Speaking with the media after today’s practice, DeMar DeRozan hinted at the “whole new defense” the team is using this season, and somewhat surprisingly, mentioned that he hadn’t “blued” a play since his rookie year when Jay Triano manned the sidelines. Essentially, blueing a play means to force the defender towards the sideline so it acts as a defender and cuts off the offensive player. The alternate might be to force the player down the middle to a waiting defense. Depending on the type of bigs you have, you might choose one way or the other, or something else entirely. If you’re Mavericks with Tyson Chandler or the Pistons, or have Rudy Gobert on your team, you might force an offensive player a particular direction. If you don’t, then maybe blueing is an option.
I think defensively we came a long way, especially lot of us that were here learning a whole new defense. I haven’t blued a play, or kept a ball on the sidelines since my rookie year. It’s something new for me, for all of us to get accustomed to doing. I think that was the biggest stride for us, I think everything else will come in line offensively.
Teams are so creative now, you got to understand when they’re trying to use the blue against us. I think that’s what we need to get a lot better at. Only in-game situations will help us with that.
When asked if there’s anything about pre-season that can carry over, DeRozan was quick to respond:
Defense. Defense, for sure. Most of us pay attention to the offensive end, we didn’t even put in our offense till four games into the pre-season. Understanding we’re going to have to rely on our defense, offense is going to come around. We’re going to have nights where we can’t miss, but we also are going to have nights where we’re going to miss, and we got to rely on something and that’s going to be our defense.
He was then asked about whether this is the hardest a coach has preached defense, and after some reflection, DeRozan chose the safe answer:
I think when [Dwane Casey] first came, it was so quick because it was a lockout year. Besides that, this is the most time [spent on defense].
He also mentioned one change that has made the defense a little worse.
That sucks, not having Amir. He helped a whole lot.
