Atlanta Hawks: Prospect focus: Vanderbilt’s Jeffery Taylor
Here’s something different: An NBA hopeful who’s about defense.
“I think it’s more of a mental thing,” said Vanderbilt wing Jeffery Taylor. “It’s more about how you approach the game. I think a lot of guys nowadays don’t really value defense. It’s all about scoring, the highlight plays and whatnot. My dad always instilled in me a defensive mentality. You need to be prideful in what you do on the court, and part of having pride is not letting someone score on you.”
Taylor was voted to the SEC’s all-defense team three times, joining Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado as the only players in league history to do so. He says he’s been a “big fan of [Thabo] Sefolosha for a long time.”
“I think defense is kind of like a lost art, almost,” Taylor said. “If you look at Sefolosha in the playoffs, he’s playing tremendous defense. He’s making a lot of key plays for them. A wing defender that’s good at what he does and can score the ball as well is a valuable asset.”
Taylor’s focus on defense has paid off. His potential at that end is what makes him a possible first-round pick in a league where perimeter scorers predominate and wing defenders are valuable.
Hawks assistant GM Dave Pendergraft said Taylor has the athleticism and basketball IQ to be an “above-average” defender but noted Taylor’s prowess didn’t jump out at him while watching video.
“He has that reputation of being one of the better defenders in the NCAA, and he looked like a good defender but it’s not like he strikes fear in you,” Pendergraft said. “We bring him here [for a workout] and watch his footwork and how quick he is, you can see it really up close. He’s got really quick feet and he’s very, very strong and very athletic.
“He is one of the better defenders in college basketball. Does it transfer over to the NBA? You’d like to think so because he does have quick feet and he has good size. I don’t think there is a lot of negatives. He does have average length but there have been a lot of good defenders with average length if they a have quick feet but he understands the angles.”
That’s where the comparisons to Sefolosha and Taylor end. Taylor is shorter than Sefolosha and not nearly as long–he has a relatively short 6-6 wingspan.
On the plus side, Taylor is more athletic than Sefolosha and potentially a better shooter.
“The surprising things is how well he shoots it,” Pendergraft said. “When you go from [22] percent to [43] percent as senior [on 3-pointers], he’s made great strides shooting the ball. Towards the end of season at Vandy I expected it to go in. It was the same thing here [for workouts]. In all the shooting drills he was at a high percentage.”
Even when Taylor wasn’t making shots he was still an efficient scorer because of a good free-throw rate (in spite of a poor free-throw percentage. A DraftExpress.com analysis showed that Taylor was a high-efficiency, low-usage scorer in transition at Vandy.
Taylor had a high turnover rate, however, because he’s a shaky ball-handler.
“It’s definitely something I need to work on,” he said. “That’s probably one of my main focuses right now.”
Taylor’s dad, Jeff, was a guard at Texas Tech and played 56 games in the NBA before starting a career in Europe. Jeffery Taylor was born and raised in Sweden and came to the U.S. when he was 17; he has dual citizenship.
“That was a bit of a culture shock,” he said. “The U.S. is a lot different from Sweden: culture, people, school. I was having a culture shock experience for the first five or six months but then I got used to it and it wasn’t a big deal.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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195 comments Add your comment
Melvin
June 27th, 2012
12:35 pm
OB,
Not sure it as simple as taking ZaZa/Dalembert numbers and just combine them. Especially on offense b/c neither guy has a low post game. Nor do I see playing those two together. They don’t compliment each other.
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
Tim, we’re talked about Sims in the past as a 2nd round pick. I REALLY hope that the Hawks grab him (or Hollis Thompson) in the 2nd round. It looks like they may both be available around #43. (Hollis may be more Ferry-like than Sims).
Jake
June 27th, 2012
12:38 pm
Oh yeah thats right. The hawks made a dumbass move and cut Benson when Al and Zaza got hurt and Benson is kicking ass….Way to go hawks…way to go
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2012/3/24/2899329/keith-benson-nba-golden-state-warriors
falcon912fan
June 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
Ferry will definitely do better than Sund. He did well in Cleveland and San Antonio. I know I’m new here and just dreaming, But listen to these trades: What if Ginobli wants to start…Trade J Johnson for Manu!!! Then trade Josh Smith and Marvin Williams to NJ for a draft pick, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace. The Nets will definitely do it to entice Dwight Howard to come this year or defintely next year. Think of our lineup… PG Jeff Teague SG Manu SF Gerald Wallace PF Horford C B. Lopez. Bench players PG Pargo SG (draft or bring back Crawford or even JR Smith) SG McGrady PF Ivan the terrible C Za Za.
