Enes Kanter’s Defense Improving

He missed four games due a severe ankle sprain recently, but going back ten games, Enes Kanter‘s defense has shown vast improvement and understanding.

We wondered here at PnB if Kanter would return to the starting lineup when recovered from the swollen extremity, what with all new management and coaching staff lead men. And the Utah Jazz have demonstrated gargantuan strides as a unit on defense lately.

As we’ve noted, much of that is undoubtedly due Rudy Gobert, but how much better is Enes Kanter’s defense?

For the season, Kanter’s defensive rating mirrors the team as a whole, a 111.0 DRtg. But over his last ten games played the big Turk has exhibited a growing understanding of how to effectively use his body and recognize developing plays on the defensive end of the floor.

Over his last ten games played, according to NBA.com Stats, Enes Kanter’s defensive rating is a much more respectable 104.9, a vast improvement upon anything previously posted by him.

He still has defensive lapses, such as this one in transition against the Houston Rockets a couple of nights ago.

Enes Kanter’s defense in transition versus the Houston Rockets

Instead of “building a wall” in transition, as Quin Snyder preaches, Kanter let himself get distracted while attempting to direct traffic. The result was Josh Smith blowing by Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter for an easy flush.

While there might be a smattering of revolt among Jazz fans, they can rest a little easier knowing that Kanter isn’t nearly the defensive liability he once was

Kanter would fare much better the rest of the evening in his minutes-limited return from injury off of the bench.

For most of his 21 minutes, Kanter would find himself on either Josh Smith or Dwight Howard, depending on the D-switch. He made the right decision the majority of the time on defense, giving the Jazz a chance by forcing difficult shots and shots at defensive rebounds.

On this play, the Rockets set up a pick-and-roll with Dwight Howard and James Harden. Elijah Millsap and Enes Kanter are the defenders.

Enes Kanter’s defense on pick-and-roll versus the Houston Rockets

As the play develops, Dwight rolls to the paint where he’ll be held up by Trevor Booker as Kanter is forced to follow the speedy Harden on the switch. Note Josh Smith floating out to the three-point line, a place the Jazz are more than willing than let the career .277 three-shooter have all to his lonesome.

Enes Kanter’s defense on pick-and-roll versus the Houston Rockets

Kanter shuffles sideways, impressively pushing the play away from the rim with excellent position and recognition, using his superior size to hold Harden at bay while also bodying up on the Rockets’ wing to refuse him room to pull up for a jumper. Meanwhile, Smoove continues to float into position for a three while Booker stymies Howard’s roll.

Enes Kanter’s defense on pick-and-roll versus the Houston Rockets

The Jazz defense has plugged the paint completely, with Enes Kanter’s defense the primary play-stopper as he runs Harden right out of room forcing a kick-out to Smith. The Jazz have ’em right there they want ’em.

Enes Kanter’s defense on pick-and-roll versus the Houston Rockets

The result is a Josh Smith clanger off of the rim, a shot any team is willing to live with him taking. If Kanter has been a defensive liability, Smoove is an even bigger offensive liability in this regard. Smoove is hitting only .227 from three since being traded to the Houston Rockets. Good recognition by the Jazz defense to let him be.

Kanter is using his stout frame to the team’s benefit more effectively than ever before. On this play he bodies up on Dwight Howard in the post denying the entry pass, pushing Howard outside of his comfort zone, typically deep in the paint.

Enes Kanter’s defense on post-up

This again forces a long Josh Smith jumper. Enes Kanter’s defense doesn’t stop there either. He stays stuck to Dwight on the almost-certain rebound, who then cannot get into position for a follow-up.

The result is the Jazz chasing down the defensive rebound.

Even though he couldn’t get to the D-reb himself, Kanter played this possession perfectly, giving his guys the best chance to get the ball back after a desirable single shot from the opposition.

While there might be a smattering of revolt among Jazz fans that Enes Kanter’s defense is back to starting over Rudy Gobert’s, they can rest a little easier knowing that Kanter isn’t nearly the defensive liability he once was.