Derozan, Wiggins, Batum and Butler are 2-3
not 6'4 hield
Every time you post about Hield you misquote his size at 6'4" - no idea why you do it, since I've corrected you about it countless times, but you keep doing it anyway - seemingly because you think it will help back your bias against Hield?
Marcus Smart is 6'3" with a 6'9" wingspan and a 8'3" standing reach (according to combine measurements) and has no problems defending NBA small forwards.
Jae Crowder is 6'6" with a 6'9" wingspan and an 8'3" standing reach (according to combine measurements) and has no problem defending NBA small forwards.
Buddy Hield is 6'5" with a 6'9" wingspan and an 8'5" standing reach (according to combine measurements) and is probably more athletic then either of those two guys - just like Smart and Crowder, he'll have no problems defending the majority of NBA small forwards.
That's probably not true. There's a reason he only did measurements at the combine.
I can only go off what I see with my own eyes.
From what I can see Hield seems to be faster running the floor in transition, quicker changing directions, better in terms of body control, and a higher leaper - when compared to Smart. Smart has the obvious advantage in terms of physical strength, but I think that's about it.
Crowder may or may not be faster then Hield in the open floor, I certainly don't think he's quicker laterally and I don't think he's a higher leaper either. Crowder largely depends on the "freight train" approach when going to the basket - he just puts his head down and drives blindly - full speed - into whoever might be in his way...basically hoping he'll draw a foul or surprise himself and get a shot off.
Neither Smart nor Crowder is an especially standout athlete. They are solid NBA-caliber athletes, but nothing special. They just get by using sheer physicality.
Watching Hield play, I wouldn't consider him to be an elite athlete - but he looks like a pretty good one. He runs the floor well, seems relatively quick off his first step, appears to have solid body control when getting to the basket, and seems to get up higher then people give him credit for. I'd say he's a pretty good (if not great) athlete. On par with Crowder at the very least (minus the strength, of course).
But alas that is just my observation from watching him play. I honestly think that ball handling is the
only thing holding Hield back from being a ~20 PPG scorer at the NBA level...and I think ball handling is the type of skill that can be improved.
Hell even Avery Bradley has improved dramatically as a ball handler since he was 22 years old (some 2-3 year ago) and he was probably one of the worst ball handling guards of all time in his rookie year. Hield is already an average ball handler, just not a good one (like Murray).
Hield's game actually reminds me a LOT of Ray Allen. I think Ray was a bit of a better athlete (he was far more athletic then was given credit for) but he was never really a standout ball handler or an outstanding playmaker when he was in college. In fact Ray's overall college numbers (in his third and final year, and over his career) were fairly close to Hield's.
Topic: Danny: Hield is a 2-3, Murray is a 1-2 (Read 9647 times)