Defensive artist, Lu Dort must constantly adapt

“He can defend against any player. There's no player he can't defend on. » This statement from Mark Daigneault, concerning Lu Dortis based on facts and figures.

In fact, the Thunder guard spends almost half of his playing time (46%) on the opposing player who completes the most actions on average in his team. Clearly, he takes care of the best player or the best attacker in front of him half the time. No one in the NBA spends as much time in this setup as him.

He studies the best attackers in the league…

And in training, he goes up against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, third best scorer in the league with an average of 30.3 points. “I always test myself against him because he’s the cream of the crop”explains “SGA” to The Athleticwho can thus progress, and his teammate with him.

Lu Dort also has notes on his iPad, with details for each player and information for approaching duels night after night. After each meeting, he updates his analyses.

“The first thing I'm going to write down is what I can do to frustrate the player. The second is if he is more comfortable if I go below or above the screen. I try to vary”, he explains.

It is valuable to keep the data up to date. “Sometimes players improve”notes Lu Dort. “An example: De’Aaron Fox. He has become much better at 3-point so I approach things differently. »

In addition to the isolation, one-on-one phases, a big defender must fight with screens in the NBA. Pick-and-rolls are the norm and choices have to be made. For screen installers also obviously. “He's not the nicest guy to set screens because we're going to take hits. It's going to hurt you more than him.”notes his coach.

…and traps those who set up the screens to free them

“Sometimes the screen installer doesn’t even know what I’m going to do, so he asks questions”, continues Lu Dort, who can sometimes go under the screen in front of a huge shooter, like Damian Lillard or Stephen Curry, to try to trouble him. Which is really not recommended. “I see him more as an artist. You have to let it happen”concedes the coach, Mark Daigneault.

The results are there: the Thunder player is doing quite well in handling these situations since he has caused 145 offensive fouls on pick-and-roll over the past two seasons. No one else in the NBA can say that.

“Sometimes I act like I'm going to run into the screen, but I don't, so because the screener is very physical, it's an illegal screen,” says Lu Dort. “Or I rush into the screen once, the defender is angry and the next time he comes with even more power, so an illegal screen. »

Now that he has almost 300 matches under his belt, the Canadian who will soon turn 25 (on April 19) has a greater mastery of his art in defense.

“He accumulated studies on the players, with matches against them. Then he learned lessons and studied some more. He repeated this as he continued his efforts. He is still tireless but he has now acquired the know-how and the rhythm,” concludes Mark Daigneault.

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.