How to Steal like Dyson Daniels
Daniels has been one of the best perimeter defenders this season.
Dyson Daniels has been the pestiest of pests in his third NBA season.
The Atlanta Hawks guard is often assigned the opposing team’s best player and he often irritates the heck out of them.
He’s all up in their personal space, just constantly trying to swipe the ball out of their hands.
For instance, there was one play on Mar. 3, 2025 -the final play of the game, actually- where Daniels hounded a driving Memphis Grizzlies’ Desmond Bane in the final seconds of the game.
The match was tied and Bane tried to get his team the lead. But as he drove, Daniels snaked his long, wiry arms across Bane, and poked the ball into his possession, where he passed the ball ahead to a charging Caris Levert.
Levert did a basic Eurostep to avoid his defender and sank a buzzer-beating layup to put the Hawks up two (and to win the game).
Daniels does this type of stuff every game. That’s why he’s averaging an NBA-high 3.0 steals a game.
But how is he such a good stealer?
Well, apparently, he just has really good instincts.
Daniels talked to ESPN’s Mikala Andrews in December of 2024 and told her that he’s a good defender because of his instincts and quick hands.
“I think it’s always been my instincts, you know? Following the basketball, you know, using my hands, having good hands. I like to think I have really good hand-eye coordination. So, just knowing where the balls going to be, knowing what defenders like to do, reading the game as well, being in the right spots. So, it’s always been a strength of mine on the defensive end is, you know, getting deflections, fetting steals, getting blocks, stuff like that. So, for me, it’s just about being in the right spot and taking the challenge of guarding the best player every night.”
Daniels was also featured in an NBA segment where he talked about his defensive strategies.
He said one of the things he likes to do is make his opponents uncomfortable by getting his arms on their hips and poking at the ball.
“They haven’t dribbled yet, so it’s about getting into their body. The hips are the most vulnerable part, so if I’m able to get my hand here -they’re usually on the back floor- I’m poking the ball, I’m poking behind and I’m just trying to make them uncomfortable.”
“The Great Barrier Thief” is currently first in deflections per game, deflections per 36 minutes, and deflections totals.
Do you think he can win DPOY this season?
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Now, back to the story…
Random Thought
Jaylin Williams deserves more minutes!
The Oklahoma City Thunder big man, one week after posting his first triple-double in the NBA, did it again, but with more pizazz.
In a dominant 133-100 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, J-Will recorded 19 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists in just under 38 minutes of play.
And the play time is the most important factor here.
The third-year forward has only played more than 25 minutes a game a handful of times this season. But when he did, he put up solid numbers. In six games, he averaged 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
And when you extend his minutes to 30 or more, he does even better. He competed in 3 games where he played 30 or more minutes and he averaged 13.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 8.3 assists.
However, could he sustain these numbers if he were to play a lot of minutes consistently and with the stars in the game?
We don’t know.
And that’s the thing with his situation -we don’t know what he’s capable of. We don’t know what J-Will could do because he doesn’t get enough playing time.
He could be the next Vlade Divac or Chris Webber for all we know.
That’s why he should get more minutes so we can see his skills put to the test.
And I personally would like to see him pass.
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