Mullins’ defense

[WeAreUCONN]

I’ll just come out and say it: I did not expect Mullins can play Hurley’s level of defense coming out of HS with the deceptively thin build.


Oh boy did he surprise us all? His footwork is like his shot release, lightning quick always beat the opponent to the spot, constantly fight the screen, and mastery at steals (3 steals in a couple of games already) with super anticipatory senses.

The kid is the real deal, and the whole package!

Mullins reminds me of Spencer. Their physical and mental toughness, shooting ability, and shot creation are a lot a like.

 

[SaeHusky]

I’ve watched him on that end pretty closely since I was impressed with him in limited minutes at the McDs game and wanted to see how it translated for us. He’s honestly been pretty good with a couple correctable flaws. He’s reaching less these days, which is one. And he can sometimes anticipate and lean in the wrong direction and get caught flat flooted - most of the time he stops the initial move when people go at him, and often the counter moves too, but every now and then he’s victim to just a straight blowby when he’s caught off guard. Happened twice yesterday - once when he was leaning towards the screener and once when a SHU guy sort of took a jumping hop step for momentum and took off on a straight drive and he was glued to the floor.

But a recurring issue I’ve seen is that he has a way of not finishing the defensive possession after his guy picks up the dribble. He’ll have a guy locked up essentially and then get out of his defensive stance, make himself small and give up an angle to the basket. He sort of unlocks the guy he locked up. Happened on the Clark up and under - he did all the hard work keeping Clark in front of him and forcing him to pick up his dribble - but instead of forcing him to take a tough shot, he got out of position on the fake (no longer between Clark and the basket), and made the shot easy. Sometimes it happens with just his man pivoting - he’ll cede inside position when he has the upper hand. Just has to be better at finishing those possessions and staying in good position.

Impressive analysis. You have to be a current or former coach.

 

[AllHusky]

Wasn't Hurley's description of Mullins after he signed that he's "sneaky athletic"???

If that is the case, he is on the money. Almost like he does this for a living.

 

[Leebo]

AND he had a pseudo roll the ball over the rim dunk vs the Hall.
I don't believe he's had an actual dunk yet. LOL

Not sure if you're just not counting it because it was the exhibition game, but he did this against BC (6:04 of the video)

 

[Spaceman213J]

His progression on defense reminds me a bit of Cam. Cam's first half dozen or games at UConn had people really questioning if he had what it takes on the defensive end to deserve large minutes. He was getting beat consistently. By the end, he was really good on that end and we all saw we he could do on the offensive end. I would argue that his best defense was probably in the Final Four.

Mullins is progressing. Only Mullins will ever know how much the ankle sprain set him back. I think the kid is just going to keep getting better on both ends. When he came, I remember reading an article on him saying he wasn't Castle, but he was extremely coachable and 'bulldogish' on the defensive end and it was going to be about how quickly he adjusted to the speed of the college game.

Kind of hearing the same thing about County for next year.

 

[superjohn]

It’s a shame bc outsiders just see some of Danny’s antics in short clips and highlights (lowlights) on various shows and judge him on that stuff, but then you listen to these types of interviews and realize he’s just an emotional guy who loves his players and is all in all the time.

He's a seriously awesome guy and far more interesting than any other coaches out there.

We're so lucky to have him.

 

[Donyell 360]

Mullins reminds me of Spencer. Their physical and mental toughness, shooting ability, and shot creation are a lot a like.

Totally different personalities. I think one of the announcers might have mentioned that recently if I recall. Spencer was more developed physically just based on his age and maturity. Mullins is taller and might have a better shooting ability though. Spencer had a knack for probing the defense and finding his spots. Mullins seems a little more athletic, better hops.

It is hard to overstate Spencer's importance to the 23-24 team, but the way Mullins is trending, it is not a crazy take to compare their importance. We will see.

 

[RuffRuff]

Totally different personalities. I think one of the announcers might have mentioned that recently if I recall. Spencer was more developed physically just based on his age and maturity. Mullins is taller and might have a better shooting ability though. Spencer had a knack for probing the defense and finding his spots. Mullins seems a little more athletic, better hops.

It is hard to overstate Spencer's importance to the 23-24 team, but the way Mullins is trending, it is not a crazy take to compare their importance. We will see.

I don't see it at all other than being two crackers. Two different dispositions, games are fairly different as well. Cam was crafty, Mullins is a flame thrower.

 

[HailUConn]

His progression on defense reminds me a bit of Cam. Cam's first half dozen or games at UConn had people really questioning if he had what it takes on the defensive end to deserve large minutes. He was getting beat consistently. By the end, he was really good on that end and we all saw we he could do on the offensive end. I would argue that his best defense was probably in the Final Four.

