Comments on: Austin Daye’s Career Night

By: Fennis

Fennis — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:10:47 +0000

I’ve watched closely. He’s more consistent on defensive rotations than most of the players on the team.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:26:05 +0000

Spot ups (193 of 432)

By: Jakob Eich

Jakob Eich — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:16:08 +0000

Daye tries hard though and I can see him becoming a capable defender over the next few years, he has really shown the willingness to do so. Why doesn’t he get more shots off screens. He shows great promise, you can see how easily he can score! How does he make most of his shots by the way?

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:52:12 +0000

“Daye always hits his defensive rotations.” You clearly haven’t watched Daye closely on defense. His rotations have improved a good deal from last year, but he’s still slow on many of them.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:51:00 +0000

According to Synergy, 432 Pistons plays this season have ended with an Austin Daye shot, turnover or free throws. On 17 of those, he used an off-ball screen. On seven, he used a ball screen. A big part of his game? Definitely not. But it’s not something he never uses.

By: Fennis

Fennis — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:03:34 +0000

Last thing…

Although I’m critical of Daye’s D, I appreciate his effort on that end of the floor. Unlike known defensive liabilities like Charlie V, Turkoglu, Kukoc, etc, Daye always hits his defensive rotations and clearly doesn’t like giving up buckets. To be even an average defensive player in the NBA you have to be passionate about getting stops. He has some fire on the defensive end, which is at least a start.

By: Fennis

Fennis — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:52:26 +0000

I’ve been trying to come up with a convincing Daye comparison for a while. A poor man’s Durant? Not as athletic. Poor man’s Nowitski? Better handles, less aggressive. I finally settled on Toni Kukoc of the 90s Chicago Bulls team. Anyone agree? Tweener 2/3/4, great shot, weak body, dribble ability, pass ability, loves the offensive side of the ball, permanent defensive liability.

They have similar games, and Kukoc came off of the bench for a number of those Bulls championship teams to log around 25 min per and exploit matchups. Daye doesn’t seem to have a starter’s defensive game, but I could see him as a “sixth starter” exploiting matchups at the 2, 3, and the 4.

By: Jakob Eich

Jakob Eich — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 06:33:10 +0000

But coming off screens should become a part of his game, because this would enable to score more baskets. He also seems ok going one-on-one at times. I like the Stojakovich comparison, during the 03-04 season he averaged 24.2 PPG, if Daye ever become that kind of player the Pistons should be fine.
A friend of mine made the song, I’ll tell him that you guys like it!

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:41:22 +0000

Exactly. I bet you can’t give me three examples of Daye scoring off a screen. It’s just not his game.

:)

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 01:38:24 +0000

Stojakovic is more of a come off a screen and fire type player than Daye is, or will become. Both definitely have clean strokes no doubt. Daye will probably be better at going to the basket down the line. I agree with the 20ppg prediction. But Daye has to want to be a main cog type of guy instead of just a role player a la Prince.

Great vid BTW, got me in the mood. Daye looked so patient. Or maybe it was just the music effect