A Breakdown of Every Nesmith Defensive Possession Last Night
Aaron Nesmith sucks on defense. Aaron Nesmith’s defense is unplayable. Nesmith misses rotations and constantly gets lost.
These are the prevailing narratives around Nesmith’s defense and usually explain why he doesn’t play a lot. I’ll be honest, since the Miami game I don’t see it. Does he fuck up a rotation here or there? Yes, absolutely, but no more than any other NBA player. I have been watching his defensive possessions back after every game and maybe I’m just dumb, but he seems totally solid on that end to me. I’m not a coach, I’m not an NBA player, I’m just a random redditor in his basement so I’m probably wrong. Nonetheless, I made a cut of every defensive possession that Nesmith was on the court for last night and I truly do not understand why folks are so critical of his defense. Away we go.
Nesmith starts on D. Wade (not Dwyane). He and Grant switch. Mobley gets the ball and tries to take Nemsith off the bounce. Corrals that very nicely. Mobley kicks, jumper goes up, solid boxout from Nesmith
Possession Grade: B+
Nesmith has Rubio in semi-transition. Gulp This is the exact type of matchup he struggles against. Rubio tries to take him. Nesmith sticks with him and has a decent contest. Nesmith goes down hurt. Gets his ass back up, and still gets over to Valentine in the corner to force him to pass. Windler drives on Romeo and throws it away
Possession Grade: B+
He’s on Valentine in the opposite corner and he switches with Jabari on Cedi. The ball finds it’s way to Mobley on the block and Romeo and Grant are forced to double him. He kicks to Valentine and Nesmith is responsible for Rubio above the break and Cedi in the corner. Ball swings to Rubio and Nesmith closes hard, but in control. Forces Rubio to put it on the floor and causes a bad air ball miss.
Possession Grade: A+
Nesmith is involved in some off ball switches and ends on Mobley. He bullies Mobley off his spot and then fronts to stop the entry pass. He and Grant switch assignments on the weakside and the ball is swung to Cedi (now Nesmith’s guy). He does an ok job forcing Cedi into help. Cedi kicks and Nesmith sticks to Mobley, nice box out, Mobley can only tip the ball out of bounds.
Possession Grade: B+
He’s on Valentine spacing above the break to Rubio’s left. Nesmith is not involved in this play.
Possession Grade: N/A
For some reason this part of the game is filmed by an old timey Civil War Era camera. Nesmith is a little late picking up Windler in transition. Windler drives, Nesmith has an ok contest without fouling and Windler missess.
Possession Grade: C
Nesmith is behind Grant in semi-transition. Nesmith is going to take Mobley and Grant should stop ball. Grant does not stop ball and guards Mobley giving Rubio a wide open 3. Nesmith has to be more vocal and let Grant know, but this is probably 70/30 Grant’s fault.
Possession Grade: C
Nesmith on Valentine in the corner. Some switching occurs Grant and PP have some sort of miscommunication, but it doesn’t really matter. Nesmith isn’t really involved at all. OK box out on Valentine.
Possession Grade: N/A
Rome and Nesmith switch the off ball action (Wing/Wing, it’s smart to switch). I cut this play early because I’m a moron, but Nesmith isn’t involved and Valentine buries a three over PP.
Possession Grade: N/A
Nesmith starts on Mobley and switches with Romeo. Rubio test him off the dribble but gets nowhere. He gets in help position since Mobley has a mismatch. Forces the pass and Nesmith is a beat late getting to the right rotation, but he and PP do get a contest.
Possession Grade: C-
Nesmith gets sort of lost in semi-transition here. Not sure what he was thinking. Maybe thought he would stay with Valentine (who he’s been guarding all game) and PP would get Garland, but neither go to Garland. Nesmith at least recognizes it and rushes out to Garland and does not allow an open three. Doesn’t matter Garland splashes a deep ass three. Not much you can really do.
Possession Grade: C-
Nesmith and Romeo switch the Rubio/Garland action. Then Rubio comes off two screens and Nesmith ends up on Valentine in weakside corner. Rubio blows by Jabari. Nesmith reads it right and gets there to help. I believe Grant should have rotated to Valentine (like Jabari did in Play 10) leaving Okoro to Nesmith. My guess is this is on Grant for not rotating to the corner, but it’s hard to know. If it’s Nesmith’s responsibility then he just doesn’t contest at all.
Possession Grade: B or D depending.
Nesmith is not involved in this play.
Picks up the correct guy in semi-transition. Reads the pass beautifully and helps hard. Forces Mobley to fumble the ball out of bounds.
Possession Grade: A
Helps PP slow Garland in transition and then gets back to Valentine. Not really involved. Jabari gets duped by Rubio.
Nesmith and Jabari switch the pick and roll. Leaves Nesmith on Allen downlow. Does a really nice job of holding his ground when Allen tries to post him up. Forces the kick out. Gets tangled up rebounding and called for a foul. Could have gone either way. Solid possession otherwise.
Possession Grade: B
Guarding Cedi on the weakside. Not involved in this play.
He and PP switch the Rubio/Windler pitch back. PP gets way up the court and completely loses Windler on a backcut. Nesmith comes over and hard fouls forcing Windler to earn them at the line. This is 100% on PP.
Possession Grade: B
Scramble after Windler rebounds his own FT miss. This is Jabari at his worst. Doesn’t secure the baord and then LITERALLY DOES NOT MOVE FOR THE ENTIRE DEFENSIVE POSSESSION. Nesmith heads to Mobley because he’s the closest guy to him. In a scramble like this you just find a body and guard him until things settle down. Jabari never left the paint to guard anyone so Valentine gets a wide open 3. I guess Nesmith could have let Mobley go and Jabari could have picked him up, but I doubt Nesmith figured Jabari hadn’t moved since Windler shot the FT.
Possession Grade: C+
On Valentine in the corner. Mobley dribble drive Nesmith sends help. Perfect rotation behind from Romeo to pick up Valentine and force the miss. Good stuff from Nesmith and Romeo. That’s what it’s supposed to look like.
Possession Grade: A.
Nesmith is on Valentine in the corner. PP fouls Rubio. Nesmith is not involved.
Nesmith is guarding Rubio up top. Does that dumb ass jab step that I hate, but recovers ok and gets a decent contest. Forces the miss.
Possession Grade: C-
So there you have it. Like I said, maybe I’m way off base and his defense was actually horrible. If someone could explain that to me I would appreciate it because right now, I just don’t see it. From what I can see, it ranged from ok to quite good on most possessions he was involved in.
