How will NBA call-ups impact the shorthanded Wisconsin Herd?

Wisconsin Herd’s defense lacks without Wenyen Gabriel and Jemerrio Jones

The Herd have been praised for their offensive abilities. In fact, the Herd are currently ranked as the G-League’s second-rated offense. However, the Herd have also had success on the defensive end.  Two players who were key to their defensive success, Jones and Gabriel, both received NBA call ups. In the second game of the Winter Showcase, the Herd began to run out of answers on the defensive end.

Gabriel has been a solid rim protector for the Herd. Averaging nearly two blocks per game, his excellence down gave the Herd the edge in scoring in the paint. However, in Gabriel’s absence, the protection in the paint dwindled. In the blowout loss to the Mad Ants, Fort Wayne was able to take the easy buckets without Wisconsin’s rim protector. In the end, the Mad Ants outscored the Herd in points in the paint by a 68-38 margin. That’s thirty more points in the paint than the Herd. Gabriel has been fantastic defending in the paint, and it is tough to say it would have been the same result if he was still with the Herd.

Jones has been an excellent rebounder for the Herd, but he is also a scrappy defender. Jones excels in putting pressure on opposing players and forcing mistakes. In fact, Jones averaged nearly two steals per game with the Herd. While his protection around the rim left something to be desired, his presence on the perimeter was a key component in Wisconsin’s defensive scheme. In the game against the Mad Ants, the lack of Jones’ defensive presence was apparent. It is tough to replicate a scrappy defender such as Jones, and the Herd will be searching for answers in his absence.

Gabriel and Jones were some of the most important pieces to Wisconsin’s defensive scheme. Without those two defenders, the Herd were unable to stop opponents from shooting at a high clip. There are plenty of options on the team who are well-rounded defensive players, but the level of production from Jones and Gabriel may not be able to be matched.

Tucker, Gabriel, Waters, and Jones have joined the list of NBA hopefuls who have been given an opportunity in the league. While they may not make a lasting impact on their respective NBA teams, their impact on the Wisconsin Herd will be missed while they are in the NBA.