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McGraw: We need interior D more than O
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:47 pm
by TB#1
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=117751
But watching the Bulls the past few weeks, I've come to a different conclusion on how to improve the team. They don't need Gasol and don't necessarily need an interior scorer.
More than anything, the Bulls need an interior defender.
The numbers speak for themselves. In 13 games since Jim Boylan took over as head coach, the Bulls are averaging 102.4 points and shooting 45.3 percent from the field.
Offense is not the problem. When the Bulls keep the ball moving, they can score plenty of points.
The biggest issue lately might be the Bulls' inability to defend the 3-point line. They are second worst in the league at opponents' 3-point percentage (.383) and have scored 62 fewer 3-point baskets than the opposition.
There are different reasons for this failure, but a big one is the Bulls' perimeter players leave too often to give help down low.
Wallace is a four-time defensive player of the year, but he's getting older and can only do so much at 6-feet-8. It's also safe to say that Joe Smith is not as strong an interior defender as last year's version, P.J. Brown, though Smith has been far better offensively.
So how do the Bulls solve this issue? Gasol doesn't figure to help, since Memphis might be the NBA's worst defensive team. In a loss at Charlotte on Saturday, the Bobcats hit 17 of 21 shots against the Grizzlies in the third quarter, with 14 of those baskets coming either on layups or dunks, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The first thing the Bulls can do is make Thabo Sefolosha a permanent starter and see what happens to the defense with Sefolosha and Hinrich on the floor at the same time.
The 6-7 Sefolosha handled the job fairly well while Hinrich was out with back spasms. The Switzerland native messes with people on defense because of his freakishly long arms. There are people who would be exhausted traveling the distance between Sefolosha's elbows and palms.
The Bulls could try to acquire another interior defender. New Jersey's Jason Collins isn't bad, and his $6 million salary is thought to be available. Dallas' DeSagana Diop will be a free agent this summer, but it likely would take more than the midlevel exception to pry him away from Mark Cuban.
This isn't going to be popular, but it's possible the Bulls' best option is to sit tight and hope that Joakim Noah's lateral quickness and Tyrus Thomas' shot-blocking become defensive forces in the next few years.
Go ahead and criticize general manager John Paxson for "falling in love" with his own creation. At least this nucleus of players has been beyond the first round of the playoffs. No sense blowing things to smithereens just yet.
There could be deals available before the Feb. 21 trade deadline, but many would just create more holes in the Bulls' already-flawed lineup.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:50 pm
by mysteryfan
He's got a point. We do give up a lot of three point shots.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:53 pm
by DASMACKDOWN
Ummmm Tyrus Thomas maybe?
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:55 pm
by Wingy
DASMACKDOWN wrote:Ummmm Tyrus Thomas maybe?
What? He's a raw, project bust who needs to be traded ASAP before the rest of the league figures out what a big bust he is.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:57 pm
by MissileMike
Yeah... He doesn't come out and say it, but as we all know, the problem is Wallace. With Noah and TT in the paint, the interior defense would be very good, ICLHO
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:04 pm
by molepharmer
The answer sits on the bench.
Didn't Tyrus lead the league last year as the most outstanding defensive player (link needed) ? - a list with past winners that included players like Tim Duncan, Camby, Wallace, etc.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:05 pm
by bentheredengthat
^^rebounding would be improved as well - as CL would also tell you.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:06 pm
by tclg
yeah there was a long list of hall of famers on there or future ones
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:12 pm
by DASMACKDOWN
Yeah, its so irritating how the media keeps avoiding the actually problem of Ben Wallace. I guess if we did trade Tyrus, they will say, we have no shotblockers and mobile frontline guys.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:13 pm
by coldfish
I swear McGraw comes up with articles out of these forums. Several of us have been railing about our interior defense for weeks now. Obviously, I agree with a lot of what is written in this article.