Mullins is progressing. Only Mullins will ever know how much the ankle sprain set him back. I think the kid is just going to keep getting better on both ends. When he came, I remember reading an article on him saying he wasn't Castle, but he was extremely coachable and 'bulldogish' on the defensive end and it was going to be about how quickly he adjusted to the speed of the college game.

Kind of hearing the same thing about County for next year.

This is quite a take. They are ice and fire.
By way of athleticism, Mullins is also way ahead of Cam in defense transitioning into Hurley’s system. This is not a knock on Cam as he is one and only.

 

[Lafayette]

I don't see it at all other than being two crackers. Two different dispositions, games are fairly different as well. Cam was crafty, Mullins is a flame thrower.

Similarities other than skin:

BBIQ
Positional awareness
on ball defense
Ability to slip through screens for catch and shoot 3s
Can bring the ball upcourt
Can guard a chair

But yes largely different as Braylon has a quicker release, longer range, quicker lateral movement and is not as flashy.

 

[RuffRuff]

Similarities other than skin:

BBIQ
Positional awareness
on ball defense
Ability to slip through screens for catch and shoot 3s
Can bring the ball upcourt
Can guard a chair

But yes largely different as Braylon has a quicker release, longer range, quicker lateral movement and is not as flashy.

Cam had insane footwork as a guard, had an over the head type shot. Braylon is more about off ball action, quick low set shot. Braylon isn't close to the IQ of Cam yet. I suppose so on some of those other smaller items.

 

[Donyell 360]

I don't see it at all other than being two crackers. Two different dispositions, games are fairly different as well. Cam was crafty, Mullins is a flame thrower.

That was my point but I was being nice. Do you think by the end of the season that Mullins could prove to be more important to his teams success than Spencer was? I mean Spencer was SO important. I know that team dominated so you might wonder if we could have had success without him, but I wouldn't want to find out.

Not sure this team will win it all but if they do, I have no doubt Mullins will be a vary important ingredient in that soup. Perhaps as much as Spencer was. So in that sense alone I didn't consider it a crazy take.

 

[RuffRuff]

That was my point but I was being nice. Do you think by the end of the season that Mullins could prove to be more important to his teams success than Spencer was? I mean Spencer was SO important. I know that team dominated so you might wonder if we could have had success without him, but I wouldn't want to find out.

Not sure this team will win it all but if they do, I have no doubt Mullins will be a vary important ingredient in that soup. Perhaps as much as Spencer was. So in that sense alone I didn't consider it a crazy take.

I think for us to go far, he and Silas are the key players. Their advancement and progress will be how far we go, so yes. We need Silas to run this offense like a Hurley lamborghini, and we need Mullins to be one our key guy to fill it up on offense. Both are immensely important defensively too.

 

[HailUConn]

Cam had insane footwork as a guard, had an over the head type shot. Braylon is more about off ball action, quick low set shot. Braylon isn't close to the IQ of Cam yet. I suppose so on some of those other smaller items.

Not a slight, but This post makes me wonder if you’ve watched his in game play at all since Mullins returned.
His footwork is more advanced than Cam, althlecism-wise Mullins is next level. BBIQ wise, they are not far apart. The numbers of ways Mullins scored are insanely pro-like. What you are talking about is experience and game situations, Cam reads much better than Mullins as he is long in the tooth.

 

[Donyell 360]

I think for us to go far, he and Silas are the key players. Their advancement and progress will be how far we go, so yes. We need Silas to run this offense like a Hurley lamborghini, and we need Mullins to be one our key guy to fill it up on offense. Both are immensely important defensively too.

But you didn't answer my question. Is Mullins more important, less important or equal importance to this year's team as Spencer was to the 24-25 championship team?

 

[RuffRuff]

But you didn't answer my question. Is Mullins more important, less important or equal importance to this year's team as Spencer was to the 24-25 championship team?

Trick question. That team was so good that they may have been able to survive without Cam. BUT Cam was an integral part of their dominance.

This team may need Mullins more to reach it's peak and separate from the rest of the field. Right now their challenge is offensive fluidity.

 

[Donyell 360]

Trick question. That team was so good that they may have been able to survive without Cam. BUT Cam was an integral part of their dominance.

This team may need Mullins more to reach it's peak and separate from the rest of the field. Right now their challenge is offensive fluidity.

Well said. I agree. So you at least partially agree with the OP that compared Mullins and Spencer. So when you said, "I don't see it AT ALL..." that wasn't entirely true. I know I'm being pesky. Just defending my qualified agreement with the OP.

 

[RuffRuff]

Well said. I agree. So you at least partially agree with the OP that compared Mullins and Spencer. So when you said, "I don't see it AT ALL..." that wasn't entirely true. I know I'm being pesky. Just defending my qualified agreement with the OP.

