Hayward Question

[NAOS]

On topic: Hayward plays better at the 2. He's like a second pg and he's better creating with the ball in his hand. You don't have that if he's playing the 3.

Why?
You are aware, I'm sure, that the term "point forward" refers to people who are playing forward.

 

[honz]

I'm absolutely sure we have no idea who Hayward can defend in the pros yet. It's amazing how one game defending Kobe, who doesn't drive anymore, has definitively determined what he can do. I hope he can play the 2 because that would give us great length at the position. But I suspect he's going to sort himself out as a 3. That makes the most sense anyway since Raja has to get his 42 minutes somewhere.

It was more than one game. He showed the ability to keep PG's out of the lane consistently when asked to guard them.

 

[BENTLEY]

I was just trying to get back on topic so I was coming up with something that seemed relevant. I don't really care where he plays. I'm still not sure about Hayward but there's stuff to be optimistic about.

 

[billyshelby]

It was more than one game. He showed the ability to keep PG's out of the lane consistently when asked to guard them.

Are you actually suggesting Hayward could effectively guard PG's? I assume you mean SG's, and he had plenty of trouble guarding them. Doesn't mean he can't, or that he didn't play well some nights, but by no means did he do anything that would suggest he has defensive ace in his makeup. I'm just hoping he can adequately defend 2's. Anything more than that is gravy.

 

[Ben10]

Are you actually suggesting Hayward could effectively guard PG's? I assume you mean SG's, and he had plenty of trouble guarding them. Doesn't mean he can't, or that he didn't play well some nights, but by no means did he do anything that would suggest he has defensive ace in his makeup. I'm just hoping he can adequately defend 2's. Anything more than that is gravy.

Billy I hardly ever disagree with anything you post but I think your a little off here. I watched every game last year except 2 and Hayward's ability to stay in front of his man in one on one situations was well above average. I saw him switch multipule times on to a PG and stay in front of him not letting him drive. Hayward had some tough games last year and was lost on Offense and in transition at times. But when it came to playing strait up defense he impressed me all year. Its one of the little things that he did well at the start of the year that convinced me he could be a good palyer. I think he has what it takes to be a very good defender.

 

[billyshelby]

I'm not saying Hayward didn't play well at times. I'm saying we saw very little of Hayward guarding starting 2's, and he definitely had his troubles even in the last two weeks when he played his best. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's a bad defender. I'm just not sure he can handle a steady diet of NBA 2's night in and night out. I'm a lot more worried about our Team D, anyway. If we shore that up, I think Hayward will fit into a defensive system very well.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Billy I hardly ever disagree with anything you post but I think your a little off here. I watched every game last year except 2 and Hayward's ability to stay in front of his man in one on one situations was well above average. I saw him switch multipule times on to a PG and stay in front of him not letting him drive. Hayward had some tough games last year and was lost on Offense and in transition at times. But when it came to playing strait up defense he impressed me all year. Its one of the little things that he did well at the start of the year that convinced me he could be a good palyer. I think he has what it takes to be a very good defender.

Good points. Hayward did struggle on offense and seemed to underestimate the speed of NBA players as he had a lot of "careless" passes picked off. But the one thing I noticed on defense was his great positioning. He stayed low and moved his feet instead of reaching. And with his height, he can still bother players that will then pull up if their drive is stopped. IMO, Hayward can develop into an upper-tier SG. That said, there will still be players he'll struggle against. But even Deron had problems with smaller, quicker PG's.

 

[vslice02]

Don't think Hayward was great defensively but did display the tools to be an average/quality defender. I think Hayward moves his feet well and does a good job staying between man-and-basket. Thought his biggest problems were when players would iso from the mid or high-post - Hayward was a victim of reaching/grabbing and alot of the nuances dealing with the physicality of the game. A year's experience and not having the rookie bulls-eye on his back could make a huge difference.

 

[honz]

Are you actually suggesting Hayward could effectively guard PG's? I assume you mean SG's, and he had plenty of trouble guarding them. Doesn't mean he can't, or that he didn't play well some nights, but by no means did he do anything that would suggest he has defensive ace in his makeup. I'm just hoping he can adequately defend 2's. Anything more than that is gravy.

I meant to write "PG's"...

 

[Nate505]

I really think people are just remebering that one time he guarded an old Kobe pretty good, but are somehow forgetting all the other times he got abused.

I agree. That being said, I'm curious to see how his defense will improve when he has a year of seasoning under his belt and doesn't get the rookie treatment. I don't think he'll become elite, but I guess there's that outside chance. I do remember people saying that he would be a dreadful defender, and just in his rookie season I thought he progressed past that.