[Greek Baller]

He did a good job on Lebron, he is a good defender yes.

[Greek Baller]

He did a good job on Lebron, he is a good defender yes.

[LA12Participant]

I was watching a rerun on NBA TV and something hit me hard, Jimmy Butler is a pretty good defender despite the fact that he looks like he has T Rex arms. What is his wingspan? I didn’t think he had short arms before but his wingspan looks really small in this rerun.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

His wingspan is 6’8. So basically the same as his height. I always use this to know old draft measurements: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?page=&year=2011&source=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=

[LA12Participant]

Yeah I checked his wingpsan numbers, but the averahe NBA player has a wingspan longer than his height. Just look at Cody Zeller, his wingspan was the same as his height and one of the top concerns was his short wingspan.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Well you asked for what his wingspan was, I never said that it was a good wingspan or anything. But the guy can defend, and he can defend well, that’s all that matters in my book.

[LA12Participant]

Sorry about that lol I thought you were implying that it’s not that bad

[LA12Participant]

Sorry about that lol I thought you were implying that it’s not that bad

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

Well you asked for what his wingspan was, I never said that it was a good wingspan or anything. But the guy can defend, and he can defend well, that’s all that matters in my book.

[LA12Participant]

Yeah I checked his wingpsan numbers, but the averahe NBA player has a wingspan longer than his height. Just look at Cody Zeller, his wingspan was the same as his height and one of the top concerns was his short wingspan.

[GottaBeTheShoesParticipant]

His wingspan is 6’8. So basically the same as his height. I always use this to know old draft measurements: http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?page=&year=2011&source=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=

[AmiableBaller34Participant]

Believe it or not kids, but you can still play good defense without being a super freak athlete. Butler, while playing in Thibs defensive schemes, doesn’t go for fakes, stays in front of his man, has good lateral quickness and positioning, and never gives up on a play. Heres a vid of him guarding LeBron: Just watch how he constantly is fighting threw screens and contesting every shot. Thing of beauty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHwMkn6tvnE

[AmiableBaller34Participant]

Believe it or not kids, but you can still play good defense without being a super freak athlete. Butler, while playing in Thibs defensive schemes, doesn’t go for fakes, stays in front of his man, has good lateral quickness and positioning, and never gives up on a play. Heres a vid of him guarding LeBron: Just watch how he constantly is fighting threw screens and contesting every shot. Thing of beauty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHwMkn6tvnE

[SiggyParticipant]

Butler has great strength and balance which makes up for his lack of length. He’s also very disciplined, rarely gambling on D. You hardly ever see him off-balance, either off of a move or an attempt to body him. He seems to always be in position to contest a shot since he’s hard to create space against.
Jimmy plays D kinda like B.Bowen did. Neither were very hands-y, they’re more about squaring up their opponent, bodying them before they even touch the ball, using short area quickness to cut off angles with a picture perfect shot contest. Jimmy’s a really good athlete, underrated definitely, but he doesn’t rely on his ability to recover. He D’s up the entire possession.

[SiggyParticipant]

Butler has great strength and balance which makes up for his lack of length. He’s also very disciplined, rarely gambling on D. You hardly ever see him off-balance, either off of a move or an attempt to body him. He seems to always be in position to contest a shot since he’s hard to create space against.
Jimmy plays D kinda like B.Bowen did. Neither were very hands-y, they’re more about squaring up their opponent, bodying them before they even touch the ball, using short area quickness to cut off angles with a picture perfect shot contest. Jimmy’s a really good athlete, underrated definitely, but he doesn’t rely on his ability to recover. He D’s up the entire possession.

[omphalosParticipant]

You know, long arms are only really essential for big men, I think when you’re guarding on the perimeter having shorter arms means you can react quicker and stay more compact.

At the end of the day, how many guys are blocking jumpers on the perimeter? Being a good defensive player on the perimeter is much more about athleticism (lateral quickness) and timing than metrics like long arms.

Well spotted on Butler though, I didn’t notice at the time either.

[omphalosParticipant]

You know, long arms are only really essential for big men, I think when you’re guarding on the perimeter having shorter arms means you can react quicker and stay more compact.

At the end of the day, how many guys are blocking jumpers on the perimeter? Being a good defensive player on the perimeter is much more about athleticism (lateral quickness) and timing than metrics like long arms.

Well spotted on Butler though, I didn’t notice at the time either.

[LA12Participant]

I think it factors in a little. Longer arms help both ball handlers a little more and help play the passing lanes. That’s why scouts were quick to point out Trey Burke’s long wingspan, because it can help in that aspec. But still, I get what you mean. I think it’s more dependent on determination, focus, lateral quickness, discipline. Etc

[LA12Participant]

I think it factors in a little. Longer arms help both ball handlers a little more and help play the passing lanes. That’s why scouts were quick to point out Trey Burke’s long wingspan, because it can help in that aspec. But still, I get what you mean. I think it’s more dependent on determination, focus, lateral quickness, discipline. Etc

[SiggyParticipant]

Length still matters for perimeter players. It allows them to play wider and taller than their size. It also allows for more margin of error. They have those extra inches that aid them in recovering, which helps guys who, unlike Butler, can get knocked off-balance. Also, longer arms allow a defender to play “bad” defense better. Like reaching around for steals on the ball, jabbing at the post,etc while still maintaining decent position. Plus length usually leads to more deflections either on or off the ball. If a player can’t be a solid position defender like Butler, at least he can be disruptive using his length. Also, it’s not about blocking perimeter shots, its about contesting them well. Length helps contest shots. If Butler had longer arms, he’d be an even better defender which is a scary thought given how good he is already on D.

[SiggyParticipant]

Length still matters for perimeter players. It allows them to play wider and taller than their size. It also allows for more margin of error. They have those extra inches that aid them in recovering, which helps guys who, unlike Butler, can get knocked off-balance. Also, longer arms allow a defender to play “bad” defense better. Like reaching around for steals on the ball, jabbing at the post,etc while still maintaining decent position. Plus length usually leads to more deflections either on or off the ball. If a player can’t be a solid position defender like Butler, at least he can be disruptive using his length. Also, it’s not about blocking perimeter shots, its about contesting them well. Length helps contest shots. If Butler had longer arms, he’d be an even better defender which is a scary thought given how good he is already on D.

[TRC1991Participant]

Jimmy Butler is an awesome defender and has the potential to be very good on offense with an addition of a dribble drive game and a more consistent three-point jumper

[TRC1991Participant]

Jimmy Butler is an awesome defender and has the potential to be very good on offense with an addition of a dribble drive game and a more consistent three-point jumper

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

every coach would tell you : defense is legs not arms…

bigger hands and longer arms can help you to compensate or to have better steal/blocks numbers but it doesn’t really help you stayong in front of your man and being clever. Cause defense is also about brain (bball IQ).

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

every coach would tell you : defense is legs not arms…

bigger hands and longer arms can help you to compensate or to have better steal/blocks numbers but it doesn’t really help you stayong in front of your man and being clever. Cause defense is also about brain (bball IQ).

[mike_r232Participant]

Jimmy is going to be great in the Bulls system! Especially if he can keep his 3PT% over 40% like he did in the playoffs! Just hope Thibs doesn’t play him 40+ minutes every night.

[mike_r232Participant]

Jimmy is going to be great in the Bulls system! Especially if he can keep his 3PT% over 40% like he did in the playoffs! Just hope Thibs doesn’t play him 40+ minutes every night.

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