Best NBA Rim Proctectors using SportsVu in 2013-2014

[dreamcloud]

It's a pretty interesting stat and chart. Robin Lopez's numbers were extremely impressive. Shows just how valuable and good his defense was for us. Hopefully our defense improves next year by just keeping so many guards from getting so many attempts inside the paint so often. I'm hoping Blake plays better defense than Mo, since I recall Mo overplaying a lot and letting his man go by him. And Dame let his get by him often too, hopefully he works on that a lot this summer.

A name that might jump out at some NBA followers is Robin Lopez. Lopez had an excellent year for Portland and was a key addition to their defense. Lopez was a huge upgrade in the Blazer’s front-court over JJ Hickson. Along with the growth of Damian Lillard, Lopez’s rim protection and offensive rebounding helped carry the Trailblazers from a non-playoff team in 2013 to the second round in 2014.

http://thechilltime.com/look-back-2014s-best-nba-rim-protectors/

 

[craigehlo]

I sat courtside at the last Suns game of the season and anytime Robin had to head to the bench, the Suns went crazy inside. He was easily as impactful on the box score as LA or Lillard in many games.

I really hope Kaman can stop the drop off in interior D when Robin has to sit.

 

[magnifier661]

Impressive indeed

 

[blue9]

We indeed do well with respect to OppFG% in the paint. What we don't do well at is keeping the opponent from getting INTO the paint.
In summary: Lopez = Good, Stotts = Bad

 

[Natebishop3]

We indeed do well with respect to OppFG% in the paint. What we don't do well at is keeping the opponent from getting INTO the paint.
In summary: Lopez = Good, Stotts = Bad

Yup. Our perimeter defense is just horrible.

 

[illmatic99]

Yup. Our perimeter defense is just horrible.

Yup.

You could argue that teams like OKC, HOU, LAC, etc all funnel guys into their amazing shot blockers. Do we perhaps do the same?

Also.... where's LA?

 

[Natebishop3]

Yup.

You could argue that teams like OKC, HOU, LAC, etc all funnel guys into their amazing shot blockers. Do we perhaps do the same?

Also.... where's LA?

The problem is that the funneling doesn't seem to work for us. Either it gets our bigs in foul trouble, OR the guard just pulls up for a jumper. Neither Rolo or LA are good at closing on the guard, giving him a wide open jumper. Tony Parker ate us alive.

 

[Minstrel]

Yup.

You could argue that teams like OKC, HOU, LAC, etc all funnel guys into their amazing shot blockers. Do we perhaps do the same?

Only to an extent. Stotts' system is to avoid giving up threes. So the Blazers are aggressive about closing out on shooters and going over pick-and-rolls. And the Blazers' perimeter defense hasn't shown the ability to rotate and recover. Stotts plays a very conservative defense that doesn't ask for a lot of that, but that's likely because he doesn't think they can.

It's possible that with another year in the system, they'll play a more scrambling type of defense. They certainly have the athletes for it, in Batum, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard...it's just a very difficult style to pull off, because any mistake in "on a string" rotation opens up a huge hole. San Antonio plays it very well and the Heat, in their best years, did a great job with it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Nobody show this to Robin! He deserves a HUGE pay increase...

There should be an award for Worst GM of the Year, and they should give it to the Pelicans' GM for unloading Robin to sign, of all people, Tyreke Evans.

 

[Natebishop3]

Only to an extent. Stotts' system is to avoid giving up threes. So the Blazers are aggressive about closing out on shooters and going over pick-and-rolls. And the Blazers' perimeter defense hasn't shown the ability to rotate and recover. Stotts plays a very conservative defense that doesn't ask for a lot of that, but that's likely because he doesn't think they can.

It's possible that with another year in the system, they'll play a more scrambling type of defense. They certainly have the athletes for it, in Batum, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard...it's just a very difficult style to pull off, because any mistake in "on a string" rotation opens up a huge hole. San Antonio plays it very well and the Heat, in their best years, did a great job with it.

I liked what Payton said though about Lillard. Payton believes it's all mental, and that Dame needs to improve defensively in his head before he can improve defensively on the court. He specifically mentioned Beverley as someone that Dame should model himself after. I don't really see it because Beverley is essentially a clown, and uses over the top antics to get into the head of the other player. That's not really Lillard's game. He is much too reserved to play that way. I could see Payton identifying with Beverley though. That's exactly the kind of shit he would have pulled.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's possible that with another year in the system, they'll play a more scrambling type of defense. They certainly have the athletes for it, in Batum, Matthews, Aldridge and Lillard...it's just a very difficult style to pull off, because any mistake in "on a string" rotation opens up a huge hole. San Antonio plays it very well and the Heat, in their best years, did a great job with it.

If we actually had a bench that could hold its own for a significant amount of minutes (a la the Sprus), then I think we would have the energy to play that swarming type of defense.

 

[Natebishop3]

If we actually had a bench that could hold its own for a significant amount of minutes (a la the Sprus), then I think we'd have the energy to play that swarming type of defense.

