Monday: Pelicans Film Room
Why Herb Jones Is an Elite Help Defender
NEW ORLEANS -- Any time I talk to people about Herb Jones, the first thing that usually comes up is his ability to defend the opposing team's best scorer. And he’s undoubtedly great at that, but one of the biggest reasons Jones is so valuable to the New Orleans Pelicans happens away from the basketball.
Help defense requires so much more than athleticism because it requires anticipation, awareness and the ability to read what is about to happen before it actually does. Jones has become exceptionally good at all three.
The next time you get a chance, watch Jones when he's one pass away from the basketball.
He's constantly looking at both his man and the ball, which allows him to recognize when an offensive player is about to drive, when a teammate is beaten off the dribble or when a pass is about to be thrown into a dangerous area.
That split-second recognition is what allows Jones to rotate before the offense expects him to, and when you're as long and athletic as Jones, arriving early can completely change a possession.
Additionally, one of the most impressive part of Jones' defense is that he doesn’t over help because great help defenders know when not to help.
Jones rarely flies unnecessarily toward the basketball. Instead, he positions himself close enough to discourage a drive while still being able to recover to his assignment. That makes it difficult for offensive players to find the easy pass after he rotates. In other words, Jones can make an offensive player think twice without completely abandoning his own man.
Another solid part about Her is that his anticipation also creates turnovers. He's incredibly effective at reaching into passing lanes, stripping the ball from drivers and deflecting passes without committing unnecessary fouls. Those plays don't always show up in traditional defensive statistics, but they change possessions—and ultimately change games.
Now that the Pelicans have a new coach in Jamahl Mosley, I think this is where Jones could become even more valuable. Mosley has built his defensive philosophy around pressure, communication and help, and Jones already excels at those things.
If the Pelicans can surround him with other versatile defenders, Jones won't have to do everything himself. Instead, he can become the kind of defensive connector every great team needs—the player who makes everyone around him better.
The key to this team’s defense is that sometimes, the best defense isn't the player making the block; it's the player who makes the shot never happen. That is who Herb Jones is.
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