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CJ's Improved Defense
Posted on 1/9/24 at 7:36 pm
Posted on 1/9/24 at 7:36 pm
BBall Index just highlighted it, but I've certainly noticed it myself just watching. CJ has definitely been much better defensively this season. I don't know why -- maybe he's just more comfortable knowing how his teammates will react, rotate, etc. Maybe the fact that Zion is playing and CJ has less of an offensive load means that he can devote greater energy to defense. I don't know, but the difference is real.
The BBall Index graphic is a bit hard to understand, but it shows that CJ last season was near the very bottom of the distribution -- a poor defender, with an impact of -1.57 points per 100 defensive possessions. This season, he's basically average, at -0.27. You can read about the LEBRON metric HERE.

The BBall Index graphic is a bit hard to understand, but it shows that CJ last season was near the very bottom of the distribution -- a poor defender, with an impact of -1.57 points per 100 defensive possessions. This season, he's basically average, at -0.27. You can read about the LEBRON metric HERE.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 8:01 pm to GOP_Tiger
I don’t trust anything LeBron.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 8:11 pm to GOP_Tiger
Is he ever on the floor without one of Herb/Jose/Dyson?
Posted on 1/9/24 at 8:24 pm to jmcwhrter
quote:
Is he ever on the floor without one of Herb/Jose/Dyson?
The LEBRON metric factors all that in.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 9:16 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:
The LEBRON metric factors all that in.

Posted on 1/10/24 at 8:58 am to GOP_Tiger
Better health is a lot of it. Its slightly counter intuitive, but its almost harder to play good defensive with arm/wrist/hand injury than a lower body injury. I think the injury last year really affected his ability to fight over/under screens and play physical defense when needed.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 9:03 am to GOP_Tiger
I'm gonna keep holding my breath and waiting for all of last season's CJ haters to repent.
They were told over and over and over and over to just wait until CJ is in his proper role as the #3, and they did not listen.
REPENT!!!
They were told over and over and over and over to just wait until CJ is in his proper role as the #3, and they did not listen.
REPENT!!!
Posted on 1/10/24 at 9:06 am to shel311
CJ is one of our most valuable players, without question. He contributes in multiple facets of the game.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 9:47 am to VOR
I've never thought his defense has been that bad since he's been here. Is he a good defender? No, but he's not the back breaking defensive liability that people think he is.
Hell this is the 2nd year in a row we've had a top 7 defense. That's hard to do if CJ is really as bad of a defender as he is portrayed
Hell this is the 2nd year in a row we've had a top 7 defense. That's hard to do if CJ is really as bad of a defender as he is portrayed
This post was edited on 1/10/24 at 9:56 am
Posted on 1/10/24 at 9:52 am to Balsamic_duck
quote:Right
Hell this is the 2nd year in a row we've had a top 7 defense. That's hard to do if CJ is really as bad of a defender as he is portrayed
We have CJ/Zion/BI/Val that play big minutes. They can't all be THAT bad and us have a consistent top 6 defense.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 12:57 pm to shel311
quote:
I'm gonna keep holding my breath and waiting for all of last season's CJ haters to repent.
He has done a much better job of keeping his hands up on defense, taking charges, and going for loose balls. I will give him the benefit of the doubt that his injury situation played a role in him rarely doing those things last year.
But a hand injury shouldn't have had any effect on his lack of effort on close outs last year. His effort on close outs has been world's better this year. That's a mindset change, and it's been fantastic.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 1:27 pm to mhasen1
I laugh when someone suggest lack of effort on CJ’s part. He really is the grownup in the room.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 1:31 pm to mhasen1
He said defense was one of the point of emphasis during the offseason. He followed through and you're seeing the results of his hard work and focus on defense.
Posted on 1/10/24 at 7:19 pm to GOP_Tiger
You definitely notice it when you watch him play this year.
Posted on 1/11/24 at 1:42 am to GOP_Tiger
He is better in every aspect compared to last year. Shooting better than he has ever shot in his career. I know he is finally healthy, but his focus and intensity is much more consistent. The frequency careless turnovers that plagued him last year have not been an issue this year. This team has so many weapons and is a blast to watch.
Posted on 1/11/24 at 7:30 am to bengalmd
He's even better at naming children this year!
Posted on 1/11/24 at 9:56 am to bengalmd
quote:It's crazy what a little health and playing in your correct role can do...who could have ever thought!!!
He is better in every aspect compared to last year. Shooting better than he has ever shot in his career. I know he is finally healthy, but his focus and intensity is much more consistent. The frequency careless turnovers that plagued him last year have not been an issue this year.
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