Continued from Part I.
Defense is so critical to staying on the floor, especially on a Vogel-led Laker team. Guys that can’t hold their own, sit. What makes it tougher, is some players in the Laker range for the NBA draft, defend in LeBron’s spot, where they may defend a spot up player that doesn’t attack closeouts that well, but it’s LeBron that plays the free safety here.
In order for a rookie to earn playing time on the Lakers, he has to be able to defend outside of that position either as a point of attack player, or a player that can chase shooters off of screens.
Here, we take a look at Trey Murphy III.
Trey Murphy III - Unlike Chris Duarte, Trey got plenty of repetition getting switched onto the point of attack at the University of Virginia, or chasing guys through screens at Rice. He does a tremendous job of using his feet and always being able to stay in front of the point of attack, right up to the rim. He never really gets completely beat off the dribble, which is very impressive. When players don’t opt to drive, he’s able to spring up well, without having to load his legs up much, and contest the shot with his reach. Unfortunately, he doesn’t defend much using his chest to absorb contact. It gives the perception that he defends drivers to play for the blocked shot, instead of just cutting off the lane altogether. He uses his chest when he’s right under the hoop. I think at the NBA level, that’s just too late.
Photo for the article found here
The way he defends allows him to stay on the floor and keep out of foul trouble. He averaged 2.7 fouls per 40 minutes, which is incredibly low considering how often he ends up defending at the top of the key or along the perimeter. He continually gives ground, all the way to the end.
This is too much space to give up in the high post. This is a ton of space here at the 1:03:43 mark.
It’s a similar principle when defending a smaller player as well. Here, the offensive player actually tries to initiate contact. Murphy backs away from all of it, and the offensive player does a turnaround jumper, with so little contact, this may as well be an uncontested jumper at the 1:03:58 mark.
The next three plays shows how much ground he gives to the same player in the same game. It’s simply too much space. It’s also the same style of defense that he used at Virginia.
This, on the other hand, is my favorite defensive sequence by him. He tries to jam the driver off the handle, and uses his chest around the 10’ mark in the painted area. He may have been bumped out of the play, but the offensive player couldn’t generate any lift after spinning away from the contact.
But, ultimately, this is exactly what I’m looking for defensively. The contact is done at the free throw line. The left hand stays up the entire time to the open space where the shot is anticipated. Once that happens, it’s almost like an automatic defensive stop, here at the 1:17:38 mark.
There’s a good defender in there. I can’t help but shake the idea, that I’d love him as a power forward defending pick and roll, matching the level of the screen or hard hedging with his footwork, or even switch onto the point of attack and contest shots.
Kessler Edwards on the other hand, looks every bit of an NBA level defender. He plays with appropriate space, levels to the to the contact early and absorbs with his chest. His hands are always up, and he tries to beat players to the next spot on every possession. He may not be the ball hawk defensively that Springer is, but he matches that level of physicality defensively to other perimeter players. He had a solid foul rate of 3.5 fouls per 40 minutes, a large improvement from the 4.4 and 4.6 fouls per 40 minutes during his prior NCAA years.
Photo for the article found here
The next two plays beginning at the 1:23:41 mark, show how he’s physical as a perimeter defender, absorbs contact with his chest, and uses verticality to contest. During the second play, the offensive player does make the shot, but it’s still good defense. He’s in front and holds his ground.
Notice how each play, he bumps the offensive player with his chest while being vertical. Each bump stops a drive and the offensive player has to compensate. Does this make him foul prone to players that flop? Likely. But this is the standard level of defense expected at the NBA level, and especially on a Laker team.
Kessler just does a great job being able to sit on defense, which gives him the opportunity to defend tighter to ball handlers and contest shots, while he has just enough lateral quickness to keep up against physical slashers.
Here at the 1:24:30 mark, he hits the brakes hard. He gets caught defending too tight, but is able to keep his balance and recover.
Here, at the 1:27:26 mark, he meets the post player at every spot. The opponent just happens to make the shot. He uses his chest on the initial drive, all the way through the change of direction. Considering the limited space he worked in, that’s good defense.
Here’s an example of that defense at the NBA Draft Combine for three consecutive plays. First, the opponent attacks at the wing, and he’s able to cut off the drive and contest for the block at the rim. Second, is a defensive stop in transition. Third, is a good closeout where the opponent traveled.
Overall that’s a great series of defensive sequences of Kessler Edwards. It’s easy to like how he’s able to sit down on defense, be physical with his torso, and keep his hands up to a contest a shot. Do shots get made against him? Sometimes. But, the kind of defense he plays, allows the rest of the team to recover and help out. He buys time with that physical defense and is still able to keep his foul rate in control.
Now, looking at all four guys between Springer, Duarte, Edwards, and Murphy III, it’s easy to see how much more physical Springer and Edwards are while still being able to use their feet to stay in front. Duarte is more of a team defender. Murphy, shows more upside considering he’s able to get defensive stops, and this is before he adds strength and starts meeting players as soon as they get into the painted area.
As mentioned earlier in Part I, NBA readiness is tough to gauge. Springer is currently 18 years old. Kessler is currently 20. Although both guys are the youngest of the four players, they also have better habits defensively. Duarte (currently 23 years of age) and Murphy (currently 21 years of age) still have to shake off the ability to defend from behind and go for the blocked shot. Just, guys that are able to stay in front defensively, get into less trouble and don’t put their own team in compromising situations.
In this case, age does not reflect basketball maturity.
Having good skills and repeating good habits does.
The list still goes as follows:
Jaden Springer
Chris Duarte
Trey Murphy III
Kessler Edwards
Why? These guys still have to play offense. Murphy III knows his role. Duarte shows his offensive maturity with his spot up shooting, ability to attack a closeout, and have good shot variation in the midrange area. I think Kessler will need to speed up his shot and become comfortable with it.
I don’t think the other players have that kind of issue.