Wow!!!! What do you guys think??? I’m just a high school basketball coach but I could even coach this lineup…
Hey Danny, do this and hire me as an assistant!!!!!!
falcon912fan
June 27th, 2012
12:44 pm
Ferry will definitely do better than Sund. He did well in Cleveland and San Antonio. I know I’m new here and just dreaming, But listen to these trades: What if Ginobli wants to start…Trade J Johnson for Manu!!! Then trade Josh Smith and Marvin Williams to NJ for a draft pick, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace. The Nets will definitely do it to entice Dwight Howard to come this year or defintely next year. Think of our lineup… PG Jeff Teague SG Manu SF Gerald Wallace PF Horford C B. Lopez. Bench players PG Pargo SG (draft or bring back Crawford or even JR Smith) SG McGrady PF Ivan the terrible C Za Za.
Wow!!!! What do you guys think??? I’m just a high school basketball coach but I could even coach this lineup…
Hey Danny, do this and hire me as an assistant!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 27th, 2012
12:46 pm
The more i look at how much Talent LD and Woody have wasted i continue SMH.
Danny need to fire LD now, and not waste another year, this guy can’t coach or evaluate talent.
Go Keith Benson do your thing.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
12:48 pm
Ra’mon, I appreciate your honesty. lol.
I think Houston is willing to gamble that if they acquire Josh in the next day, that D12 will consider signing a free agent contract with them in July, 2013 AFTER Josh tells him how great the experience was in Houston. So even if they don’t get Orlando to trade him now, they could influence Howard directly when he becomes a UFA. And if Josh doesn’t like it and D12 won’t come, then they have a ton of cap space (Kevin Martin’s contract expires) and they lose very little because they are stuck in that 7-10 slot anyway.
hawksfancents95
June 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
@meidza. i never looked at miles plumlee as a plausible draft prospect for the hawks because i thought he was 6′9. if he is 6′11 3/4inch then i could definitley see him being a really good choice at #43, i could see miles being a fan favorite chris anderson type with strong dunks and good defense in space. chris anderson is 6′10 and in 2008 he was a 6 and 6 guy off the bench with 2.5 blocks, i bet miles could post those #s his first year playing a backup role(except for 2.5 blks)
darrell starks
June 27th, 2012
12:49 pm
Now i see why Rick Sund left and Billy Knight
2 coaches in LD and Woody continue to waste talent.
Danny will fire LD in a heart beat if this done to him.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveW
June 27th, 2012
12:51 pm
Grandad – I co-sign everything you just said. You can improve ball handling and shooting, both to a point. Then, it is variable from there.
People forget that Chauncey Billups, Doc Rivers, Rajon Rondo, and even Kirk Hinrich had absolutely pathetic jump shots when they came in the League. KH went on to develop one of the best mid-range jumpers in the NBA, late in his career. Those other guys have done, or are doing pretty well also with that part of their game.
Even Mookie had to develop that shot.
That’s why to me, a guy like Wroten’s work ethic and coachability is everything.
The Real cp
June 27th, 2012
12:55 pm
@Asro I really like Thompsons game. He has great size and can really shoot it. I think he might be a better pro than college player because of that Georgoetown stystem.
hawks_4_life
June 27th, 2012
12:59 pm
IM SHUTTING THIS BLOG DOWN….M.C. HAD TO SAY IT LOL.
SteveW
June 27th, 2012
1:07 pm
That’s the reason to me, that I’ve been kind of locked in on Jeff Taylor at #23 for a couple of months now. I think he’s the safest pick. He’s going to play hard, team BB, works like crazy to improve his game, is already a great athlete, and probably has a ceiling of about 12 and 6 in this League, with above average D.
That’s not to say other picks can’t help us at #23, I think Jeff is just the most well rounded – Draymond would be great at 23 – but he’s a tweener with below average athleticism. Fab has great potential – so does Festus, Wroten, Marquis, Doron, and Pluymlee among others. But Jeff is the safest pick in my opinion.
And maybe I’m looking for the post-Marvin era to quickly.
But I wouldn’t mind a draft of Taylor and Miller, and get Marvin out of town as quick as possible. Bring Trey Gilder in for a look at the 3 spot as well…
hawksfancents95
June 27th, 2012
1:08 pm
our goal should still be to trade AL and either acquire an all star caliber player right now, or get a sure lottery teams 1st round pick for next year and eat some players over paid salary.
lets call up Danny Ainge and see if we cant get rondo for teague and horford.
horford for monta ellis and the bucks 1st next year.