Well, I don't see how their individual games compare, not importance to the team.

 

[RuffRuff]

Not a slight, but This post makes me wonder if you’ve watched his in game play at all since Mullins returned.
His footwork is more advanced than Cam, althlecism-wise Mullins is next level. BBIQ wise, they are not far apart. The numbers of ways Mullins scored are insanely pro-like. What you are talking about is experience and game situations, Cam reads much better than Mullins as he is long in the tooth.

Cam was so good at manufacturing space off one foot, ala Brunson. Mullins might have better footwork off ball, but he hasn't flashed anything like Cam did in terms of that.

 

[jonbones220]

If ppl only knew the extent of Mullins injury…. Almost cost him the season. Hes probably only 85%

 

[Gurleyman]

Cam also had a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio (4:1 in the postseason). Mullins hasn't shown that kind of facilitating yet. A couple instinctive passes, but not reading the game to that high a level.

I always remember how Cam kinda had Zach Edey in a blender early (save for one blocked shot) with just his savviness and creativity. A hesitation and step through for a layup, a slip pass to Clingan, a pull up 18 footer after faking a pass. He would create space/shots with a deep bag - whereas when Mullins has manufactured his own shots to this point, its mostly been athleticism on his fadeaways.

If you could combine Cam's savviness and ability to read the game, and Mullins' athleticism to shoot over defenses, that'd be a perfect scorer. The closer Mullins gets to Cam's savviness over his development, the more likely he is to be a big impact guy at the next level.

 

[JonnyRI]

I do take him for what it’s worth - he’s a dork that tries to be funny and isn’t.

I have no issues with his questions. He’s a dork.

Goodman is annoying but I still like him.

As for him being a dork, a big yep.

But I am okay with that. I mean, look at how much posts or time we spend on this 1994 based college basketball message board. All of us live in this glass house.

 

[RuffRuff]

Goodman is annoying but I still like him.

As for him being a dork, a big yep.

But I am okay with that. I mean, look at how much posts or time we spend on this 1994 based college basketball message board. All of us live in this glass house.

I like the guy - authentic. Knows his ball, has more insider knowledge than any of them - seems to be the Schefter of CBB.

 

[Spaceman213J]

This is quite a take. They are ice and fire.
By way of athleticism, Mullins is also way ahead of Cam in defense transitioning into Hurley’s system. This is not a knock on Cam as he is one and only.

I'm just talking about progression on one end of the floor. Mullins is a better athlete and can mask some mistakes with it.
I just think they both have high B-Ball IQ's and are instinctual players. Even reading a missed shot and generally where the ball is going to go after it hits the rim seems like something they have in common.
I really just meant that is was a real struggle for both of them early and they got a lot better and both had to shake off early season nagging injuries.

 

[Lafayette]

Cam had insane footwork as a guard, had an over the head type shot. Braylon is more about off ball action, quick low set shot. Braylon isn't close to the IQ of Cam yet. I suppose so on some of those other smaller items.

Thought coach boasted about his bbiq more than once?

 

[thekollieman]

I thought I remembered a baseline drive that he finished with two hands in one game. He definitely had a two handed fast break dunk in the exhibition game against BC if you want to count that. But he doesn't seem to be particularly concerned with style points. Very business like approach. Just get buckets.

He did have a real dunk in a real game, and it was as you remember: two hands from the baseline, but it was on a cut and assisted by Solo. I believe it was the Providence game. Don’t know how to tag alexd so he knows the truth about Mullins dunk history this season.

Edit: it was the Marquette game

 

[BGesus4]

If ppl only knew the extent of Mullins injury…. Almost cost him the season. Hes probably only 85%

Meniscus?

 

[DogMania]

I'm just talking about progression on one end of the floor. Mullins is a better athlete and can mask some mistakes with it.
I just think they both have high B-Ball IQ's and are instinctual players. Even reading a missed shot and generally where the ball is going to go after it hits the rim seems like something they have in common.
I really just meant that is was a real struggle for both of them early and they got a lot better and both had to shake off early season nagging injuries.

This is as good a spot to chime in. Note the following isn't a criticism on your (Spaceman's) post. In fact I agree with what you posted. With that said...

Do people realize you're all trying to compare a 24 year old seasoned 5th year college senior, that few to no one thought would find his way to the NBA, to a 19 year old college freshman, that many projected as a one-and-done lottery pick?

Cam arrived at UConn as an experienced, Uber-competitive and crafty baller, which few to no one saw coming. His game was and is still below the rim. We all agree that he has plus BBIQ that helps him quickly learn complex schemes, create space for his shot, make purposeful passes and play pretty good defensive for player who doesn't possess NBA blow by your defender and above the rim athleticism. He's also a very accurate shooter both midrange and beyond the arc.

