You are crazy if you think Tim Thomas is a better defender than Ariza.
I don't, I just forgot Ariza at the time I composed the list:
New List:
Marbury
TT or Q, take your pick.
JYD
Ariza
Big Hole at Center
How is Marbury a better defender than Nate? Nate has shown that he is willing to take charges, throw the 1 man press on, and really get after people. He has the bulk to make up for his size.
A better question would be: How is Nate a better defender than Marbury considering he hasn't yet played in the NBA? The answer would be: Noone can say, nobody knows yet. You are basing your opinion on Nate's excellent Summer League and (maybe) his college play, not one minute of NBA action. By the way, his excellent defensive play in the Summer League is a revelation for many because he was not considered a "stopper" or "defensive specialist" coming out of college. And there may be a reason for that, because yesterday a 6'3" guard named Fitch gave him a lot of trouble for stretch.
Remember, the guards in the NBA that Nate will be seeing will be much bigger, better, and stronger than what he is seeing now. He will take plenty of lumps as he matures in the NBA. Let's discuss this point again in mid-Novemeber.
Crawford is not a great defender in the half court set because he hasn't learned to play against bigger guys like Richard Hamilton does.
That is an understatement, he is a well below average half court defensive player.
However, he can be exactly like Larry Hughes on defense -- really get in passing lanes and cause alot of steals.
That is why Larry Hughes is overrated and Washington let him go. He gets a lot of steals but he doesn't play very "solid defense" (Way better than Jamal Crawford though.)
Solid Defense is forcing a team to take a poor shot and then claiming the rebound. Steals are nice and they can change a game at crucial moments. Don't get too caught up in steals numbers.
This is why I want him in that second unit because if we're pressing he would be great because he's long and very quick.
Yes, this is a possibility and JC does have what it takes to be a good steals man.
Good coaches implement systems that their players can thrive in and this defensive system, with the players around him (Nate, Ariza, JYD), will allow Crawford to really make some things happen on the defensive side of the ball.
Good coaches do suit their system to their players. Good coaches also realize that creating a system that depends on the "glamour plays" of defense do not a champion make.
Shotblocking is very important, especially if you are as weak as we are with perimeter defense. First off, if you have a shotblocker in the paint, it allows your perimeter guys to play tighter and be more aggressive going for steals. Look what happened to us last year when we had no perimeter defense and no shotblocker inside. Now, we will eventually need both which is why I want Badsen, but until then, a shotblocker will help us tremendously.
I do understand the role of shotblocking rather well, and it is not as critical as you would make it out to be. Shotblocking is what comes into play when your Solid Defense fails. I would rather try to shore up our perimeter defense. If your defense is always "going for steals" then your shotblockers will hate your perimeter defensive players. And once a good offensive team realizes you are "playing for shot blocks" you are dead.
But I will say this: having a good shotblocker is a wonderful luxury that I would like to have.
oohah
7/10/2005 2:23 PM
