Interesting article about defensive versatility

[loco_91]

https://deanondraft.com/2016/06/22/defensive-versatility-rankings/

This is my favorite draft writer and I think this article is worth reading. Ranks players by defensive versatility, in terms of the number of positions they can guard.

[Snakehead]

Bender has proven he can guard NBA point guards and shooting guards?  The talk about Bender on this angle (lock to guard even PGs in the NBA!) is so silly to me.  Based off nothing.  I don't even think anyone would say this about Anthony Davis or Towns so why are we saying it about Bender?

[Csfan1984]

I would minus 1 for each tier. Think he is projecting too much their D should struggle more in the NBA for at least 2 years.

[The Oracle]

Bender has proven he can guard NBA point guards and shooting guards?  The talk about Bender on this angle (lock to guard even PGs in the NBA!) is so silly to me.  Based off nothing.

It's not about guarding them perfectly.  Olynyk actually is fairly successful when switched onto guards and SF's also and he isn't no where near as quick as Bender.  Defending the perimeter is about getting a decent contest up when shooters pull up on them and not getting beat cleanly to the hoop all the time.  Quickness is huge but intelligence and being able to read the play are key also.  The aircraft carrier bigs are getting killed on the perimeter.

[Snakehead]

Bender has proven he can guard NBA point guards and shooting guards?  The talk about Bender on this angle (lock to guard even PGs in the NBA!) is so silly to me.  Based off nothing.

It's not about guarding them perfectly.  Olynyk actually is fairly successful when switched onto guards and SF's also and he isn't no where near as quick as Bender.  Defending the perimeter is about getting a decent contest up when shooters pull up on them and not getting beat cleanly to the hoop all the time.  Quickness is huge but intelligence and being able to read the play are key also.  The aircraft carrier bigs are getting killed on the perimeter.

It says straight up "Can guard all five positions".  Not "on a switch can manage to guard them for a 10 seconds".  Tristan Thompson can do that, just proved it on Curry in the Finals.  Would we say he can guard 1-5?  No.  People are going crazy with this idea, trying to have every guy in the draft as some amazing defensive prospect that can guard anyone.  It's just silly.

If we want to say "hey he can switch onto smaller guys" sure.  I do think Bender is promising from that angle.  But this says can guard 5 positions plain as day.

This piece has guard prospects on it saying they can't even guard the other guard position but Bender can guard PGs one on one.  Don't buy it for a second.

[loco_91]

According to DX, Bender "guarded wings and guards regularly" and "held his own." I think some people on this board underestimate the value of his defensive versatility. He will guard 5 positions in the same sense as Draymond Green does, it isn't that you put him on a guard full time, it's that if he ends up switched onto a guard in the PnR or in transition, it's nothing to worry about.

[Vermont Green]

This is an angle that has some value I guess but I would rather have a player who defends one or two positions very well.  The 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions drop in importance exponentially.

As applies to Bender, I want him to be able to defend at PF primarily, defending at C is also important and makes him more valuable by being more versatile.  The ability to defend beyond that is nice but far less important than many other factors.  I am not going to draft him based on whether or not he can defend other positions.

Same with someone like Brown.  Give me high level defense at SG and SF.  I don't really care how well he can defend PFs.  Sure there will be switches and odd ball line ups where he may end up on a big but I am not going to draft him based on his ability to defend a PF.

[loco_91]

This is an angle that has some value I guess but I would rather have a player who defends one or two positions very well.  The 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions drop in importance exponentially.

As applies to Bender, I want him to be able to defend at PF primarily, defending at C is also important and makes him more valuable by being more versatile.  The ability to defend beyond that is nice but far less important than many other factors.  I am not going to draft him based on whether or not he can defend other positions.

Same with someone like Brown.  Give me high level defense at SG and SF.  I don't really care how well he can defend PFs.  Sure there will be switches and odd ball line ups where he may end up on a big but I am not going to draft him based on his ability to defend a PF.

I disagree. Elite teams have had tons of success this season and especially in the playoffs switching everything, even with sub-optimal personnel for it (ie OKC). With a lineup truly optimized for switching (i.e. with Bender, Smart, Crowder), this tactic could be unbelievably potent. Plus, often you end up cross-matched in transition even if  it isn't your game plan.

[Big333223]

TP for posting the article.

It's true that versatility in defenders is more important than ever in this NBA. I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. Celtics should keep this in mind.

[kozlodoev]

Bender has proven he can guard NBA point guards and shooting guards?  The talk about Bender on this angle (lock to guard even PGs in the NBA!) is so silly to me.  Based off nothing.  I don't even think anyone would say this about Anthony Davis or Towns so why are we saying it about Bender?

This is the blog of a basketball gambler who's running his mouth. I don't know why anyone takes him seriously.

According to DX, Bender "guarded wings and guards regularly" and "held his own." I think some people on this board underestimate the value of his defensive versatility. He will guard 5 positions in the same sense as Draymond Green does, it isn't that you put him on a guard full time, it's that if he ends up switched onto a guard in the PnR or in transition, it's nothing to worry about.

That's odd. Most video evidence I've seen around here shows that he gets burned pretty much every time they isolate him in a switch on top of the key. And that's in Israel. My guess is that the average NBA SF would give him fits.

[danglertx]

The NBA has turned into pick and rolls to switch bigs onto gaurds so I wouldn't underestimate the importance of bigs who can hold their own against smaller quicker players.

[A Future of Stevens]

I feel like the narrative surrounding defensive versatility has been kind of hijacked over the past year or so. There is a clear difference between being able to switch everything, and legit being able to guard everybody. The only player who I believe would be able to lock down every position is Kawhi, which is kind of what makes him utterly amazing. Lebron (in my humble opinion) and Giannis can guard 1-4s, but both would probably struggle against 5s. I Think Kawhi could handle most 5s due to his quick hands and his amazing defensive awareness.

Being able to switch everything, while important, is not the same as the traits listed above. Bender should be able to guard 3-5s (quickness to stay with most big 3s, and length to stop modern 5s), while being able to switch onto guards as well for short bursts in the pick and roll. But by no means do you stick a defensive assignment for Bender on the Chris Pauls of the world for a game.

[boscel33]

According to DX, Bender "guarded wings and guards regularly" and "held his own." I think some people on this board underestimate the value of his defensive versatility. He will guard 5 positions in the same sense as Draymond Green does, it isn't that you put him on a guard full time, it's that if he ends up switched onto a guard in the PnR or in transition, it's nothing to worry about.

This is why I'm in the Brown camp, he is an NBA ready defender now.

[The Oracle]

I feel like the narrative surrounding defensive versatility has been kind of hijacked over the past year or so. There is a clear difference between being able to switch everything, and legit being able to guard everybody. The only player who I believe would be able to lock down every position is Kawhi, which is kind of what makes him utterly amazing. Lebron (in my humble opinion) and Giannis can guard 1-4s, but both would probably struggle against 5s. I Think Kawhi could handle most 5s due to his quick hands and his amazing defensive awareness.

Being able to switch everything, while important, is not the same as the traits listed above. Bender should be able to guard 3-5s (quickness to stay with most big 3s, and length to stop modern 5s), while being able to switch onto guards as well for short bursts in the pick and roll. But by no means do you stick a defensive assignment for Bender on the Chris Pauls of the world for a game.

You are overthinking this.  You would never purposefully put Draymond on PG's as he has better uses same as Bender.  When Bender is switched onto a PG or SG he can perform decently though whereas 90+% of NBA bigs cannot.

[Beat LA]

I think we have the makings of another drinking game tonight in 'can guard multiple position' . Ugh.