The Narrative that Trent is a Good Defender is False

As of this morning, he’s the only player on the team with negative DWS at -.1. Everybody else on the team is 0 or positive.

His DPBM of -3.2 is the lowest of anyone not named Blevins or Little, and his VORP of -.2 is lower than Melo’s and in line with DJJ and Covington.

When did this narrative begin? All I see is the guy out of position and giving up wide open threes. He has one great skill as a spot-up shooter but otherwise is a liability everywhere else on the court. I don’t get the posters who say he’s a good defender. He’s not. He’s been awful this year on all advanced defensive metrics and has regressed in his all-around play.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2021.html

 

what was his number last year? And how did it rank on the team?

 

Looks like last year his DBPM was -0.8 and VORP was 0.6. I am no expert on these advanced numbers. Last year they had him listed on that site as a SF and this year a SG. Does position impact the numbers? or it just players as a whole?

 

You could look that up for yourself. I’m wondering why people think he’s some stud defender when the eyeball test and the advanced stats show he’s a liability.

Running around with energy isn’t good defense when you’re out of position all the time and getting torched. He was lower end of the roster last year with .3 DWS. Nassir Little was .4 in not nearly the playing time.

Trent is not a good defender by any statistical metric. He’s regressed from last year, too. No wonder he looks so pissy each game.

 

I'm asking YOU because your brought it up and didnt see that he was our best wing defender per that metric who got regular minutes last season. This year could be an artifact. You asked where the narrative came from... Well there ya go.

 

I think I agree. He cares and gives much energy on the defensive end, but he looks better than he actually is.

 

I can see it. He is aggressive on a team full of passive defenders so he sticks out, but he isn’t necessarily a good defender. He still has too many avoidable fouls

 

The narrative started when people thought he defended AD well last year.

 

Pretty sure it started when PG, Booker and others were getting mad at him over his defense last year.

 

When he played against harden last year and stole the ball from him a couple times is when he earned his rep as a good defender.
I still think he's decent in steals and drawing O fouls.

 

He’s averaging 0.4 steals in 25 mpg. That’s dead last for the 8 players averaging more than 20mpg. He has .1 blocks/game. Also dead last. Trent also only gets 1.6 rebounds per game. Dead last on the over 20mpg players. I’m not sure about drawing offensive fouls. Hopefully he’s decent at it.

As I said, the stats don’t fit the narrative.

Even both Kanter and Nurk average more steals. He’s a one-dimensional player and unless he vastly improves over the season, let someone else overpay him. A PER of 11.2 means a team is paying for potential on anything over the MLE.

 

Or was it Lebron.
The thing also was he was shooting like 60% from three in the bubble and that covers for a bunch of flaws.
Then there is the people he has been asked to cover. Tough to find a stat on defense that is really worth a damn. Never takes into account the player they are up against. If you are asked to guard harden and curry day after day you are going to have pretty bad stats.

 

you are probably right as that would make more sense. I just remember people raving about his D in that series in particular. Or maybe just that first game.

 

What percentage do his opponents shoot? I mean when the guy he is guarding takes a shot. Seems to me that would be a relevant statistic then compare it to other defenders. Or the number of shots opponents take etc.

 

Trent plays 25mpg and is the worst advanced defensive player in the rotation. That leaves 23 other minutes of someone else guarding whoever he’s supposed to defend and those players aren’t the worst in the rotation.

I think extremely overrated and because he is a very good spot-up shooter who offers nothing else, he’s overrated by many fans, and probably even by himself. The energy is good. The results are not. Can it be fixed? Maybe. I wouldn’t sign him to a big contract.

 

His positioning is bad. I have seen him over position and give up the drive many times. He puts out good effort and has high energy but that doesn't make up for bad technique.

 

Bad technique can be fixed with good coaching.
Energy and effort can not....

 

I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying I think most of his issues are technique.

 

Gary can play defense when he locks in...he did it at the end of last season and in the bubble but this season he's inconsistent....I remember when Alan Crabbe had a hot streak when Batum was injured that upped his value...is he in the league now? Gary can prove himself to be an impact player by being consistent and not taking games off. He's young and talented and has a motor...could go either way but he should have taken the early deal Olshey offered him and not banked on a big payday in the off season