Deron is coming back to Utah.

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Let me strengthen the claim, then.
In the limited number of minutes Enes Kanter was on the floor this season, he was an above average defender. In other words, there is no need to speak of the future tense. I think it was his offense that restricted his time on the floor.

I know in March he ranked in the bottom 16th percentile in post defense, according to a Grantland article. Not sure if it improved since then, but either way that is pretty bad and certainly not above average. Like I said he did a good job showing on the ball handler in Pick n' Rolls, but that is about the only thing I really felt he did a good job of defensively. That is a pretty good sign though and a big strength if it isn't just a fluke, but it doesn't warrant a tag of "very defensive minded big".

Again, not say can't or won't improve, but I just can't call him a defensive minded big. I don't really see how that is a "haterism" as much as it just being realistic.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Kanter played very, very good defense this year. I'm not sure how it all finished out, but 3/4 of the way through the season, the Jazz allowed the fewest points with Kanter on the floor (in contrast to the other three bigs [in order; Kanter, Favors, Millsap, Jefferson]).

 

[NUMBERICA]

I know in March he ranked in the bottom 16th percentile in post defense, according to a Grantland article. Not sure if it improved since then, but either way that is pretty bad and certainly not above average. Like I said he did a good job showing on the ball handler in Pick n' Rolls, but that is about the only thing I really felt he did a good job of defensively. That is a pretty good sign though and a big strength if it isn't just a fluke, but it doesn't warrant a tag of "very defensive minded big".

Again, not say can't or won't improve, but I just can't call him a defensive minded big. I don't really see how that is a "haterism" as much as it just being realistic.

It honestly sounds like either haterism or you have been reading scouting reports on a 17 year old from last year and not watching the games.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

It honestly sounds like either haterism or you have been reading scouting reports on a 17 year old from last year and not watching the games.

So the bottom 16th percentile post-defense is now very, very good defense? I feel like some fans have just taken snapshots of a couple of good defensive moments and completely forgotten the bad ones.

 

[NUMBERICA]

So the bottom 16th percentile post-defense is now very, very good defense? I feel like some fans have just taken snapshots of a couple of good defensive moments and completely forgotten the bad ones.

Al Jefferson has been one of the best "post defenders" in the NBA. As has Mehmet Okur.

 

[green]

Cyrone is just backing his son/boy Jefferson.

Kanter has a nice outside shot. He is an excellent rebounder. He is a huge body that clogs the lane. For someone that has only played basketball for 6 years, and had to sit two of those out, the guy is extremely promising. Promising enough that he makes Jefferson 100% expendable, especially if you keep Millsap. If you are the Jazz, being a small market team, they can't keep wasting years on rookie deals with players like Al in front of them. They need to find out what they have with Kanter, and Favors and Kanter showed more than enough to justify getting rid of Al, especially when you get rid of Al, you put the Jazz in a much, much, much better situation.

Now, Deron is probably a pipe dream, but when all the chips are on the table, you can't name three better spots for Deron than Utah in the NBA.

 

[Stoked]

Cyrone is just backing his son/boy Jefferson.

Kanter has a nice outside shot. He is an excellent rebounder. He is a huge body that clogs the lane. For someone that has only played basketball for 6 years, and had to sit two of those out, the guy is extremely promising. Promising enough that he make Jefferson 100% expendable, especially if you keep Millsap. If you are the Jazz, being a small market team, they can't keep wasting years on rookie deals with players like Al in front of them. They need to find out what they have with Kanter, and Favors and Kanter showed more than enough to justify getting rid of Al, especially when you get rid of Al, you put the Jazz in a much, much, much better situation.

Now, Deron is probably a pipe dream, but when all the chips are on the table, you can't name three better spots for Deron than Utah in the NBA.

Deron is exactly what I would want in Utah at the PG position. However he started getting an attitude (justified or not) and let it affect the team. I do not want him back.

 

[Dr. Jones]

I mainly have an issue with calling Kanter non-defensive 'minded' big. I think it's undebatable that Kanter is defensive 'minded' .. as opposed to Al clearly not being defensive 'minded.'

 

[NUMBERICA]

Millsap's opponent PER was one of the worst in the league last year.

I know this is news, but there are five guys on the other ****ing team.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Al Jefferson has been one of the best "post defenders" in the NBA. As has Mehmet Okur.

I see the point you are trying to make. If you want to be a good defender you have to be strong in all areas. Memo and Jefferson obviously suck on defense because teams can just expose them by putting them in situations where they have to guard on the perimeter with pick n' rolls. The same thing goes for if you are a bad post defender, teams are just going to expose you by putting you in post situations. Obviously in today's game it isn't as bad to be a poor post defender as it is to be a poor pick n roll defender because more teams can run the pick n roll more effectively than posting, but is still going to hold you back from being a complete "defensive minded" big.

Once again, just to reiterate, I'm not saying "Holy crap Kanter is a terrible defender we are screwed". I'm just saying he hasn't really shown enough to be called a "defensive minded" big. I'm not even saying he can't be considered a defensive minded big in the future.

 

[Stoked]

I mainly have an issue with calling Kanter non-defensive 'minded' big. I think it's undebatable that Kanter is defensive 'minded' .. as opposed to Al clearly not being defensive 'minded.'

I think Kanter has shown the desire to be a player. Let us give him some time to see what he becomes before we make any judgements.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I think his scouting report and the fact that he doesn't flop or have the hops to block shots gives Kanter an insurmountable hill to climb with most people in terms of defense. And he got a lot of rookie calls. But alright.