https://thescore.com/nba/news/3195631 That's a great article about how Ime's defensive philosophy regarding centers has trickled down to the Celtics and Hornets. It goes into detail about the kind of assignments Alpi is given and why that can often look like his defense is substandard if you don't really understand what's going on. Below is an excerpt, but the entire article is well worth a read... The Rockets allow 4.6 fewer points per 100 possessions and their opponents shoot 4.2 percentage points worse at the basket with Sengun on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass. He was one of the most improved defenders in the league last season, and playing a free-safety role more often has helped elevate him another tier this season. "Even before the NBA, I was just really good at help defense - blocking shots, stopping the ball," Sengun said. "Ime just saw that in me and let me show it. ... We started (cross-matching) a bit last year. Couple games he was trying it with me, and it was working. So this year is, like, much more of that. He wants me to be on the help side." Udoka's had Sengun spend entire games as the primary defender against off-ball guards who are low-volume 3-point shooters, like the LA Clippers' Kris Dunn and the New York Knicks' Josh Hart. That can pose individual challenges for Sengun when those quicker players handle the ball and try to attack him in space, but it serves the aims of Houston's defense as a whole. "I feel like when I'm guarding the those guys, we change their game plan, you know?" Sengun said. "Like, Kris Dunn is usually not bringing the ball up, but when I'm guarding him, he's bringing the ball up. That's not how they want to play, right? Or we're forcing (a non-shooter) to shoot, and if he makes it, he makes it. We're taking that."
"Even before the NBA, I was just really good at help defense - blocking shots, stopping the ball" Some poster in the forum:
My favorite defensive play is when they blitz and trap the ball handler above the 3pt line with Sengun and Amen/ Sengun and FVV, Sengun and Green. That's how they should handle the Celtics and every team that shoots 50% on 1,000 threes per game. Have Jabari as the last line of defense on the careless pass from the trap. Worst case scenario, it's a made 2pt shot. It can't be done every trip down the court but def need to see it more.
This is a better way to play Alperen on D. Get him moving and using his hands. Sort of like how you’d use Larry Bird.
this is how scola used to play defense when he was placed in pick n' roll. blitz the ball handler and double him to force him make a difficult play.
The Rockets used to crossmatched Harden on a non-shooter too. It worked for a guard because Harden was a really good post defender. We did it on Harden so he didn't have to chase scorers. In Sengun's case it gets him off the ball as much and minimizes the pick and rolls that he gets put in. He's free to play off of his man and help out. Same way that the Celtics used Williams. It's effective as long as there's a non-shooter to guard.
Sengun is much more mobile than Jokic and covers less space. Their recipes will be different. The main thing I see Sengun got from Jokic is using active hands and use his foot to stop passes when he is beaten.
Nice article, good read. There are still lots of slow footed moments at the rim as guys blow by him, but that happens to most bigs too. DD
Too many facts to acknowledge here. Best to wait for any playoff struggles (and Center targeting that all Centers face) and then jump on Twitter and postulate that Alperen can’t play playoff basketball.
This is a good illustration of how misleading some stats, and even the eye test, can be. You really need the big picture.
