outstanding multi-positional defender that he has become.

[RJD1974]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

TP! Cool video, can't argue with that. Still, Timelord almost always drops back. It's nice to see that he somehow managed to stay in front of Harden in that particular play.

Actually you seem to be stuck on Rob Williams plays from 2 to 3 seasons ago, when he didn't get the playing time due to injury to develop into the outstanding multi-positional defender that he has become.

This vid was just uploaded today. A bunch of examples of staying in front on switches included in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdKsINvNfPE&ab_channel=TomaszKordylewski

[td450]

I have always been fond of defensive setups where you can switch 1-4 if you have a big PG and a quick footed PF but to stay home at the 5 spot. Keep your center on the opposing big so that your main shot-blocker is at the rim to contest shots and to grab rebounds.

It was one of the things I liked so much about the second three-beat Chicago Bulls with Ron Harper at PG and Dennis Rodman at PF next to Pippen and Jordan. Four guys all around the same size who could switch seamlessly when required. Then Longley who couldn't switch onto anybody.

The 80s Lakers were another example with Magic and Cooper in the backcourt, Worthy and AC Green in the frontcourt. AC Green was so versatile defensively with that speed. Kareem, again the center, could not switch onto anybody. Old man Kareem at this stage. So he always stayed home.

Difference is, Longley and Kareem didn't have to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter. This ain't the case in today's NBA. The game has come a long way since the 80's and the 90's.

Yet at most a third of all centers are actually capable 3-point-shooters. Look at the playoffs this year.
Here are all the starting centers for the 16 playoff-teams (with the exception that the Clippers have generally started without a 'real' center, so that's Batum for completeness) and I grouped them as "good" shooter (>33%), "bad" shooter (<33%) and "non"-shooter (0%).

Good shooters: Jokic (38%), Embiid (39%), Brook Lopez (34%), Griffin (39%), Batum (39%)
Bad shooters: Valanciunas (25%), Nurkic (20%)
Non-shooters (0%): Gobert, Adebayo, Capela, Ayton, Drummond, Marjanovic, Thompson, Gafford, Gibson

So in most cases the opposing center isn't going to be a big thread on the perimeter. And I actually disagree on Timelord not being able to guard stretch bigs. And yes I acknowledge guarding Jokic or Embiid is a problem, but they are a handful for anyone.

All teams have at least one stretch big. The Jazz are the only team that practically never used a stretch big, probably because they are built around an elite rim protector in Gobert. Here's your list regarding teams with non-shooters:

(these are regular season numbers, cannot find the playoff numbers)

Jazz: Ilyasova (played 43% of his minutes at Center, but he hardly ever played)
Hawks: Collins (played 36% of his minutes at Center)
Heat: Bjelica (played 43% of his minutes at Center)
Suns: Saric (played 78% of his minutes at Center)
Lakers: Marc Gasol (played 100% of his minutes at Center, was a starter prior to the Drummond acquisition)
Mavs: Porzingis (played 82% of his minutes at Center)
Celtics: Kornet (played 100% of his minutes at Center)
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (played 100% of his minutes at Center. Unfortunately for the Wiz, he was injured.)
Knicks: Randle (played 24% of his minutes at Center)

Playoff basketball is mostly about exposing your opponents weaknesses. Teams got plenty of time to prepare for the games, hence they focus on exploiting mismatches. If one team has a Center who cannot defend on the perimeter, chances are that the opposing coach will single him out. It happens all the time, even with Gobert who's an elite rim protector. The Clips were shooting 43.3% from 3 vs the Jazz, exactly because Gobert cannot play D on the perimeter.


Regarding Timelord:
Just check it out yourself. Here's a short video of Timelord trying to switch the Ibaka-Lowry PnR. Lowry blows by him as if he weren't even there. Can't find a long video with multiple plays like this, cause he pretty much always drops back and protects the rim. I mean, this is nothing new. Feel free to focus on his PnR defense when watching the games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtIt8QoNyqI

Not that I'm to disagree with your point, but using his rookie year as an example is not really very useful, particularly when it was very evident an issue of rookie awareness and miscommunication with Hayward rather than a player blowing by him.

Again, it's difficult to find a video of him switching the PnR, cause he almost never does it. This was literally the only video I could find. If you can find a better one, feel free to post it.

Imo, it was mostly an issue of lateral quickness. Obviously, Timelord has a great vertical jump but he's rather lethargic when moving laterally. It's an ongoing issue throughout his career. Don't think he can suddenly improve his lateral quickness. To a large extent, either you got it or you don't.

This was the result of a switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91rXvqU2eyg&ab_channel=NF2

TP! Cool video, can't argue with that. Still, Timelord almost always drops back. It's nice to see that he somehow managed to stay in front of Harden in that particular play.

Yeah, some of Williams biggest plays and highlights are blocking step back jumpers on switches. Anecdotally, I can’t agree on this. I think he is on of the most unique players in the NBA with those plays, because he’s able to play back and still has the length and quickness off the floor to bloc/contest a shot. In other words, he can take one option away from the offense while not giving up that much for counters.

Blocks happen when an offensive player misjudges the momentum of a defender and takes a shot. Rob can clearly get up there, and he's fairly aggressive about it. His problem is that very good offensive players can control him a little easier than the best defenders, either seeing him stay back or getting him to bite. Really good pick and roll defense actually detracts from shot blocking. You have to stay discplined and not commit your momentum.

[KG Living Legend]

 Rob Williams is a great fit for Tatum and Brown. As is Horford.  Let's get back on track with good fits such as Kyle Anderson.