Is it possible for Melo to become defensive player this year

[Nonamehero]

Kinda like the transformation Blake Griffin gone through last year.

Playing good defense.

Or is it just not in Melo DNA to play D, and is he too old to play good post D?

If he can’t contribute on the defensive end.

I don’t see him getting minutes at end of game.

Since we are a defensive team with defensive mindset coach.

Really hope he can learn from Blake Griffin and contribute to the team in other areas than just shooting

[AD23]

Yes. I'll give you 1000-1 odds lolz

[lakerican]

[activeverb]

[JUST-MING]

COPE

[governator]

I read it can Melo be defensive player of the year lol

But no, I don’t think he will but he won’t be defending the primary wings and he’s not so bad that the other team will hunt switches, he’d be ok

[epic_]

I almost read it as Defensive Player of the Year and was about to go crazy haha.
He just needs to play solid team defense.
Make rotations and don't get backdoor cut on.
And those are things I believe he can do.
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[deal]

The Matador Defense.... olé !!
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[Four Decade Bandwagon]

Can he have some moments, absolutely.

Can he sustain the intensity and focus on a nightly or even game long basis, absolutely not.

Expectations need to match abilities and effort. I’m expecting the Lakers to be a much improved offensive team. Defense only on occasion.

It’s going to be a roller coaster all season long.

[RashardA]

No.
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[roger_federer]

It is so funny.
People here saying that He can't improve much in defense as he was never a good defender.

same people in other threads say that though we lost KCP, Caruso, KUZ and replaced them with melo, Monk Ariza etc, our defense won't go down because Vogel is a defensive minded coach.

Same Vogel couldn't get much from Trez in terms of defense.

[epic_]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Don't count on him making the proper rotations consistently; and it'll be interesting to see how WB reacts when Melo fails to do this, considering their history together. Carmelo failing on defensive rotations cost OKC badly in the playoffs, so bad they had to bench him. The whole team was yelling at him when they gave up momentum on his mistakes, and he got the hook.

Can he defend against 2nd unit wings and playing limited minutes in a secondary scoring role? I think he can rise to the level of adequate in that situation. If the Lakers desperately need 3's - yes. And he might bother someone on 1:1 defense trying to shoot over him. But if the Lakers are in a tight contest - no.

I'd be elated if Anthony proves me wrong. But then I'd wonder why he tanked OKC so badly with a seemingly legit title chance on the line if he was capable of doing better.

[Black20Ice]

[Halflife]

really? Im sure Vogel will be able to hide melo defensively so maybe if your rephrase question

"Will melo be the most hidden player on defense"? Then yes.

[LakerSD]

Melo and defense do not compute.

He needs to be playable and that’s pretty much it.

[mad55557777]

no, and i don't want him to be.

remember Kuz? developed a lot of defense and rebounding skills, but his scoring went down hill, that's what we don't want.

[oaktown_dimond]

can he get better under vogel? yes. would his scoring take a dive if he was tasked with being a defensive dog? absolutely.

so, no... it would be detrimental to the team.

[alleyoop]

Melo is not a defender. I don't think he'll necessarily be a net negative under Vogel, but he won't be effective on that end of the court

Between what he brings and what Kuz brought, we're basically gaining offense and losing defense
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[DancingBarry]

Vogel can't work miracles. I thought I heard on one of the pods somewhere that Melo had among the lowest movement on D in the league.

Melo will be hunted. Some nights will be better than others.

[jodeke]

Melo wasn't signed for his defense. His assignment will be to shoot 3s. If he plays some defense that will be icing on the cake.
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[Nonamehero]

[slavavov]

The Lakers made a decision to sign Melo even though he's 37. So they need to accept the fact that he can't play much D at his age.

As long as we limit his minutes off the bench, and he still shoots a high % from downtown, we can play around his weaknesses, especially since we have a defensive guru as head coach.

[DrDent]

They will likely need to hide him on D.

On another note, I actually think Russ will likely pleasantly surprise folks this year on D.
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[leking006]

I think with the rule change, he can be a decent defender, with his size and frame, he just need to be in front of his defender to at least bother them.