TDL Archived: The 2nd Rnd Pick Yankee Swap

[KillerLeft]

So I think Kidd has been playing Wood with another big because Wood has forced him to. In hopes Wood will learn to defend, and pay attention, and all that that, while he has some help.

This, to me (and with respect), makes absolutely no sense, whatsoever. 

It makes me think you believe the center position is somehow something reserved for truly special defenders. I don't see it that way at all. 

I think the reality of the game today is that the spread pick and roll is king, meaning that the center, practically speaking, is almost always the worst defender on the floor, from a certain perspective. 

Playing Wood together with another big basically gives the opposing offense even more opportunity to exploit your lack of speed/agility in space, which is absolutely what they hope you'll give them. 

It certainly doesn't help hide him from a matchup perspective, either. Would you rather Wood be matched up with Nurkic, or with Jerami Grant? I'd say we got the answer to that one the other night. 

Now, does the center position (when they're "low man" which is far from a guarantee today, with the sophistication level of these offenses) come with a unique and important requirement to read screens and see things developing? ABSOLUTELY! But, EVERY position has an important role within the defense, so why on Earth would they spend time trying to get him to learn how to defend by playing a position for which he isn't suited in the first place???????

Two bigs is more difficult, not less. Not only can Wood not function adequately trying to learn a position he can't possibly learn, but he's simultaneously making things more difficult for the guy who's playing the center position.