I hate this thread as I hate that man- would rather not think of one of these good dudes as a Draymond. Gross.
Draymond being talked about as an elite low post hub? Just stop it. I said he was a top 5 player in the world during the 2015-16 season, and that had almost nothing to do with his low post play. He's a rim running, jumpshot shooting, play finisher with some very good ballhandling and high post passing ability. But really these days he's the 4th best offensive player on their team. That anyone could actually think Green poses a bigger mismatch than Curry and Durant is absurd. Low post mismatch? What? Just...what? Are we watching the same guy?
And PJ Tucker could be the Rockets Draymond Green equivalent...Whatever that means. He's not really an elite defender at all. Nene, Capela, Luc, and CP3 are all better defensively. Tucker has no rim protection capabilities whatsoever, and while he plays with force in all of his defensive matchups, he's not actually a lockdown man defender. Though, he is good. He's seemed to have gotten a little better in isolation as the year has gone on. Footwork and such.
Draymond is a great low post player. There's a reason why he goes down there and there's a reason why they throw him the ball down there when he gets a small matchup or even the right big matchup.
For our team I just don't know yet. I feel confident that Paul on Curry isn't a great mismatch against us. And I feel Luc/Ariza on Durant isn't a great mismatch against us either. I don't know about anybody on our roster against Draymond in the low post. Although I think PJ and Harden are the best candidates I simply haven't seen enough of that matchup to feel confident in it. What's so unreasonable about being more concerned about how we match up against Draymond....than how we match up against Curry and Durant? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m sure you believe that, not sure I do. per http://stats.nba.com/players/playtype-post-up/ Draymond (17/18 Post Ups): 7.2% frequency......0.65 ppp..............13.3 NBA percentile can be easily confused for: Draymond (17/18 Cuts): 13.6% frequency............1.46 ppp..............83.1 NBA percentile In the playoffs I would concentrate on Draymond cutting to rim vs his 3-pt shooting over a 7 game series. If you are going to sell people on Draymond Post Up numbers being distorted, then I say diddo on Tucker Post Ups: Tucker (17/18 Post Ups): 1.0% frequency..............0.50 ppp (Tucker is a tremendous force due to intangibles lol). What if Tucker was allowed 7.2% frequency.....would the ppp be greater? Just FYI Tucker (17/18 Cuts): 2.4% frequency........0.90 ppp..............3.4 NBA percentile. Cutters are just not used as often in the Rockets scheme (interference with CP3/Harden iso’s above the break). GSW’s favor better post ups numbers by other players vs Draymond Green in the post: West: 19.8% freq, 0.88 ppp, 57.8 percentile Livingston: 16.2% freq, 0.98 ppp, 75.6 percentile Durant: 8.6% freq, 0.93, 63.9 percentile Casspi: 5.6% freq, 1.20 ppp, 98.3 percentile Bell: 5.1% freq, 0.80 ppp, 33.7 percentile Zara: 7.7% freq, 0.76 ppp, Klay: 4.1% freq, 0.82 ppp, 40.0 percentile Difference between Dray and Tucker is the excellent leaping ability of Draymond. More spectacular dunks and blocking shots.....Tucker makes up for being grounded by getting good position for rebounds while shooting a much better 3-pt percentage (37% vs 30% by Draymond). Different systems have each player used differently on offense.
Good contrast there between Draymond and PJ. I'm hopeful. But not confident. I have felt for a long time, going back to last season that part of the key to beating the Warriors was making Draymond have to stay at home on the perimeter by defending a shooter. With PJ shooting the corner three the way he is that's a huge plus to getting Draymond out of the defensive paint. My doubts center around how we defend Draymond when he's playing the 5. We know what everybody else is gong to do and what the matchup are going to be like. I don't think there's any way to know how effective we're going to be on Draymond. The Warriors basically hid their lineup of death from us this season. That tells me two things: 1. They're very smart. 2. They are concerned and want some element of surprise kept in reserve.
Yeah, in the past years Draymond would free lance defensively off of Terrence Jones and then Ryan last year. No comment on DMo playoff appearances or lack there of. Tucker is kind of different. I would prefer Tucker drawing Draymond to the strong side corner 3. With Ryan set up above the break 3; Dray can interfere with the play defensively above the break. Often follow Harden or CP3 into the lane in hopes of getting a block or deflection/steal. Players then rotate to Ryan with not much worry about Ryan’s speed getting to the rim. Now Tucker positioning can draw Dray away from the point of attack by being in the corner..I don’t care for Draymond on the weak side of attack near Corner 3; because of his ability to cover the weak side corner 3 player plus 3-pt shooter above the break/wing. So Tucker gives the Rockets an element of mobility from a PF or Center that Ryan does not. Drive and kick. Not sure how much of Tucker at center the Rockets showed the Warriors in the regular season; but Luc can also lay Draymond at Center. Now I know the Rockets like putting Luc near the free throw line where he can receive the ball and orchestrate a drive and kick down the center of the lane. His length allows Luc to finish. Should be interesting. Like I have said: Rockets will key on Curry/Durant and one guy glued to Klay while telling the other players to beat us for the duration of the 7-game series. Warriors will flip it where they guard Harden/CP3 and help defense to prevent Capela from getting easy lobs. Then ask the Rockets “Others” to beat them. I have more faith in our “others”. Draymond might go off for 40 in a game, but it will alll be from FT’s and 3’s. I’m instructing my players to watch/front Draymond as he cuts from the 3-pt line. That goes for all cutters. That’s how the Warriors win in my opinion. As team are mesmerized by the right hand (Curry/Durant) they hit with the left (others cutting for easy points). Trick is limiting those easy points while also challenging their 3-Point attempts. Nice talking basketball with you Holic. You truly have a high basketball IQ. Just feel you are a tad judgmental initially when you see a player/team....and then refuse to come off that initial critique. Flexibility. Take care Holic. Keep on keeping on.
Tucker is at times as good or better than Draymond Green. He, Luc Mah Moute, and G. Green are the perfect hardcore pieces for this Rockets team. Tucker's tenacity is the key to a championship when it comes to a defensive lock down, critical rebound, etc. He's shown he can do it over and over again this entire season.
This article (and the accompanying video) describes what I've been saying about Draymond's offensive effectiveness as the 5 in the Dubs lineup of death. They've been doing this for years (exploiting the post) with Draymond in this role. And while PJ I'd a great defender and my favorite current Rocket....I simply don't know if he had the length and strength to contain Green down low. Read this article. Watch the videos. And envision Draymond operating out of the post in this manner.....which is what they do. See, all those pass-outs that result in a quick pass back in simultaneous with a cut aren't counted as post possessions in your post up numbers. But what they are.....are baskets.....and a steady stream of high efficiency shots. https://cleaningtheglass.com/the-post-up-is-dead-long-live-the-post-up/
PJ has been nearly 40% from threes since he has been coming off the bench.. his corner shot has become close to lethal.. he is also allowed green to come off the bench and add more overall offensive productivity.. Having a combination of Luc, Ariza, Capela and Tucker is just insane.. we need to ensure two of those players are always on the court
