Caris LeVert fits the model of a modern day defensive stopper
By John Bauman
The days of defense being an afterthought in the NBA are long gone. Teams have created advanced analytics that track defensive stats far beyond just blocks and steals, and the media is starting to come around and reward players who excel on defense, all the while scolding those who struggle. No longer can players dog it on defense without risking finding themselves on Shaqtin a Fool or in a YouTube montage dedicated to their awfulness.
As teams spend more and more time working on the defensive potential of their rosters, new ideas blossom. There is a new trend in particular developing that requires one thing that every coach and GM now want on their team — size at all five positions. Tall point guards, long-armed wings and imposing big men provide NBA coaches with flexibility and length that creates stout defenses to counter today’s quick hitting offenses.
This trend has its roots with two coaches in particular: Steve Kerr and Jason Kidd. In Golden State, Kerr and Ron Adam have concocted a defensive system that features all five defenders switching pick and rolls. Two months ago, our very own Austin Peters profiled the rise of switching defenses in the NBA.
"Steve Kerr and assistant Ron Adams were able to concoct a scheme where the players switch almost everything. When the offense runs a screen on or off the ball, the Warrior defenders just swap assignments. They didn’t have a ton of funky rules on what to do, it was that simple — they just switched."
The Warriors were able to switch in large part because of their unique personnel. The anchor of the scheme was Draymond Green, a big man with the athleticism and know-how to switch onto smaller guards and stall out offenses. The team also featured oversized point guard Shaun Livingston and stout defenders like Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes on the wing.
The NBA is a copycat league, and you can bet that teams will be looking to recreate the Warriors magic formula in their own defenses this fall. That’s one of many reasons why long, lanky 3-and-D wings like DeMarre Carroll and Khris Middleton got paid this summer — teams recognize how their unique skill sets unlock a box filled with all kinds of interesting possibilities.
Kidd is the other coach leading the pack with this trend in Milwaukee. Kidd emphasized size in Brooklyn and brought that desire with him to the Bucks. The result is a long-armed menace of a defense, led by Michael Carter-Williams, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Middleton. Teams are seeing the value of Milwaukee’s length and trying to replicate it themselves, targeting players with similar attributes in free agency and the draft.
One player in particular who fits the mold and has all the tools to thrive in a Kidd or Kerr-like system is Caris LeVert of Michigan.
LeVert’s biggest asset on defense is his size. He is listed as 6-7 and has long arms that crowd passing lanes and bother shots. He wouldn’t look at all out of place in Milwaukee’s starting lineup playing next to MCW and the Greek Freak.
LeVert also possesses the skill set to switch onto bigger, stronger forwards once in the league and not get bullied for easy post up baskets. He is strong and has quick hands to swipe the ball away from aggressive power forwards and centers, as seen in this scouting video from Draft Express.
LeVert is already an elite NBA prospect, mostly for his offense. He averaged 14.9 points per game as a junior, shot over 40 percent from deep and displays a lot of advanced offensive skill for a player his age, like the ability to read and dissect defenses in the pick and roll. He won’t be drafted in the first round just for his offensive skills, though. Teams will target LeVert for his measurables, defensive tenacity and ability to thrive in switching schemes.
LeVert’s draft stock took a hit because of a foot injury during his junior season. But he has another season to lead Michigan and prove to scouts that he is worthy of a lottery pick. DraftExpress has him going 20th in their 2016 NBA Mock Draft, but don’t be surprised if a healthy LeVert shoots up boards into the top-10 range over the course of the season. NBA teams see the production he has put up at Michigan on the offensive end and can envision his fit on defense.
Teams want size on the wing to snatch steals and to pull off switching schemes on defense. LeVert fits the mold and is the ideal player for the modern day NBA defense.