June 16, 2014

Fewer muscles.

Amongst the leaders in the nation in blocks, and one of the tallest players in the nation, Chiles looks enticing enough on paper. Dig a bit deeper, though, and there are plenty of questions.

The most noticeable question is his rebounding. Chiles's 6.5 boards per game is only second on the team, behind the 6'8 per game of 6'5 Anthony Hubbard, who also plays 28.5 minutes per game - Chiles rebounds the same per 40 minutes (9.2) as 6'6 Cedric Blossom (9.1), and is only a fraction ahead of 6'9 Shaquille Duncan, the most ideally name big man in basketball history. This is also on a high tempo team - in rebounds per game per 40 minutes pace adjusted, Chiles ranks a lowly 333rd. For all his height, Chiles does not do enough work on the glass.

The biggest problem here is his lack of strength. Chiles is a decent athlete and stiflingly long, but he is thin and slender, far too easy to strip the ball from and move off the spot. He is pushed out the way too easily and cannot push back - moreover, he does not compete enough on the boards. Indeed, in all aspects of his game, Chiles's effort can be found wanting. He can loaf over halfcourt, does not box out hard or consistently, is extremely reluctant to come out and defend the perimeter, does not close out hard, and can be beaten off the dribble from there even when sagging right off. He ballwatches, reaches lazily, leaves his feet too readily, doesn't move them fast enough, doesn't do his work early enough, and fatigues rather easily. Much as Chiles has improved considerably over his four seasons, these concerns remain.

What Chiles does have is two key skills - the ability to protect the rim on help defense, and an unblockable lefty hook shot. This is his weapon every trip down. Through his height alone, he is a target down low, someone the team can always throw the ball over the top to, even if he hasn't the strength to easily seal off his man or the awareness to create the best angle for an entry pass. Chiles is a bit of a one trick pony down low with no obvious counter to the lefty hook, and little offense away from the basket, no handle or jumpshot and a poor free throw stroke on which he leans back unnecessarily. He doesn't however really need many counters. However predictable it is, the lefty hook is an efficient weapon and one he can always get off. Chiles struggles when double teamed in the post, yet he has been hampered by being on a team with poor overall floor spacing and no true point guard. He nevertheless can hit a cutter and is a useful tool in a half court offense.

At 7'2 with long limbs, a defensive presence and a consistent offensive weapon, Chiles will draw interest and should play the game for many years. But as ever, shot blocks are not defense alone.

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