11.9% chance of winning the draft lottery as of today

[nickagneta]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

He looks awful for Duke, but they're most playing him at PF and C. He's clearly lost playing as a "Big" on defense. Doesn't handle post ups or defending the pick and roll well.

I agree but he's going to be playing a lot on the perimeter in the NBA guarding SFs and that's were I think he could become a very good defender. He is being misused at Duke and probably won't be playing any time at PF or C in the NBA. It will take time and also the ability to stay in one defensive system will help as well, but I think his strengths defensively will show more in the NBA when he is guarding SFs.

[Fafnir]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

[aingeforthree]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

I'd echo all of that and add that he's just a frosh.  I mean man, we gotta let the kid develop his game first.  He's coming from high school where he could play lackluster defense and still look like a beast on that end.

[AB_Celtic]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but before college Parker was even thought of as a SG/SF? I guess I missed something, because I wasn't aware that he was spending most of his time at PF at Duke.

[BleedGreen1989]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but before college Parker was even thought of as a SG/SF? I guess I missed something, because I wasn't aware that he was spending most of his time at PF at Duke.

Yeah he was spending a lot of time at PF.

Watched the game the other night and he was logging significant minutes at the 5.

Certainly not where he'll be playing in the NBA.

[Tr1boy]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Your kidding right? Pierce was an underrated defender even early.

Melo got lucky playing in a zone defense system in syracuse. Bc in the nba alot of guys have their way with him. Whats the pt of scoring 25 when you will let your man score close to it also.

Parker while has decent athleticism and quickness moves with little to no grace. His movements are not fluid and choppy to best describe.

[Tr1boy]

I would like to see someone tell me why parker is alot better than anderson.

Who is Anderson?

Kyle anderson. You can also see him take to parker and anderson is considered slow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EoxHiXIqfQ

[CoachBo]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

He looks awful for Duke, but they're most playing him at PF and C. He's clearly lost playing as a "Big" on defense. Doesn't handle post ups or defending the pick and roll well.

I agree but he's going to be playing a lot on the perimeter in the NBA guarding SFs and that's were I think he could become a very good defender. He is being misused at Duke and probably won't be playing any time at PF or C in the NBA. It will take time and also the ability to stay in one defensive system will help as well, but I think his strengths defensively will show more in the NBA when he is guarding SFs.

Totally agree. Parker has the tools to be an elite NBA defender. He is my clear preference for the top pick, since we're hearing out here that Embiid isn't coming out.

[PhoSita]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

[Tr1boy]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

[Fafnir]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

Ibaka wasn't drafted as a defender or an offensive player. He was drafted as an elite athletic big man who was raw. His defense wasn't very good for all his blocked shots till last year.

Brooks was a low draft pick who was never projected to be a great scorer in the NBA.

Both sides of the ball count in basketball, but offense is really important. Its really hard to build a contender with a crappy offense.

[Tr1boy]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

Ibaka wasn't drafted as a defender or an offensive player. He was drafted as an elite athletic big man who was raw. His defense wasn't very good for all his blocked shots till last year.

Brooks was a low draft pick who was never projected to be a great scorer in the NBA.

Both sides of the ball count in basketball, but offense is really important. Its really hard to build a contender with a crappy offense.

Or crappy defense.

I like and believe in the saying that defense wins championships

[Donoghus]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

Jabari Parker & Marshon Brooks aren't in the same hemisphere, c'mon.

[Tr1boy]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

Jabari Parker & Marshon Brooks aren't in the same hemisphere, c'mon.

Its not that. Just that both have In  common nice offensive capabilities but are poor defenders. Did brooks become a better defender in the nba?

You cant expect parker to be even a mediocre defender in the nba. And you canf bandaid the situation either by surrounding him with defensive minded role players.

[Fafnir]

While Parker isn't playing the greatest defense in college, he does have the tools to be a very good defender. He has excellent footwork and his lateral movement is very good. He also has elite initial burst forward to close out on people. Physically, he's 6'8", solid and strong with a 7 foot reach means that with work, he should be a very good defender in the right system and with the right coaching.

Yeah.  It's not like Pierce was an amazing defender early in his career.

Pierce was a really good defender as a young player. Got lazy with bad habits as he came into his own as a star till Doc and the rest made him lock in.

Hm.  Well, in any case, I'll take a great scorer with the physical tools to be a good defender over a great defender with the physical tools to become a nice scorer.

Is that what happened with marshon brooks?

What about ibaka known to be a defender really turning heads offensively??

I rather have a guy who plays better defense like leonard and george and hone their offensive skills later.

Jabari Parker & Marshon Brooks aren't in the same hemisphere, c'mon.

Its not that. Just that both have In  common nice offensive capabilities but are poor defenders. Did brooks become a better defender in the nba?

You cant expect parker to be even a mediocre defender in the nba. And you canf bandaid the situation either by zhrrounding him with defensive minded role players.

Why can't you? He has the physical tools and the profile of a great many NBA players is to become better defensively.

Not only that but plenty of teams have built very good team defenses with limited SFs defensively.

If Parker's defense is a deal breaker for you I'm not sure there is any prospect out there you'd like to draft at all because your standards and expectations aren't aligned with reality.