The New Orleans Pelicans had a quiet offseason that didn’t see a ton of movement outside of the additions of Bennedict Mathurin and Trendon Watford. During media day, Joe Dumars said he sees them fitting into Jamahl Mosley’s system, and it feels like slightly wishful thinking.
“Defense is just about how hard you want to compete…with (Bennedict) Mathurin and (Trendon) Watford, I like to bring in guys who are competitors, like not backing out, like not taking a step back from anybody. And I think along with that when you have a coach that that's his primary focus is getting guys to compete on the defensive end… I think it bodes well for your defense to get better,” said Dumars.
Now, I’m not going to sit here and act like I know more about basketball than someone like Dumars, who has won at a high level and has been in the game as long as he has.
However, saying defense is all about effort and how hard players compete is so inaccurate and is a major oversimplification. Yes, playing hard will make you a better defender. But if you're a 6-foot-5 wing like Mathurin or an undersized frontcourt player like Watford, effort alone isn't going to make you a Herb Jones level defender.
Has Joe Dumars never watched Mathurin play?
The biggest draw to Mathurin's game is his scoring, his ability to get downhill, and the way he draws contact and generates free throws. That would’ve been a valid thing to mention when talking about Mathurin’s addition. But saying you signed him because he competes and can be a great defender is bananas.
It would be one thing if Mathurin was known as a scrappy defender in college or high school. But he has always been viewed as an on-the-ball scorer, something this team already has plenty of.
As far as Watford, his side of things is definitely more defensible, because he can play several positions and is switchable. At the same time, he also doesn’t project as someone who will be an everyday player for this team.
Every team wants competitors, because oftentimes the best defensive teams are the ones that play the hardest. But to act like competing is the only thing that matters when building a great defense is insane.
Players need to understand rotations; they need to be willing to fight through screens, contain the ball, know when to jump passing lanes, and, maybe most importantly, have the physical tools to execute. Players can give 110 percent defensively and still be below average on that side of the ball.
So for a team like the Pelicans to be elite defensively after finishing near the bottom of the league in defensive rating the last two seasons, they need more. Sure, adding a defensive-minded head coach is an improvement, but to have that be your magic solution for turning competitors into elite defenders isn’t going to cut it.
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