Frank: Shumpert is a great one-on-one defender, period.Sometimes the numbers lie but in this case, they don’t. Yes, he fouls too much, and struggles with picks, but he was a rookie last year, and basically still is one this year.Forcing 5 TOs in 9 possessions against Wade might be small sample theater, but it did really happen. I didn’t look at the Kobe game on Synergy but that doesn’t surprise me. We knowthat Rose scored a bunch of points against him but had like 6 TOs and shot 8-26 that game or something like that.And I specifically remember in the Toronto Lin buzzer-beater shot, Calderon was just killing us until Shump started covering him – and completely changed the course of that game.

His on-ball defense will come back – and Synergy says he’s been better than ever this year anyway in very small sample:

Play-type: PPP-against
Overall:0.71 (17th in NBA)
Isolation: 0.61
PNR BH: 0.25
Post-up: zero (9 possessions)
PNR Roll: 0.67
Spot-up 1.07
Off screen: 1.5
Hand-offs: 1.25

Still having problems with screens (small samples also) but don’t try and iso or post him up. When he’s on the ball he’s still tough even with a knee / psyche that’s not quite there yet.

The biggest difference in the synergy numbers to me (esp. in iso situations) is that he’s fouling less but forcing fewer turnovers- the results are similar but it just looks like he’s far less aggressive. Of course, forcing a turnover is much better than forcing a miss- no chance for an offensive rebound and a greater likelihood of getting out on the break so hopefully he’ll get those turnover numbers back up as he gets healthier.

Frank:
For all we know, Woodson is throwing him to the wolves running around screens etc. to make him learn how to navigate them better. Clearly it’s the worst part of his defensive game – no better way to learn than to do.

Running around screens is pretty high on the job description for a perimeter defender.

Owen:
So hostile! You upset about Melo not getting the MVP or something?

I don’t think Bargnani is a good defender, having watched him on many occasions. They have been a terrible defensive team since he arrived.

And I still think Chandler is playing great interior defense. He is the only one on the team doing it unfortunately. He could play better if he had Haywood backing him up and could afford to be more aggressive. But it is what it is.

And unlike some other guys on our roster he is pretty effective on both sides of the court…..

“Barnagni did a hell of a job on Amar’e. You’re confusing the eye test with rebound rate. Barnagni has the length and lateral movement to rim protect and it’s quite possible to be a good interior defender and poor rebounder, or inversely, Kevin Love.”

“Fucking laughable man.”

Clown, bro.

I don’t think Bargnani is a good defender, having watched him on many occasions. They have been a terrible defensive team since he arrived.

And I still think Chandler is playing great interior defense. He is the only one on the team doing it unfortunately. He could play better if he had Haywood backing him up and could afford to be more aggressive. But it is what it is.

And unlike some other guys on our roster he is pretty effective on both sides of the court…..

“Barnagni did a hell of a job on Amar’e. You’re confusing the eye test with rebound rate. Barnagni has the length and lateral movement to rim protect and it’s quite possible to be a good interior defender and poor rebounder, or inversely, Kevin Love.”

“Fucking laughable man.”

jon abbey:
Shumpert also had an incredible game against Kobe in that 38 point Lin game last year, he held him to 3 for 11 shooting and forced some turnovers (I can’t find the latter number anywhere, but I remember posting this here at the time last year).

Shumpert is a great one-on-one defender, period. Sometimes the numbers lie but in this case, they don’t. Yes, he fouls too much, and struggles with picks, but he was a rookie last year, and basically still is one this year. Forcing 5 TOs in 9 possessions against Wade might be small sample theater, but it did really happen. I didn’t look at the Kobe game on Synergy but that doesn’t surprise me. We know that Rose scored a bunch of points against him but had like 6 TOs and shot 8-26 that game or something like that. And I specifically remember in the Toronto Lin buzzer-beater shot, Calderon was just killing us until Shump started covering him – and completely changed the course of that game.

His on-ball defense will come back – and Synergy says he’s been better than ever this year anyway in very small sample:

Play-type: PPP-against
Overall: 0.71 (17th in NBA)
Isolation: 0.61
PNR BH: 0.25
Post-up: zero (9 possessions)
PNR Roll: 0.67
Spot-up 1.07
Off screen: 1.5
Hand-offs: 1.25

Still having problems with screens (small samples also) but don’t try and iso or post him up. When he’s on the ball he’s still tough even with a knee / psyche that’s not quite there yet.

Frank:
by the way guys — if anyone needed proof that spatial analysis via SportVu will completely change the way we think about defense, check this out from Kirk Goldsberry. It’s a dense/long read but highly recommended.Interesting that Tyson does not grade out particularly well in this paper – is basically average.

http://www.sloansportsconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/The%20Dwight%20Effect%20A%20New%20Ensemble%20of%20Interior%20Defense%20Analytics%20for%20the%20NBA.pdf

Challenging shots at the rim has never been Chandler’s strong suit- his value lies more in his Garnett-esque ability to blow up pnr’s and consistently help and recover against penetration- keeping guys out of the restricted area in the first place rather than defending them once they’re there. We’ve seen very little of that this year (esp. in the pnr where he’s been every bit as bad as the guards) but I’m still confident he’ll deliver in the playoffs.