The Brooklyn Nets hardly found their savior when they acquired Arizona Wildcats product Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on draft night, but they did get some help.
Hollis-Jefferson, the 23rd pick in Thursday night's draft, came over later in the evening as part of the deal that sent Mason Plumlee to the Portland Trail Blazers and brought Steve Blake to Brooklyn. Now, the 20-year-old slots in as another defensive weapon for coach Lionel Hollins.
He's just another crop cut from Arizona coach Sean Miller's farm.
Sure, Arizona has long athletes. That's a trend we've seen year after year with the Wildcats. But that's not necessarily why they're consistently one of the best defensive teams in the country. The greatest Arizona defenders know how to compete on that side of the floor because of their smarts.
It sounds cliche, but it's true. Arizona defenders just know where to be on the floor.
Aaron Gordon was a freak athlete, but his intelligence amplified his explosiveness and versatility.
Nick Johnson? Smart.
Brandon Ashley? He's ...
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Article written by Fred Katz