I really really really wish we would have drafted the Greek Freak. Could you imagine Barton, Antetokounmpo, and Robinson swarming people on defense?

 

[Darkwebs]

Yup.

You could argue that teams like OKC, HOU, LAC, etc all funnel guys into their amazing shot blockers. Do we perhaps do the same?

Also.... where's LA?

LaMarcus is the dot below that I've circled in blue:

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The market is set.

Lopez will get a near max deal.

 

[jlprk]

Imagine what some beancounter would do. He'd count the dots missing names...SEVENTEEN.

Credibility dead. Next chart please.

 

[dreamcloud]

Imagine what some beancounter would do. He'd count the dots missing names...SEVENTEEN.

Credibility dead. Next chart please.

The chart on the actual website is interactive, you can highlight any dot for the name. The amount of names shown changes with the resolution I think

http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/NBARimProtectors2013-14/RimProtectorsChart?:showVizHome=no

 

[Rhal]

The market is set.

Lopez will get a near max deal.

He is 26. I think he will get a max deal next year if he has the same type season.

 

[magnifier661]

LaMarcus is the dot below that I've circled in blue:

Sinobis and cheese would say "but he doesn't have a good eFG%"

 

[illmatic99]

Marc Gasol's mediocrity on this chart is surprising to me. Didn't he get DPOY last year? Aldridge faces more attempts and affects Opp FG% more than Gasol.

 

[BBert]

Marc Gasol's mediocrity on this chart is surprising to me. Didn't he get DPOY last year? Aldridge faces more attempts and affects Opp FG% more than Gasol.

Maybe the other team is too ascared to face El Marco?

 

[B-Roy]

http://stats.nba.com/playerTracking...D_RIM&sortOrder=DES&SeasonType=Regular Season

This information has been available for a long time. Playoff stats are even better, Aldridge and Lopez combined for over 24 opponent FGA at the rim.

 

[Masbee]

Marc Gasol's mediocrity on this chart is surprising to me. Didn't he get DPOY last year? Aldridge faces more attempts and affects Opp FG% more than Gasol.

He was hurt much of last season.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The market is set.

Lopez will get a near max deal.

As he should; he's one of our Big 3.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

LaMarcus is the dot below that I've circled in blue:

The dark green dot just to the left and down a bit from LaMarcus is Greg Monroe...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

He is 26. I think he will get a max deal next year if he has the same type season.

We have three players who are Top 6-8 in their position; Robin is one of them. We should keep all three.

EDIT: Actually, I was wrong... http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/c/sort/VORPe

All of Portland's starters are Top 10 in Estimated Wins Added... because our bench was awful and we won a bunch of games. But whatever. Our Starting 5 is awesome, and Robin's a big reason.

 

[Rhal]

We have three players who are Top 6-8 in their position; Robin is one of them. We should keep all three.

EDIT: Actually, I was wrong... http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/c/sort/VORPe

All of Portland's starters are Top 10 in Estimated Wins Added... because our bench was awful and we won a bunch of games. But whatever. Our Starting 5 is awesome, and Robin's a big reason.

I really think its going to come down to either paying Wesley 8-9m a year or Lopez a max 4 year deal and i'm leaning towards paying Lopez that max even though it would screw us from adding anyone else because LA will be making 19m/batum 11m/Lopez 16m then we would give Lillard a max deal the next year as well.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I really think its going to come down to either paying Wesley 8-9m a year or Lopez a max 4 year deal and i'm leaning towards paying Lopez that max even though it would screw us from adding anyone else because LA will be making 19m/batum 11m/Lopez 16m then we would give Lillard a max deal the next year as well.

Love Wes but I agree that if Lopez has another big year (and proves not be a fluke - not that I am saying he is) then he is the priority over Wes no matter what it takes to sign him.

 

[blue9]

I really think its going to come down to either paying Wesley 8-9m a year or Lopez a max 4 year deal and i'm leaning towards paying Lopez that max even though it would screw us from adding anyone else because LA will be making 19m/batum 11m/Lopez 16m then we would give Lillard a max deal the next year as well.

Maybe you're starting to agree that it might be a better idea to spend $10M/Y on a good PF rather than $20M/Y on a good PF?
Those $20M/Y contracts to undeserving players weigh a team down.

 

[blue9]

Love Wes but I agree that if Lopez has another big year (and proves not be a fluke - not that I am saying he is) then he is the priority over Wes no matter what it takes to sign him.

Not saying I disagree (or that I agree), but there's a lot more C talent in the league than there is SG talent.

 

[Rhal]

Maybe you're starting to agree that it might be a better idea to spend $10M/Y on a good PF rather than $20M/Y on a great PF?
Those $20M/Y contracts to undeserving players weigh a team down.

Nope never agree with letting an allstar in their prime go for a downgrade unless they demand a trade, a head case that has become detrimental to to the team, or has sustained and injury that robs them of a good portion of their game.