AL for Calderon and TOR 1st next year.
good laugher AL to PHX for JChill and Hakim Warrick PHO gives us next year 1st(they look like the worst team in the NBA next year if Nash leaves)
Trade O Day AL and Marv to SAC for John Salmons Fransisco Garcia and Chuck Hayes and SAC first next year
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
1:10 pm
G’D, I never said its easy to become a great shooter. I said its easier to improve your shooting than it is your ball handling. And from working with kids, to high school kids, or just working out with people also, that is evident to me.
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
1:11 pm
AJ, I’m just saying I wouldn’t trade my best player for two players that will be my fourth and sixth best player.
SteveW
June 27th, 2012
1:14 pm
I was sure hoping Keith was going to be a part of our Summer League.
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
1:16 pm
SteveW
The problem with Wroten is:
*All the Red-flags;
1. not a good teammate
2 Xtremely Left-handed – people choose to ignore this fact
**(in other words, can`t use his right hand)
3. gets to the rim / yet, cannot hit free-throws
4. low basketball IQ
5 questionable coachability
6. show-boat passer – though – has never run an offense
7. high turn-over rate
8. absolutely zero background as a defender ?
note – Best Case = a larger version of Sebastion Telfair
plus – WorstCase =
Marvin with a handle that can`t shoot but don`t fall down
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
1:17 pm
From espn.com;
A source close to Amare Stoudemire told ESPNNewYork.com that the Knicks’ power forward will work with NBA legend and post-up coach Hakeem Olajuwon later this offseason. Olajuwon will fly to New York in August to train with Stoudemire. The source also said Tyson Chandler might join Stoudemire for the workouts, but that hasn’t been confirmed..
LeBron worked with Olajuwon last summer, and the results were obvious. Didn’t Josh work with Olajuwon in the past? Can we get Josh to work with him again?
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
1:18 pm
Just kiddin` about the Marv remark.
I would take Wroten over Marv any day of the week;
including Fri the 13th on leap year.
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
1:25 pm
Ra’mon
I went into great detail to say that you were wrong.
perhaps I used too many words.
(*!*) ~> *’`One can improve ballhandling easier than shooting`’* <~ (*!*)
Ray
June 27th, 2012
1:26 pm
Benson is in D-league I think he needed to add a lot of weight he had the height for a center not the size though, but honestly he was a hard worker and whomever gets him from D-league has a steal on their hands I thought we shouldn’t have let him go in the first place, but we did get Ivan.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
1:32 pm
Melvin,
I agree that you cannot just combine numbers. But I think Zaza can duplicate his numbers from last year, and think about our backup centers from last season. We used Ivan, Josh, Twin and Dampier.
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
1:32 pm
G’dad, and I think you’re wrong. You didn’t use too many words. I comprehend quite nicely. But there are FAR more cases in the NBA of players improving their shooting abilities than of players improving their ball handling abilities.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
1:34 pm
Ra’mon,
Would you do Lowry, Dalembert and one of the Rockets picks for Josh and #23?
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
1:39 pm
O’Brien, Nope. I’d rather take Gasol, lol. Unless Houston taking Marvin with Josh. Other wise nope. Now if you give me Scola and one of their picks. Or Scola and Lowery, I’ll take that deal.
Ray
June 27th, 2012
1:50 pm
I guess I didn’t hear about Benson signing with GS sorry about that.
@ O’Brien
Like someone said I wouldn’t do the Rockets deal even with their draft picks why because Teague and Lowry have the same kind of ceiling that’s one reason. Plus Dalembert is someone that rubs off he’s not going to work hard which means while he’s better than Dampier and Collins he won’t work hard unless it’s a championship team.
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
O’B, the thing is I think that the center from Vanderbilt is just as good as Dalembert and much cheaper. So I see no value in him, even if he does have an option on his contract.
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
1:55 pm
Ra`mon
The younger you get a subject to work with the easier / better.
The older ; the more bad habits to break & the more set in their ways.
Actually professionals are highly motivated;
due to $millions of $ dollars on the line, if they can jump
their FT % up [say] .10 % points,
or [say] .10 % points on FG shooting for two examples.
.10 % is a huge jump.
However;
a player [not a pg] but any other player can drastically
improve his / her ballhandling.
That`s a fact !
‘ Don Meyer ‘ called it tightening up your game.
*Fundamentals
*Paying attn
*Using your eyes
*Utilizing proper footwork
Simple stuff will radically improve one`s ballhandling !
