That's the main problem with this team. The only one I can think of is Q. Nate may develop into that kind of player and possibly Lee. I don't see Frye, Crawford or Curry learning to play good d - they haven't shown that ability. The chances of Balkman or Jeffries becoming big scorers is, in my mind, doubtful.

The thing about basketball, as opposed to football is that you have to play well on both sides of the court. We have a couple of good defensive players in Jeffries and Balkman and a fair amount of good scorers. But Q is the only one who makes a significant contribution on offense and defense.

We need to get or develop players who can contribute both ways if we're going to become a contender.

D Lee is improving as a 2 way player, but you're right, other than Q we really don't have any true 2 way players on this team... it's all about wanting to & taking pride in playing defense... it's not as if Q Rich were reknowned as a defensive player when he got here... he put his mind to being a defender because he saw that we had no players that took pride in it, & now he's a good example for the younger kids to emulate.

i think Balkman will become a 2 way player once he improves on his offensive game... D Lee & Nate are easily capable & have the right mentality to become 2 way players, & Mardy does too if he ever gets the playing time to show it... not sure if Eddy & Craw will ever get it though... i do see some improvement out of Jamal on his 1 on 1 defense... he's been pretty good at getting steals & blocking shots this season in big moments.

What's the deal with Mardy? I really don't see how anyone even has an opinion of him.
He's averaging 2 min per game! I can't see how his name even comes up!

Thats why David Lee is the best player on this team.

Play well???? I think Curry plays ok on Defense and can play well at times, his help defense is what is lacking. BUt Curry does/did guard his man and make him take contested shots this and last season. Samething for nate, Lee and Frye. MOst players, championship teams do not have two way players. YOu telling me Wade is an great or good defender last year???? No he was ok at best, but along with his offensive abilties all you are looking for is him to be ok on D. He got some steals and some blocks and that was fine. I look at those great bulls teams and other then Jordan and Pippen, who were the aleast Good defenders and good scorers on the team??? Rodman, Kukico(I know it's wrong), Kerry, Paxson, Longly, Wennington, BJ armstrong............ only non-all time great I would consider a two way player on those teams was Horce Grant(Cartwright was when he was younger and barely during the Bulls first title).

Only thing a player needs to be on his weak side of the ball, is not to be a negative... outside of your superstars. We don't have a superstar, so I don't expect any player to be that good outside of one or two. As long our guys who are on the floor to Defend can hit a jumpshot or penetrated or Rebound or pass or fastbreak and our offensive players can get a steal or a block or can rebound or play some defense on there man, that's all you can ask for. Don't be a minus, do atlease two of those on your weak side of the ball and you are fine.



[Edited by - anji on 12-08-2006 10:17 AM]

Posted by Anji:

Play well???? I think Curry plays ok on Defense and can play well at times, his help defense is what is lacking. BUt Curry does/did guard his man and make him take contested shots this and last season. Samething for nate, Lee and Frye. MOst players, championship teams do not have two way players. YOu telling me Wade is an great or good defender last year???? No he was ok at best, but along with his offensive abilties all you are looking for is him to be ok on D. He got some steals and some blocks and that was fine. I look at those great bulls teams and other then Jordan and Pippen, who were the aleast Good defenders and good scorers on the team??? Rodman, Kukico(I know it's wrong), Kerry, Paxson, Longly, Wennington, BJ armstrong............ only non-all time great I would consider a two way player on those teams was Horce Grant(Cartwright was when he was younger and barely during the Bulls first title).

Only thing a player needs to be on his weak side of the ball, is not to be a negative... outside of your superstars. We don't have a superstar, so I don't expect any player to be that good outside of one or two. As long our guys who are on the floor to Defend can hit a jumpshot or penetrated or Rebound or pass or fastbreak and our offensive players can get a steal or a block or can rebound or play some defense on there man, that's all you can ask for. Don't be a minus, do atlease two of those on your weak side of the ball and you are fine.



[Edited by - anji on 12-08-2006 10:17 AM]

It's great to have 2-way players. And we do have only one in Q.
But I agree that team defense is more important that individual ability of each player.
We have a very bad couch in Tomas in this respect, he has no idea how to implement team defense.
Another problem is our players are almost all playing out of position and have natural disadvantages on defense.
This shows how bad is the job Tomas did in building this team and in avoiding the worst mismatch situations during the games

Player’s effort on defense is important but building the right personal and defensive system is much more important.
This team is brain-dead on defensive end and that why we have no chance to be consistent even if players will improve individually.
The fish is getting spoiled from the head...