The Baptist and Ice improved defense?

[909]

Me personally, I have seen a dramatic improvement  in effort and execution since Nate has taken over. Neither of them are at the level of Capela and Hunter,but the improvement is real. Randle had Young posted up on the block and passed the ball out and turned it over. Collins is not a center and when not asked to guard true centers he is solid and works.

[kg01]

Howdy, stranger.

I tend to agree.  Doesn't take much to be impactful as a team defender, which is probably all we can ask from Trae.  Just know where to be, when to be there, and try.  I'd much rather teach a high-level offensive guy to become a 'team defender' than try to teach a Tony Allen to be a scorer.

I think @JayBirdHawk pointed this tweet out, which sums up that point better...

 

[Atlantaholic]

I agree 100%. Collins has shown he can be an impact defender when playing alongside a dominant center like Capela. He was and always will be simply out of position at center and is a liability in that spot, but luckily for us as long as we have Cap and he's healthy we don't really need to ask him to do that for any meaningful stretches.

[HawkingAwesome]

that gallo collins front court isn't as cringe as it used to be for me since they both decided to start playing defense.

[benhillboy]

They both have made great strides.  Nate has instilled in them that Hunter and Capela are elite defenders, just try to help them as much as they help you.  Trae is starting to realize his size can actually be a plus on defense.  He’s so small when he helps in traffic he’s usually undetected.  Then many times players are so scared of committing an offensive foul on him it takes their drive away.  If he can make just one notable defensive play per quarter, whether it be a scrambling close out, a rebound tip out, a change of possession deflection, stretching out a blitz for a split second, I’m ecstatic.  All of our other key guys have on-ball steals, passing lane jumps, and shot contests in the bag.