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
1:57 pm
The reason I said [not a point guard];
is a pg -must- be an -elite- ballhandler !
Grandad
June 27th, 2012
2:04 pm
Ra`mon
‘`You didn’t use too many words. I comprehend quite nicely`’
I was not insulting your ability to comprehend;
rather my lameness in expressing the point.
‘`But there are FAR more cases in the NBA of players
improving their shooting abilities than of players
improving their ball handling abilities.”
You cannot possibly document that.
Astro Joe
June 27th, 2012
2:10 pm
Ra’mon, Dalembert is signed for a single year. We will not find a center at 23 who will be better than Dalembert next year. And we could still draft a project center at 23 who could be part of Ferry’s new development program when both Dalembert and Zaza are UFAs in 13 months.
If we can trade any captain for a starting center and a starting PG, both of whom not only fit the remaining pieces but also bring tenacity, toughness and guys who won’t compete for FGAs with the better offensive players…. go make that happen.
rufus1
June 27th, 2012
2:12 pm
680 the fan….
Home team, said Jeremy lamb and Perry Jones were in for a workout….. If that doesn’t mean trade, nothing does.
Ra'mon
June 27th, 2012
2:16 pm
You can if you take into account field goal and 3 pt % compared t/o number throughout players careers. Or even with the eye test. SteveW, just made a list of quite a few players who shooting improved dramatically, but they were already excellent ball handlers when they came into the league.
High-sider
June 27th, 2012
2:22 pm
@Grandad
“…Actually professionals are highly motivated;
due to $millions of $ dollars on the line, if they can jump
their FT % up [say] .10 % points,
or [say] .10 % points on FG shooting for two examples.
.10 % is a huge jump…” – Grandad @1:55pm dated 6/27/2012
Grandad, do you realize that 0.10% equals (=) .0010? So, if a player shoots 0.6500 (65%) from the FT line for one year (season) and increases his FT% by .0010 in the next year (season), that player’s FT% for the next year (season) will be 0.6510 (65.1%); [0.6500 + 0.0010 = 0.6510]. Is that a “huge jump” or significant increase in FT% accuracy?
Please verify my calculations as I could be incorrect.
MsDee
June 27th, 2012
2:32 pm
rufus1,
Did 680 the fan say that from twitter? If so, could u post that?
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
2:36 pm
Dalembert averaged 8 pts, 7 rebs (2 offensive) and 2 blocks in 22 mpg last year, while shooting 80% from the line, and 51% from the field. Can the center from Vanderbilt put up those numbers this coming season?
Ray,
1) Would you say that Zaza is a hard worker?
2) Do you think Dalembert is better than Zaza?
And even if Teague and Lowry have the same ceiling, Lowry only has 2 more years on his deal, so we could probably trade him next offseason if we wanted to. And if Lowry averages 15 pts, 7 assists and 5 rebs again, there should be a market for him.
Melvin
June 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
I’m hoping we get Perry Jones. I like that kid… 6-11 SF/PF and will play some C in small ball lineups. Get him a Hawks Jersey ASAP…
O'Brien
June 27th, 2012
2:49 pm
Melvin,
I don’t think Jones will fall past 19. Different articles have linked him to Philly at 15, Dallas at 17, and Orlando at 19.
Melvin
June 27th, 2012
2:54 pm
OB,
I was reacting from what rufus1 posted.
KevinM
June 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
Two things to change the culture of this team:
1) Bring in Steve Nash as a ‘win-now’ statement.
2) Get Josh his new address and if you have to package Teague or Joe, then so be it.
You then can attempt to get Royce White to backup Al. Don’t expect Doron Lamb (a top 5 SG) to make it to 43…..don’t make that mistake.
We need bench buckets and Lamb will grow in that role at 6′5″. I think he can matchup with Beal and Rivers just fine.
Rufus1
June 27th, 2012
2:57 pm
Ms Dee,
I was listing to the Buck and Kincaid Show. Buck was repeating was “Home Team” told him who was working out…. I am not sure if he said they worked out today but the news made happy. Those players are slotted to go from 7 to 18… Also, we heard nothing about them coming in for workouts(Like Julio Jones) I think a trade is a very real possibility.
Rufus1
June 27th, 2012
2:59 pm
Sorry about the mistakes.. on my phone.
MsDee
June 27th, 2012
3:05 pm
Thx rufus1 for the positive info!! Loving the idea that we could trade up but I just hope Teague nor Horford are in the mix!
Michael Cunningham
June 27th, 2012
3:07 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.