17 BBall Commit Isaiah Livers - Defensive Scouting Report/Film
Part 2 of the Livers detailed scouting report and film. This time, we'll take an in-depth look at the defensive side.
Like yesterday, I broke the film up into segments:
a) Perimeter Defense - beginning to 1:47 mark
b) Post Defense - 1:48 to 2:09 mark
c) Rebounding/Box Out/Ball Pursuit/Motor, etc - 2:10 mark to end
PERIMETER DEFENSE
Isolation Defense on Wing
Fluid defender that turns hips and moves feet well for a prospect of his size. Has ability to beat wings of similar and larger size to the spot when taking multiple dribbles. Has potential to be above aveage/good perimeter isolation defender at next level with continued development
Switching on Screens
Makes hard, quick hedges and shows ability to stay with smaller guards for 2 and perhaps 3 dribbles depending on quickness.
Communication
Conistently communicates with teammates when getting screened so that offensive player is always accounted for.
Helpside Defense/Rotations
Inconsistent. Shows ability to make proper rotations at times, but too often is caught stagnant and doesn't rotate at all. Needs to improve reaction time on helpside rotations, has ability with athleticism and size.
POST DEFENSE
Does a good job of playing 3/4 defense and moving his feet in order to deny the post entry pass from the guard. Also jumps passing lanes when entry pass has air on it to get steals and deflections. Sample size too small to make evaluation for post defense once he actually has to defend the post upon entry pass being completed.
REBOUNDING/BOX-OUTS/BALL PURSUIT/MOTOR
Will box out when already engaged with another player in the post or the perimeter and then pursue the ball. Rarely finds a man to box out when not engaged with a particular player, far too much standing around and lack of ball pursuit in those situations. Often caught flat footed and staring at the action as teammates pursue the ball. Rarely grabs rebounds outside of his frame. Does not give multiple jumps for rebounds. Not nearly physical or energetic enough on the glass for a prospect of his size and athletic ability. Motor and reaction time needs a lot of work when rebounding and pursuing the ball.
March 26th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
March 26th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
Ideally, I think we'd all like Isaiah to RS to give him a year to develop both his skillset and physically. But we only have 6 known commodities that will no doubt receive significant time in X, MAAR, Matthews, DJ, Wagner and Duncan off the bench. One of Teske/Davis will get PT by default, and my bet is on Teske. Depth is really thin, and I think Livers gets some spot minutes early on to see what he can do. I definitely think he'll have a better freshman campaign in relation to Ibi Watson.
"I definitely think he'll have a better freshman campaign in relation to Ibi Watson."
Welp, shoot better than 5.6% from three for the year and he will have acheived this!
I was never a huge fan of Ibi Watson at the time we offered, but I'm hopeful he can develop at some point, but I'm not overly optimistic that he'll ever be a major contributor for the team.
I think Isaiah has more long term upside and is a better shooter as soon as next year.
There was a very large stretch where Zak Irvin was just downright awful this year, and we most certainly needed someone to step in and produce during that period. As bad as Zak was during that stretch, I'm inclined to believe Watson would've been a healthy downgrade based on what I've seen in practice and when he was in high school.
I'm not going to write Ibi off either, but I'm just not terribly optimistic that he'll be a major contributor any time soon. Ibi is best utilized as a catch and shoot guy in my opinion, as his handle needs a lot of work. Problem is that he isn't a very good shooter, and wasn't a very good shooter in high school either. MAAR is a guy that can get to the rim off the dribble and finish, but has developed a nice shot from distance in college.
For what its worth, I generally think ballhandling/playmaking skills are much harder to develop in relation to shooting.
In which we really missed Kam Chatman. Irvin and Wilson ran out of gas in OT at Iowa, Irvin was too ill to play a full game at MSU, maybe one more fresh body could have stopped the collapse against Va Tech. If Ibi could have played 5 productive minutes, those losses might have been prevented. I have no doubt that Chatman could have done that much. And I still wonder if he'll make a jump like Wilson has. Oh well...
I mostly agree, I just think that percentage is kinda hilarious.
So he does make a lot of very kind statements about his players.
That said, Davis will be the widest body on the team next year, so there will surely be minutes available for him against certain teams. He'll have to prove he's ready for those minutes during practice and the non-conference schedule.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:23 PM ^
March 27th, 2017 at 11:47 PM ^
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