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Alperen Sengun is the most improved defender in the league



Alperen Sengun is the most improved defender in the league

by rocketsforlife42

9 Comments

  1. shameless_chicken

    Sengun haters 9/11. Though I have no idea how these stats are calculated but I imagine they’re highly correlated with team performance.

  2. Does anyone know if FVV’s contract will be an issue when Alpi and Jalen will get resigned?

  3. Fresh_Profit3000

    Sengun haters going through existential crisis.

  4. Sc0rch1ngDr4g0n

    I’ll add that by [EPM](https://dunksandthrees.com/epm) he’s rated at the 87th percentile on defense, 93rd on offense, 95th overall, and 91st in Estimated Wins, putting him at this moment as the 19th-best rated player this year. I prefer EPM because, [in a survey for NBA executives](https://hoopshype.com/lists/advanced-stats-nba-real-plus-minus-rapm-win-shares-analytics/), EPM and Darko DPM were considered the best public all-in-one stats. EPM is based on the current season, while DPM is more focused on longer time periods and being predictive of the future.

    Also keep in mind that, especially on defense, all-in-one stats aren’t the best of measures (though stuff like EPM, DPM, LEBRON, and RAPM are still better than the ones you usually see like BPM or WS). Sengun has certainly improved as an individual defender by stats and eye test, but defense is mainly based on the team. So lots of credit needs to go to Ime and the rest of the players for creating a big leap in defense overall.

  5. I’m not gonna say Sengun had the potential to be a positive defensive player last season because even if it’s true we didn’t see any of those flashes.

    However there are still takeaways we can get from this drastic change. Firstly, defense is, apart from defensive juggernauts like AD and Gobert, mostly a team effort supported by complimentary schemes and accountability. Biggest prop should go to Udoka.

    On the Sengun’s side, he shows that he is a hella coachable player. He is honest when it comes to his weaknesses and willing to work the work to make up his shortcomings. I still believes that Sengun, at best, can be a neutral player in defense. But with athletic wings and players like Dillon Brooks is more than enough to turn Houston one of the best defensive teams in the league rn.

  6. bkuuretsu

    peep Jalen too. Both of these guys were able to ring it in cause of Udoka. Props to our future COTY

  7. He’s always had the great combination of BBIQ, instincts, hands, and balance to make it work. He’s sneaky athletic and most importantly he has the mindset to make it about the team more than himself. So many players aren’t about that last point that can even make journeymen stay in the NBA or players that had to go overseas and return stick in the NBA like Tucker, Pat Bev, and Tate. Except we are talking about a bonafide offensive engine willing to do this.

  8. Main-Performer-2607

    He’s had a couple athletic “where did he come from” blocks I never knew that he had in him.

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