Originally Posted by
Pelicanidae
I feel kind of bad for him because I do think that he can be a solid defender (Again, not an elite superstar defender, but good) but just not in the role we're using him in, and not in the role that his reputation places on him. The way some Lonzo stans talk about him, you'd think he was the second coming of Gary Payton on defense and it's just not true: he is not an on-ball stopper, he just isn't. Doesn't have the footspeed or the hip mobility or the mirroring for it. He's much better at guarding off, doubling, dipping the hand in the passing lane, playing that secondary role. That's a valuable role, sure, but it's not what we need right now.
Here's something that is true but absolutely shouldn't be: Lonzo has taken more clutch time shots than Zion so far this year. 16 to Zion's 10: explain that if you can.