He would have to have that lightbulb moment first. And it hasn't happened yet. And after that he has to work really, really hard at it - and maybe then in a couple of years that doesn't hold him back.
But the point was if his defense matters more or less. And on a contending team it matters more. Now? Whatever.
Imagine that something truly freaky happens and this Jazz team is in the Finals. Lauri is swatting everything in sight, Collins is playing like a man possessed, Collier is applying ball pressure like you've never seen before. What would any opponent do? They would hunt Keyonte every single possession. They would drop 80 on him. They would be full court hounding him if he tries to bring up the ball.
It would matter more.
OKC saw that they had a hole. What did they do? They shipped Giddey without any regret for Caruso.
And sure, those players listed are usually the weakest link on their own teams. Nowhere as glaringly obvious as Keyonte is. They are also all almost top20 offensive players in the league - which Keyonte is far away from being. And it matters. If the Cavs and Celtics meet in the East finals, you can bet Mazzulla is thinking ways of exposing Garland on every possession.
