This is actually very helpful to see. I tend to think that Frank looks like he's in the right spots defensively. The previous Heat meltdown, I am pretty sure FK was screened by his own player on both KO 3s to open the 4th. I didn't think then it was Frank (though I defer to others if history proves that an incorrect memory) but since there's a narrative that he's not good on defense, that's the majority of the coach-in-waiting-callers to local AM radio. Somehow, over time, that becomes truth and that then becomes a hurdle to overcome. There's a lot to be said about playing your lane well and having to overcome bad play to do so. Like you said, that doesn't make him a plus defender, but it doesn't make him the minus defender he's labelled.
To me, there are big advantages to playing FK down the stretch (pretty much the whole 4th) at the 5, with alternating MKG and Marvin at the 4 is what I would so love to see this team run. It alleviates that concern above of having 4 on 3 defensive covers on any pressure inbound for us and it stretches the floor offensively. Additionally, I have 100% confidence on Frank putting the ball on the floor on a full sprint if our game depends on it. I know Dwight loves to do this himself but he's not fool enough to try that with game on the line and 30 seconds to go. Not saying you need your PF/C to do this, just painting the remarkably stark delta between those guys and who you'd want on the court with 5 mins left in the 4th up or down a possession. And unlike Nic, Frank doesn't seem to run from big moments, he'll put up the kill shot but won't do so without regard to if it's the right shot (looking at you Lamb).
Yeah I gave up bothering to point out the inconsistencies when for whatever reason Kaminsky's solid defense as a C in late January through early March somehow retroactively morphed into a sieve by July. For real, that was one of the most brutal scheduling stretches in CHA history yet the Hornets were fine defensively and Frank was better there than at PF against benches.
Which again, doesn't make him a plus defender but the inconsistencies in the narrative should at least raise questions. It also says a lot about Lin, Marco, Sessions, Monk, Roberts, indirectly Marvin, and our relative lack of knowledge about defense compared to offense.
And IMO front court defense is overrated while backcourt defense is one of basketball's most underrated skills (as is the offense-defense dependency).
Plus defensively with Lin and length of Lamb, Batum
Minus defensively with Sessions and Marco et al...
Fine defender in connected lineups as a starting C
Terrible with Monk and Lamb
Plus defensively with MCW (go figure)
Neutral or better than Marvin in like-lineups, although confounding variables certainly apply.