Peter Casey-US PRESSWIRE
The reigning two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year, Kent Bazemore, is working hard to keep a spot on an NBA roster. The former Old Dominion guard earned a non-guaranteed contract with the Golden State Warriors after an impressive Summer League showing with the team.
The Warriors have some of the greatest young talent in the NBA in guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. They will likely be the starters in the backcourt for the upcoming season. Joining Curry and Thompson from last season is anotheer CAA guard, Charles Jenkins, from Hofstra. Jenkins was more than serviceable as a rookie last season, especially when Curry or Thompson went down with injuries and will likely see big minutes off the bench. Veteran point guard Jarrett Jack was acquired to add even more depth to the Warriors backcourt.
Bazemore is faced with a serious challenge in, what is now, a loaded Bay-area backcourt. He currently holds the 15th roster spot, which is the maximum number a team is allowed to have. But, Bazemore does provide unique talents to the team that separate him from his fellow backcourt mates. At 6-5, 195 pounds, he has an athletic frame that he uses perfectly to blanket guards. He can shut down point guards and shooting guards alike, and can even match up against slightly-built small forwards. Bazemore uses his length and reaction time to intercept passes and chase down players from behind to swat shots away a la LeBron James.
Thompson and Curry are going to be counted on for outside scoring. Jenkins and Jack will be the tough, traditional point guards that set up the offense with their penetrate-and-dish skills. And the Warriors 2012 lottery-pick Harrison Barnes will, most likely, be locked to the small forward position. At 6-8, with limited lateral movement to keep up with shooting guards, Barnes is not an ideal two-guard in the NBA.
This leaves a prime opening for a player of Bazemore’s skill sets. In the Las Vegas Summer League, Bazemore averaged 1.8 blocks per game. He flashed signs of defensive greatness when he tallied seven blocks to go with 11 points and eight assists against the Bulls. He obviously won’t have that type of impact on a nightly basis, but, if he can give shades of that production, I’m sure the Warriors would be more than happy to find a permanent spot for him.
The final element to this equation is head coach Mark Jackson. It’s no secret that Mr. “Hand-down, Man-down”, was hired in Golden State to change the team’s culture. Defense was always an afterthought for the Warriors, but you better believe that under Jackson’s tenure, he will bring in guys that want to scrap on the defensive end. And Bazemore definitely fits that bill.
