Coach dismisses NFL comparisons for Draymond Green, Zion Williamson

The best clichés involve sports for a reason, especially those about defense. Unique similes and analogies follow closely behind. With the NFL Combine coming up soon, James Borrego brought up some Hall of Fame legends when he talked about how Herb Jones and Draymond Green controls the game. Zion Williamson got a mention to explain how The New Orleans Pelicans are hoping to get closer to playing on the front line moves forward before beating the Golden State Warriors.

Breaking down what makes elite defenders so rare and difficult to replicate. Finding a pair for a list is a a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“There are very few guys who have impacted the defensive end like Draymond Green in general in my 23 years in the NBA. His ability to communicate and put out fires is second to none. (Green) quarterbacks all over the defense. He’s as close to Lawrence Taylor like we’ve seen in the NBA,” Borrego began. “I mean, that outside linebacker guy, Mike Singletary, I think I’d put those two guys, that’s what Draymond has done for their defense.”

Green’s value extends far beyond the stats, something the Warriors regularly acknowledge when times get tough.

Word got out, even without Draymond shouting about it.

“Steve Kerr has said this many times. Without (Green), there is no championship,” Borrego noted. “He brings a different edge with his ability to communicate and talk, his physicality and the way he covers his teammates.”

Borrego sees a footballing soul mate in his own locker room. Jones, a 2022-23 All-Defensive First Team selection known as the NBA’s Not on Herb nightmare, possesses a similar instinctive mastery.

“(The Pelicans) have a guy like that, too. I think Herb Jones has that ability, that innate ability,” Borrego admitted. “I don’t even know if you can teach it. I don’t know where Draymond got it, and I don’t know where Herb got it. It’s probably a combination of growing up and how they grew up playing different sports.”

The attitude of Monsters of the Midway on the field or field helps. Most are born with it. Any coach who claims to have a competitive recipe that ends up being Draymond or Herb is either already rich and keeping an almost priceless secret or is cheating AAU parents.

“Maybe they had a coach along the way. Maybe it’s just a little bit of brainstorming, where they can see the fires before they start and put them out. (Green’s) ability to cover Steph and Klay, everything that happens in actions, it’s hard to find guys like that.”

When it comes to being in a class above, Draymond has earned the status of a one-name star reserved for the truly elite.

Borrego knows because he was in the NBA Hall of Fame for a while.

“I’ve been around some great defenders in Bruce Bowen and Kawhi Leonard. Individually, one-on-one, they’re incredible. Draymond is different for me because he’s more cerebral off the ball,” Borrego admitted. “He does this quarterback thing off the ball and changes things on the fly. It sounds like football, you hear it on the fly in the heat of battle. Most guys can’t do that. Herb Jones is probably the closest thing I’ve seen where he can go to a defense and kind of make it his own.”

For Jones, the game of football is transitioning from a disruptive outside linebacker to a classic middle linebacker. Any coach with eyes knows what to do with a lurking guy who predicts everything.

“Release him. (Jones) is a really special, really special player. Herb is who I would say defensively is that cerebral type of linebacker, middle linebacker, Brian Urlacherthose types of guys who can instinctively make plays. They have a sense of what’s going to happen and they deal with it.”

The analogies weren’t limited to other lines, but that’s why New Orleans is famous. Dome Patrol or dancing next to the parade, it doesn’t matter. When discussing rim protection, Borrego turned to the trenches, using DeAndre Jordan as the prime example of a nose tackle who controls the line of scrimmage.

“I think DeAndre Jordan was interesting,” Borrego continued. “I’m not sure where you’d put him there, but his ability to protect the rim, he’d be a carrier or a guy in the middle of the floor, like at the line of scrimmage. (Jordan) will have the line of scrimmage. To me, that’s how paint protection is put in the line of football. You really own the game. Those little margins, like the running game, are really important.”

As for Zion Williamson, like every other hot-headed talker, Borrego believes the forward’s rare blend of strength and athleticism would easily translate to the football field.

“And then (Williamson). I’ll probably find (a football comp) for Zion, too. I don’t have him in mind, just his ability to make spontaneous, athletic, power plays at any given time. Zion belongs on the football field, too. I mean, he could do it, you know, really as a defensive end.”

The Pelicans don’t need any more injury setbacks, so don’t expect Zion to match up with the Saints this summer. Halftime football is fun and games until someone gets hurt.