I don't understand why teams are just now realizing that it is a vital part of the game. They have spent so many years trying to go for tall players with no lateral movement, while forgeting the importance of wingspan. I can't believe that it had to take Detroit winning the championship to highlight that point. I don't know if you all can remember this, but during the Chicago years as champion, Scotty, Rodman, and Jordan anchored the defense mainly because of their reach. They had long arms and always had an advantage on whomever they were garding. Tall players use a lot of energy specially when it comes to speed. However, when you are a little shorter with a gigantic wingspan, you can still be fast, but very agile with the hands.

I am so glad that Isiah has taken the time and begin to invest on players with long arms. One reason why Anderson is such a poor defender is because his reach is not that long. For a player that gambles as much as he does defensively, his reach should be a very vital part of his game.

Can someone please tell me how much of a wing span that TT has? Perhaps that is the reason why he is not such a good defender/rebounder.

Sweetney has excellent wingspan, great rebounder, decent defender for now.

That new guy (TA) we just drafted will be a very good defender/rebounder.

I hope that this philosophy is retained by Isiah when looking for the FAs that we may get a crack at. Another thing that I hope that he will also consider is ability to palm the ball.

Phil Jackson was one of the early players who possessed that physical trait. Holzman used him to guard the inbound pass, and obviously it's an aid in rebouding and post defense.

Long arms: wing span, is important but they can only be used if a player is talented enough to use them. Talent is always more important than physical attributes.

I am by no stretch of the imagination a Shandon Anderson fan, but he is not a poor defender. He is a very good defender off the ball and an above average defender on the ball. He is terrible offensively, but he is probably our best perimeter defender


i beg to differ penny showed me something last year....i think he is a better defender than anderson

Posted by kNYks342:

I am by no stretch of the imagination a Shandon Anderson fan, but he is not a poor defender. He is a very good defender off the ball and an above average defender on the ball. He is terrible offensively, but he is probably our best perimeter defender


i beg to differ penny showed me something last year....i think he is a better defender than anderson

i think penny is our smartest defender, he is very good at overplaying the passing lanes/sensing his opponent's moves, etc,the things that come with being in the league and being a star player at one point. but against more athletic 2's and 1's, i think anderson is better. he has better lateral movement than penny and is quicker to getting to his defender. but i do agree with you to some extent, if the game was on the line id probably rather have penny guarding the go-to-guy than anderson on the last play.

I can't believe that after all that we have been through this year, we still have people saying that Shanndon fvking Anderson is a great defender. That in my opinion is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard. Shandon is garbage.

He's such a great defender than Isiah's phone is ringing off the hook with people who want to trade for him.

Posted by Silverfuel:

Long arms: wing span, is important but they can only be used if a player is talented enough to use them. Talent is always more important than physical attributes.

i agree 100% Anthony Bonner had long arms, so what?...you need talent to go w/ur physical attributes.