Donte Greene's Prescribed Niche: Defensive Stopper
by Ziller on Oct 2, 2009 9:37 AM PDT
in News
32 comments
In one of the Kings.com videos from Thursday's media availability, Andrew Nicholson asks coach Paul Westphal about Donte Greene's development. Iron Lungs Westphal thankfully goes into his current thinking on Té. Here's the transcribed quote of interest.
We're trying to find out the best way to utilize him. I think he's working hard on his defense, and he can guard a lot of people potentially. I think he's going to have to make a niche for himself as a defensive stopper who can score a little. That's a new mentality for him. He's not going to be a primary offensive option, but he can earn himself some playing time by being a player who can be relied upon to guard people. That's what we're trying to have him focus on.
That really is a new mentality for Donté ... though this isn't the first time we've heard Westphal say that Greene's future in the NBA is on defense. He said it at the start of Summer League. I figured five games in Vegas plus a week of watching informal work-outs and two days of full-on practices and scrimmages would make Westphal change his mind.
I'm glad he hasn't. Greene overflows with energy, athleticism and length. Add defensive skills, and you could very well have a stopper. I look forward to seeing the new Donté in action next week.
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I will be thrilled
and amazed and firmly planted on the Westphal bandwagon if there is, in fact, a new Donte’ Greene.
Lower their expectations and rise to met them
by left hand on Oct 2, 2009 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A new Donte'...
Yes a new defensive minded Donte’ would be an interesting development.
I was more impressed by his willingness to get in and defend during the Summer League than by his offensive game.
If the expectation changes into a defensive one then I think he can get the “shoot, shoot, shoot” program in his brain overwritten and stop with the foolish shots.
The lad just doesn’t get into the flow of the game. Not that it flowed all that well last year, but you can’t just go in and jack up shot after shot.
by MustangMBS on Oct 2, 2009 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I love it
The team need defense, Donté needs to find his role, Donté has the physical tools to potentially be a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
by Exhibit G on Oct 2, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
niche players are not star players
can we officially end the “donte could be a star” speculation now? Hopefully he ends up being a really nice piece to a really good team…. it is unlikely he is our saviour.
by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Oct 2, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wholeheartedly disagree
His star potential was always based on his long-term development. In order to develop, he needs to get playing time. To get playing time he needs to have a niche’. Baby steps.
This doesn’t end anything.
Bé foréwarnéd: I am a mémbér of StR Groupthink méntality.
by CAB on Oct 2, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
Ben Wallace wasn’t a star in this league? Bruce Bowen?
There have been many players in the league who had a very specific niche that took them to stardom.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
by Exhibit G on Oct 2, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
really?
Ben Wallace was a star? Bowen was a star. Weren’t both the 5th best players on their repsective teams (albeit championship teams). They were very good role players for a time. They were not stars IMO. My only point is that I believe some of the chatter here over the last several months/weeks arguing that Donte has “star potential” is overblown, especially those that argue his potential exceeds that of Tyreke.
by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Oct 2, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, they were stars
Both those guys were high impact players, changing games every night. You can quibble all you want about Bowen, but don’t even think about saying Ben Wallace wasn’t one of the most devastating defensive forces in the league for a good chunk of the decade, winning Defensive MVP 4 out of 5 years.
by Citadel 29 on Oct 2, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wallace was a star; Bowen wasn't
At least if you want to define the term as someone who competes for a spot on the All-Star team over multiple seasons, as seems as reasonable a definition as any. Bowen never came near an All-Star game. The guy was a specialist: a lockdown defender and a three-point shooter, and that’s it. A defensive star, certainly, but a star in the more general sense seems hard to argue. Neither guy scored much, but Wallace was just so dominant in terms of rebounding, shot-blocking, and man defense, and by creating so many second chance points on offense. Plus Wallace made four All-Star teams and five All-NBA second/third teams, whereas Bowen never made any of either.
A bit unfair, perhaps, because perimeter defensive skill doesn’t show up in the statistical line in the same way that frontcourt defense does, especially for a guy like Bowen who rarely even got many steals. But overall, I do think that Wallace is far more deserving of the “Star” label than Bowen.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Oct 2, 2009 5:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a practical solution to the problem of Donte's role.
Westphal is pretty smart. What are the chances that Donte figures out what a “good shot” is, improves his ballhandling and adds a turnaround jumper to his offensive game and finds minutes as a scorer on a team with a bunch of offensive-minded forwards?
vs
What are the chances that Donte can develop into a defensive role player who can score when left open and be asked to hound various types of forwards, a special weapon to combat certain troublesome matchups?
Westphal is on the right path, even if Donte does eventually put together the puzzle on offense.
by Kevin Conroy on Oct 2, 2009 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Right now
I would accept anybody on the team who’s a Defensive Slower.
by ElRonToro on Oct 2, 2009 11:26 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm hopeful, but not too hopeful
Donte seems pretty stubborn. If Westphal pulls this off, he’ll easily be my favorite Kings coach since Adelman. (Albeit, that’s not saying much.)
by oldenpolynice on Oct 2, 2009 11:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL
Talk about a low threshold. I’m not even sure that counts as a complement to him.
by SPTSJUNKIE on Oct 2, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Already there
He is already my favorite since Adelman. No contest there, but then maybe I should not consider the others as true NBA coaches… I don’t know that they really qualify
by MustangMBS on Oct 2, 2009 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guess we'll have to change his nickname to "no Buckets"
www.mancancook.net
by vfettke on Oct 2, 2009 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like this Paul Westphal
That kind of athleticism translates to high-grade defenders, too. If he can get minutes via defense, he will get transition opportunities to score, instead of hucking up 25-footers. Breakaway dunks will get your ass on SportsCenter, too.
