Dillingham earned praise from Finch for his effort on the defensive end, but that’s a work in progress.
“The physicality, getting over screens,” Finch said. “How NBA defense is, is nowhere near college or anywhere else. You really got to be able to practice this and do it to learn it, because it’s not something you can talk and tell someone how to do it.”
Conley has been giving him plenty of pointers, even with Dillingham being the the apparent heir to Conley at point guard. During five-on-five drills, Conley said he’ll stop and explain to Dillingham what he could be doing defensively. Conley said part of his responsibility is getting Dillingham ready for the future, both immediate and long-term.
“I’m telling him, ‘Hey, the screen’s coming’ and ‘Get your leg over this way,’ just trying to make sure he’s getting the stuff right in real time,” Conley said. “Because I know this will be his show, whether it’s now or six months or a year, whatever it is, it’s his thing.
“So he’s got to be able to process and be able to, for the moment, learn as much as he can.”