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Blazers: Who should Nassir Little be studying in quarantine?

By Ryan Gaskin

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 29: Nassir Little #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers works towards the basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets during their game at Moda Center on January 29, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 29: Nassir Little #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers works towards the basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets during their game at Moda Center on January 29, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Defense

On the defensive end, Nassir Little is already strong, and has the potential to develop into an All-NBA level defender. So why not aim high, and study the best?

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard is a good defensive player for anyone to study, but Little’s physical attributes match up extremely well with Leonard’s.

Leonard is listed around six-foot-seven weighing 229 pounds with a wingspan of seven-foot-three. Little is six-foot-six, 220 pounds, and has a wingspan of seven-foot-two. Given Kawhi had a slow start to his NBA career as well, the it’s easy to understand the comparison.

Kawhi is a two-time DPOY, five-time All-Defensive player, and even led the NBA in steals in 2015. But in first year, his stats weren’t that much better than Little’s, and Little is playing a much smaller role. Kawhi is the target for Little if small forward is to be his most comfortable position in the future, as he’s been used at the power forward spot a little as well.

Kawhi’s focus, quick hands and elite footwork need to be Little’s main points of interest; no one in the game does it better than the LA Clipper. Little has to want to guard the oppositions best offensive player, and I genuinely see an elite defensive career for him.

Draymond Green

Draymond Green is the defensive prototype for Little if the Blazers choose to go smaller, and play him at the four.

Draymond has revolutionised ‘small-ball’ has much as anyone this decade, as his defensive versatility and ability to play bigger than his size has opened so many doors for the Golden State Warriors.

Green is six-foot-six and 230 pounds, and has been one of the best defensive players in the league over the last five years. However, many of Draymond’s minutes have come at the 4 or the 5 spot, a position a player of his size wouldn’t typically play, especially with his shooting struggles the last couple of seasons.

But Draymond makes it work because his defensive instincts are outstanding, as is his basketball IQ. He can defend 1 through 5, and this is because of how smart he is, and the way he reads the floor. I’m not saying I envision Nassir Little as a small-ball center in the future, but Draymond can certainly teach him a thing or too about defending above your size.

It doesn’t matter if Green has a seven-footer on him in the post, he finds a way to make it difficult, and knows how to outsmart an offensive player. His defense in 2017 is a perfect example.

Draymond’s energy and hustle is another attribute Little can try and copy, as this has been critical  to the Warriors’ success. If Little wants a bonus defensive player to study; Dennis Rodman’s brilliance on defense and the boards has been highlighted in recent weeks, and he wouldn’t go wrong watching a bit of ‘The Worm’s’ mixtape.