Three Things I Noticed on League Pass: Zion Williamson rediscovers defense
Hit the jump for this week’s edition of Three Things I Noticed on League Pass, starring Zion Williamson and two members of my 2024 All-Dubin Teams, Isaiah Hartenstein and T.J. McConnell.
Zion Williamson, ramping up the defense
When he was at Duke, Zion was an impact defender. He was all over the place, doing everything. For the most part, that has not been the case in the NBA. On the whole, he has probably been a negative defender since entering the league. But he’s ramping things up lately.
Specifically, the defensive playmaking is off the charts of late. He averaged 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per game through February, but since March 3 he is at 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks a night — including this five-block performance against the Suns over the weekend.
But it’s not just about the playmaking. Look at him on these pick and rolls. He’s picking up Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on switches. He’s getting into their bodies and preventing the drives. He’s hedging and recovering and taking away space. He’s just doing the stuff you’re supposed to do as a defender, leveraging his athletic gifts to make an impact.
Even on stuff as simple as closeouts, you can see the difference between where he’s been for most of his career and where he is now.
This, as much as the things he is doing offensively, is the best sign we’ve gotten about Zion’s future.
Isaiah Hartenstein, screening and reading
I spotlighted Hartenstein yesterday for various reasons, but I think this is the area I’ve been most impressed with him this season — even while he is leading the league in defensive EPM.
He’s making reads on the move, mapping the court in mid-air. He’s got the gorgeous touch on the floater. When the give-back hand-off to Jalen Brunson isn’t there, he pivots directly into one for OG Anunoby, then sets a Gortat screen in Nikola Vucevic to clear space and prevent help. When the Bulls try to put two on Brunson, he delays his roll and slips into open space.
He’s coming off screens without pre-determining his next move, instead letting the defense dictate what he should do, then finding the best way to beat that coverage. It’s a much different style of play than what Mitchell Robinson brought to New York’s starting unit, and it’s been of great benefit to Brunson, in particular.
T.J. McConnell, never stopping never-stopping
If you’ve never seen Pop-Star: Never Stop Never-Stopping, you need to change that immediately. I cannot think of a better phrase to describe McConnell, who simply just does not stop.
Just look at all the combination dribbles and hesitations and dips and fakes and shakes he puts on a series of Heat defenders to open himself up for drives to the rim and then layups or fadeaways. It must be annoying as all hell to guard this dude.
And then there’s the passing.
Whoo boy, that first dish to Jalen Smith. And then the lob over the top to Obi Toppin. The english on the bounce pass to Myles Turner. The in-air read on the kickout to Toppin. This is Prototype Backup Point Guard stuff.