Not that anyone over age 15 can sit through a full hour anymo…BOOOYAAAA
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
by andy sims on Oct 2, 2009 12:34 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
SportsCenter...just say no
I’m glad to hear i’m not the only one that can’t watch the View for Men…I mean ESPN anymore. NFL Matchup was the last show I could stand, and I haven’t seen that one on this season.
by markdog333 on Oct 2, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Seriously.
October 28th couldn't come soon enough.
by JETisKing on Oct 2, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Amick just posted on Twitter
This about Noc:
Westphal says Nocioni will likely return to a reserve role this season at SF and PF
Also, Donte spoke about being a defensive stopper during VSL so I’m guesssing that was Westphal’s direction to him back then.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
by HighTops on Oct 2, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Who will he stop?
I like the idea of having a good stopper, but I feel like I’ll have to see something from him before I believe it. The only game I went to this past season was the game in Washington. Donté was in matched up against Antawn Jamison, and Jamison looked faster, stronger, and smarter. Donté played about five defensive posessions before getting pulled, and I think about four of those ended up in Antawn Jamison layups.
Now, I know that we’re talking about a veteran working over a rookie, which shouldn’t be too surprising. But I want to see him play average NBA defense before I start expecting him to be our stopper. Maybe this is an important step toward average?
by twasserm on Oct 2, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If Donté can alter his game to that degree I will be forever impressed.
We are not talking about having to hold your fork in the opposite hand, or even the Rocky (I) strategy of training your left hook (though the thought of Coachie wearing a somewhat sideways wool knit cap and growling like Mic is smile worthy).
We are talking about an established talent, always known for scoring, geez, he was added to the Kings after the 40 point VSL game last year, becoming a defender. We are talking about Doratio Kane – high flyin’, stylin’ and smilin’ Donté – who is trying to live up to his promise as a high school and Syracuse stud. Can he learn to chest bump after a defensive stop? Can he do C-SPAN in place of ESPN?
If he can, that is amazing shift in ego, one to be given every ounce of respect mostly to him and secondarily to the coaching staff that can make it happen. That is a colossal IF.
by betweentheeyes on Oct 2, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
and another thing: converting Donté to a defensive stopper is less likely
than converting Tyreke Evans into being a full time point guard. And that has been a multi-post arguement and will remain so for the future.
The one item that will make a big difference in demonstrating if Donté can be a dependable defender is BB IQ. If he has that, and he has not demonstrated that thus far, it would be a more believable path. I hope it happens but it is hard to see that occurring from today’s view.
by betweentheeyes on Oct 2, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Defining a player's role and giving him direction
on how to improve his game and a road map on how to increase his playing time? This PW guy is a radical.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Oct 2, 2009 4:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
but I hope he has the patience to let Greene go through the entire learning curve. A player who can’t figure out the offense after a season, he’s supposed to learn to be a defensive force in one training camp? I’m worried for Greene, and hope Westphal works out because if Paul has to go and Greene has to be re-identificated, then I wouldn’t hold much hope in his success.
Victory is tasty.
by iashwash on Oct 3, 2009 2:33 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
rec'd for
re-identificated
. Which is truly a (version of a) word which is new speak born. StR – the vocabulary builder. This also makes feel that iashwash is of Southern roots, specifically a gulf bordering state.
by betweentheeyes on Oct 3, 2009 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its Florida isn't it?
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
by Aykis16 on Oct 3, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dontè
has the physical tools to become a great defender , like Pietrus is for the Orlando Magic. With his size and quickness he could defend almost anybody on the perimeter, and could easily get a lot of rebounds. If we’re going to play an up-tempo basketball, he’s going to score a lot on fastbreaks, improving his shot selection on offense.
"Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game." — Michael Jordan
Go Kings!
by Panzerfaust on Oct 3, 2009 5:01 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
rec'd for the first (more sensible, IMO) comparison of Donté to someone other than Rashard Lewis
good call Panzerfaust.
by betweentheeyes on Oct 3, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lewis has grown to be an exceptional defender
and the Advanced Stats show him as better than Pietrus in even that regard. Still, Donte is young, and we won’t be able to tell if he’ll be more Lewis or Pietrus for at least 3 or 4 more years.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
by Aykis16 on Oct 3, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Never said anything
against Lewis’ defense. But Pietrus is the kind of guy that can, to a certain degree, limit the LeBrons and Kobes of the league: they’re still going to score a lot, but they’ll have to shoot more and to spend a lot more of energy to do so. That worked quite well on the Magic-Cavs series
"Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game." — Michael Jordan
Go Kings!
by Panzerfaust on Oct 3, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
bottom line is that é has to find a role and start to show some level of success
you guys may remember a TZ post (late spring I think) in which he excerpted part of Brian McCormick’s blog in which McCormick posted that é should carve out a role as a defensive specialist. As I recall, that suggestion was roundly shouted down here at the time.
As kfan said above, with some defensive training and focus and with most offensive burdens lifted from him é might actually start to make some noise about what he is doing as opposed to what he isn’t. He might b a stubborn, big ego guy, "high flyin’, stylin’ and smilin’ " but if he doesn’t earn minutes for being good at something (defense) he could end up as the American player with the most potential playing in the Euroleague
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
by Bluejohn on Oct 4, 2009 3:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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