Braylon is less than half way through his freshman season, not to mention one where he missed the first 6 games and was probably not at a 100% till who knows when. A byproduct of missing those early games was his inability to defend without fouling. Remember all those horrible reach-ins and out-of-position bumping fouls that resulted in foul trouble, keeping him off floor. Now that he's healthy and has more game experience, just watching the way he moves, you can see he's much more athletic than Cam. He gets off his 3 ball a lot quicker than Cam and probably most NBA sharp shooters. Has similar high offensive instincts, but not yet as crafty and mature as Cam showed during his 5th year of college hoops.

I find it hard to compare them defensively, again due to the huge difference in experience, plus the much better defensive supporting cast Cam played with compared to this years squad. Spencer struggled early on the defensive end of the floor but gradually improved, though much of UConn's perimeter defensive limitations, sans Castle's lock down capabilities, was masked by their team D concept and paint eraser Donavan Clingan. This year's bigs aren't nearly at his level, so when Braylon and his fellow perimeter players don't get a good angle on who they're covering, the team help and paint defenders just aren't there to make up for that. With that said, their team D has been improving and their defensive metrics are surprising very good despite some of their lapses.

I don't think many here realize how hard it is to keep an athletic and skilled ball handler in front of you without some solid help D. In college and in the pros there are only a handful who can do that consistently and they get schooled from time to time. I see Braylon as plenty athletic to develop into a very good defender, but he just needs time to learn to defend more instinctively and to get stronger, especially at the next level where they allow much more physical contact.

To put this into perspective, we all see young players enter the NBA and struggle to stay and even get on the floor because they're such a liability on the defensive end of the floor. But after a few years of physical practices and whatever game time they could get (including G-League experience that didn't exist till recent years) plus working hard in the weight room to get stronger, some turn into pretty good defenders along with an improved all around game. It's not like they're getting anymore athletic. It's a combination of improved strength, instincts, technique and experience. Cam had some of that as a 5th year senior, which is why he's getting meaningful NBA PT in just his second season, while Braylon is showing his youth and lack of experience, a reason why he's not the complete college player Cam was during most of his 1 season at UConn.

Comparing these two, who share some similar traits but possess some differences is difficult to do primarily due to the vast differences in their experience during their one season at UConn, not to mention how far Braylon's improvement might be by the time they begin tournament play.

With the small amount of visual data, perceiving them as similar players has never jumped off the page for me. In fact, I've found it difficult to come up with any current or past player to compare Braylon to. Usually, right or wrong, I come up with someone, but no one comes to mind, and definitely not Cam Spencer, who is one of my all time favorite Huskies.

 

[HailUConn]

@DogMania is spot on their profiles. Their dissimilarities are much more prominent. Like I said they are ice and fire.

If you recall, twice when he got 3+1 point plays, the kid has no trace of reactions on his face, nada period. He is not even showing any emotions when all his teammates came and high-fived him. If you don't believe, hit the rewind button, and watch again.

Basketball is to him like driving a car to us for lack of a better analogy. It's like he's been there, done there a lot! It's just another day and another game for him. He is stone cold assassin.

 

[Spaceman213J]

@DogMania is spot on their profiles. Their dissimilarities are much more prominent. Like I said they are ice and fire.

If you recall, twice when he got 3+1 point plays, the kid has no trace of reactions on his face, nada period. He is not even showing any emotions when all his teammates came and high-fived him. If you don't believe, hit the rewind button, and watch again.

Basketball is to him like driving a car to us for lack of a better analogy. It's like he's been there, done there a lot! It's just another day and another game for him. He is stone cold assassin.

My initial comparison wasn't about their personalities. They are as different as fire/ice... day/night... however you want to label. I was just comparing their experiences at UConn, on the court, on one end of the floor.
They both will have played at UConn for one year. Both faced nagging injuries at the beginning or near the beginning of their seasons which slowed down their development. I get Cam was a 5th year senior, but it was a new system, new coach, new staff and to his credit he let himself be coached. The both improved a lot.
I don't disagree that there isn't more on Mullins shoulders on the defensive end of the floor. They don't have an eraser at the rim this year like they've had the last 4+ season. Sanogo might not have been at the DC or Thabeet level, but he was still pretty good defensively helping a teammate who had lost the angle on the defender.
I was just kind of comparing their path their one year at UConn. Hoping it ends the same for Mullins as it did for Cam.
Finally, Braylon may not show much emotion, but it doesn't mean there isn't a lot of fire inside. We just do see it because he's an introvert on the court.
Finally, honestly, thank you guys for keeping it civil, respectful and intelligent. It's one of the things I love about this board... that it is mostly filled with guys who know their stuff, can hear a different, not necessarily opposing viewpoint, or even then, and respond thoughtfully and intelligently.