Lauri's Defense

[KqWIN]

It kind of feels like you are just going to see whatever you want to see.

We were bad defensively last year and we're bad this year. Lauri really stood out on a bad defensive team last year, and this year he hasn't.

Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see as well, but last year I was expecting Lauri to be a bad defender and he was really good. This year I expected more of the same and he has been disappointing. I actually enjoy watching defense as much or more than offense, so I'm someone who really pays attention on that end. When my eye test tells me something and then I can confirm that with data, I tend to believe it.

Yeah I guess what we disagree on is last year. I didn't really think he was a standout. He was fine, and maybe he's less fine this year, but I don't think his personal dropoff has been too much. I may have also been less impressed because I actually think he made his big improvement his year in CLE and wasn't expecting him to be as bad as his rep...so to your point about expectations that may be what's causing a difference on opinion.

IMO, the only defensive standout last season was Kessler. He is such a big defensive centerpiece and makes everything look better. His drop off is the significant one.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Yeah I guess what we disagree on is last year. I didn't really think he was a standout. He was fine, and maybe he's less fine this year, but I don't think his personal dropoff has been too much. I may have also been less impressed because I actually think he made his big improvement his year in CLE and wasn't expecting him to be as bad as his rep...so to your point about expectations that may be what's causing a difference on opinion.

IMO, the only defensive standout last season was Kessler. He is such a big defensive centerpiece and makes everything look better. His drop off is the significant one.

That's fair. I didn't really follow Lauri in Cleveland and his reputation was that he was a bad defender, so I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[fishonjazz]

Hendricks definitely looks the part. Especially on defense.
He just looks fast, long, and athletic. He really catches the eye out on the court. At least to me anyway
I very excited to watch him grow.


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[Peter_Mentor]

It kind of feels like you are just going to see whatever you want to see.

We were bad defensively last year and we're bad this year. Lauri really stood out on a bad defensive team last year, and this year he hasn't.

Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see as well, but last year I was expecting Lauri to be a bad defender and he was really good. This year I expected more of the same and he has been disappointing. I actually enjoy watching defense as much or more than offense, so I'm someone who really pays attention on that end. When my eye test tells me something and then I can confirm that with data, I tend to believe it.

100% agreed. Last year and also in Cleveland, Lauri was a tough matchup against those wings who weren't quick enough to exploit his okayish lateral quickness. When he didn't get blown by, he did a decent job to contest jump shots.

Of course, the job gets easier when he shares the floor with Kessler or Mobley and Allen, but this year Lauri has been a traffic cone against any wings who can take two dribbles.

 

[FrenchJazzFa]

Defense is a team effort so it's hard for me to look only individual data on it. I take the example of KAT who have been a poor defender for many years and then suddenly improve a lot and got top individual data this year. Probably because playing with Ant, Rudy, Mac Daniels and Mike who are good in defense help him a lot.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

Lauri is decent and sometimes good on defensive assignments, when the team actually plays as a team and the roster compliments each other. Jazz is further from that after the trades.

He also spent few months of his off-season on playing private Markkanen role in Finnish Military service. Told y'all he ain't probably be physically as dominant bc of that. Next season, we have to see... I suspect another all-star season.

 

[FalseFlagg K]

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my grandmother once said "self praise is no recommendation young man"

 

[SoberasHotRod]

Defense is a team effort so it's hard for me to look only individual data on it. I take the example of KAT who have been a poor defender for many years and then suddenly improve a lot and got top individual data this year. Probably because playing with Ant, Rudy, Mac Daniels and Mike who are good in defense help him a lot.

Good points, and KAT seems to be a good example of this. I looked at some of his individual defensive metrics and they have stayed pretty consistent, but by being with bad vs good defensive players the perception of his defense has changed.

I don't think it's impossible to measure defensive impact, just very difficult. I still trust the eye test in combination with consistency across various defensive metrics.

 

[Hoopsfan]

Good points, and KAT seems to be a good example of this. I looked at some of his individual defensive metrics and they have stayed pretty consistent, but by being with bad vs good defensive players the perception of his defense has changed.

I don't think it's impossible to measure defensive impact, just very difficult. I still trust the eye test in combination with consistency across various defensive metrics.

'Eye test' in Lauri's return vs Minnesota told me that he played defense very well. Surprisingly well it seemed to me, so having this thread pop up pretty soon after that game is a surprise also (if it weren't for the turn over record, he played very well overall in that game). Still... he is no elite defender, but with hustle and IQ he can be better than average.
Better last year's stats vs this year's stats may have a lot to do with the switch from a lot of minutes with Kessler to a lot of minutes with J.Collins... Last year the team was better overall though I'd say and defense - if anything - is a team effort.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

I think Lauri's defense is fine to decent if he doesnt have to guard any kind of primary creator/scorer type. When he has to guard the scoring wings I think he is mediocre at best.

 

[SoberasHotRod]

'Eye test' in Lauri's return vs Minnesota told me that he played defense very well. Surprisingly well it seemed to me, so having this thread pop up pretty soon after that game is a surprise also (if it weren't for the turn over record, he played very well overall in that game). Still... he is no elite defender, but with hustle and IQ he can be better than average.
Better last year's stats vs this year's stats may have a lot to do with the switch from a lot of minutes with Kessler to a lot of minutes with J.Collins... Last year the team was better overall though I'd say and defense - if anything - is a team effort.

I wasn't referring to any one game. This is something I've been thinking about all season. I would agree that he was good in the Minnesota game.

 

[Step-Back Lauri]

I wasn't referring to any one game. This is something I've been thinking about all season. I would agree that he was good in the Minnesota game.

You are right. As a Finn, I watch all his games in good or bad, through different lenses and follow quite closely. I remember I was told to chill down, when I earlier into season mentioned, I don't think Lauri is physically the same beast he was last season. As mentioned, the strange off-season plays a part. He has still been really effective Finnisher, but in no world his quickness and explosiveness has been the all-nba level it was last season, even if hus shooting has been. He has had few good, short runs in D, but for me, it seems natural to think the weird off-season gas had a somewhat impact on his durability, and when we add into equation how he gets hammered more in the offensive side.. It just feels there is not extended periods of really high level games in both sides of the floor. He has definitely been into more trouble with quick wings he was last season. My diagnosis is that few months of military service is not an ideal preparation for the season.