[rtbtParticipant]

I just read an article on the NBA potential of Jimmer Fredette and couldn’t stop LOL.

Almost all of the scouts and GMs inteviewed agreed Fredette has the requisite talent needed on the offensive end of the court. However, there was one recurring theme in the article which bothered me and that was reference Fredette’s lack of defensive skills when he eventually arrives in the NBA. They talked about all of the elite PGs Fredette won’t be able to guard. They predicted his inability to be effective on defense will result in him dropping to the second half of the first round.

That observation about Fredette’s lack of defensive skills was true, but why do they ignore the fact that many of the guards mentioned also play very little in the way of defense? Besides, I’m still waiting to find an NBA PG who can stop or even slow down Derrick Rose,  Chris Paul, or DeRon Williams. It’s a moot point.

It seems as if Fredette is being held to a double standard by scouts and GMs that don’t apply to other NBA PGs. Do you agree?
 

[apb540Participant]

He will have Steve Nash type D because of his athletic short-comings.  Not really a double standard, just a reality.

[JoeWolf1]

 Hey, look at what JJ Reddick did to his defensive skills from coming in the league to now.  He’s a legit defender now.  Yeah, it’s an issue, but if Freddette has any common sense he’ll realize thats what he needs to work on…  I really don’t know much about his character or work ethic or anything so I can’t say he will…but If JJ Reddick can, lol

I don’t feel its a double standard, but just something that is often associated with players without great wingspans or athletic ability.  Even if longer more athletic players are terrible on defense, because of their length it is often though they can be "taught" defense.  Sometimes it’s true, sometimes not, but I think it’s not just for Jimmer, but for all players with limited length and athleticism.  To me that way to look at is dumb, because defense can’t be measured in length and speed, its a mindset.

[rtbtParticipant]

I think apb540 missed my point. I agreed with the talent evaluators that Fredette doesn’t play defense. However, I would argue that’s a moot point because

1. Many NBA PGs play very little in the way of defense, so why single out Fredette? It sounds like a double standard to me.

2. More importantly, elite NBA PGs like Rose, Paul, and Williams are so incredibly talented that nobody can stop or even slow them down. So what difference does it make if Fredettte is another in a long line of PGs who is inadquate on defense?

For me, a GM has to ask himself only one question, how will Fredette fit into my offense? If he likes that answer then draft the guy. If he doesn’t like the answer, pass on him. But in the end, they  should leave the guy’s lack of defensive skills out of the equation.

[LAKE SHOW]

I know i always laugh when they say someone doesn’t have the ability to defend  on the NBA level. Most guards,Forwards, Ceneters arent that good at the defensive end in the NBA

[JoeWolf1]

@rtbt

Yeah, I know what you’re saying, but to me it’s more of a silent knock on his length and athleticsm like I mentioned earlier.  If he had a Rondo wingspan then I don’t think they’d be quite as concerned.  As a rookie defense is usually the hardest thing to adjust to, so I don’t feel it’s a matter of how’s he going to fair in the December game against Utah as a rookie, but when talking about taking a player in the lottery that player is an investment and the thought process is usually more long term. 

But again, I think it’s not the best way to analyze defense.  It’s totally a mind set, I’d be more interested in learning how hungry a player is to improve his game and what kind of work ethic he has in pre-draft interviews than worry about, his wingspan and athletic ability.  Sure the wingspan is a big help, but there are plenty of adequate NBA defenders without great wing spans or above average athleticism.

I don’t know if I did a good job explaing what I was thinking there, but oh well…

[rtbtParticipant]

Joe, I agree about his lack of length, but there are so many players coming out every year who are very poor defenders. That’s why I often why certain guys are singled out by the press for their defensive deficiencies.

 

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