In order for a defensive specialist center to be effective, he has to hold his man down while also helping defend against cutting perimeter players. That's what guys like Camby and Duncan do and even Wallace used to. On Chicago, the perimeter players are having to help the post guys. It has completely wrecked the Bulls scheme and has gone on all year.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:15 pm
by tclg
yeah it just makes no sense how the defense has regressed so much that we give up 100 point in almost half our games
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:18 pm
by derf
If Sefelosha is ready to produce on a nightly basis, then a three guard rotation of Thabo Ben and Kirk solves all of the Bulls back court issues. After all isn't that why Thabo was drafted in the first place? This would be a huge development.
That would leave only one hole (Post scorer). McGraw is right it is way too early to blow up this team. I disagree about Gasol though I think out of all "available" players in the league Gasol is the best fit.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:19 pm
by DuckIII
I think its an excellent article. I'm still very open to acquiring Gasol, but I think McGraw makes some excellent points:
The first thing the Bulls can do is make Thabo Sefolosha a permanent starter and see what happens to the defense with Sefolosha and Hinrich on the floor at the same time.
The 6-7 Sefolosha handled the job fairly well while Hinrich was out with back spasms. The Switzerland native messes with people on defense because of his freakishly long arms. There are people who would be exhausted traveling the distance between Sefolosha's elbows and palms.
Obviously. Too bad our coach is an idiot.
The Bulls could try to acquire another interior defender. New Jersey's Jason Collins isn't bad, and his $6 million salary is thought to be available. Dallas' DeSagana Diop will be a free agent this summer, but it likely would take more than the midlevel exception to pry him away from Mark Cuban.
No reason to trade for one. Because:
This isn't going to be popular, but it's possible the Bulls' best option is to sit tight and hope that Joakim Noah's lateral quickness and Tyrus Thomas' shot-blocking become defensive forces in the next few years.
Its a popular idea in my brain, Mike. My biggest fear regarding this season is not that the Bulls have a bad year. Its that they try to salvage a bad year by trading away too much of the future.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:19 pm
by Magilla_Gorilla
How about we just stop doubling every scrub who sets up in the post?
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:27 pm
by DuckIII
Magilla_Gorilla wrote:How about we just stop doubling every scrub who sets up in the post?
Thats the obvious solution. The thing is, McGraw seems to be of the opinion that the doubling-down is a recent happening because of recently ineffective interior defense. Its not.
Duhon, Hinrich and Nocioni have been doubling-down with reckless abandon for years. Its the coaching strategy and its stupid.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:33 pm
by dflaschberger
of course, depends on the price for gasol. Look at what we have for the next 8 years, if we want
Thabo/ben
kirk/ben
deng/noc
TT/noc
Noah/gray
That is still an awesome collection of young talent. That's a perfect 8 man rotation. IF duhon were happy with a reduced role, we could keep him. We will also be able to draft a young big to have one more guy there.
That group is versitile and sufficient to develop together. I think we know what we have with all of them except thabo and TT. they NEED minutes. However, as of now, let's make the playoffs and take our chances, unless a great deal comes along.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:20 pm
by molepharmer
molepharmer wrote:The answer sits on the bench.
Didn't Tyrus lead the league last year as the most outstanding defensive player (link needed) ? - a list with past winners that included players like Tim Duncan, Camby, Wallace, etc.
Found link and post by fleetwood in early June '07....
Season-by-Season Leaders for Defensive Rating
Season Lg Name DRtg
2006-07 NBA Tyrus Thomas 92.8
2005-06 NBA Tim Duncan 94.4
2004-05 NBA Tim Duncan 93.2
2003-04 NBA Ben Wallace 87.5
2002-03 NBA Ben Wallace 90.0 ....
But since that time, basketball-reference has stipulated player must have >1640 minutes played which removes Tyrus from being #1
http://www.basketball-reference.com/lea ... early.html and replaces him with Tim Duncan's 94.46.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:23 pm
by tclg
So they set the bar at 20 min a game. I think that is fair but it is amazing that tyrus defensive rating is so low
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:07 pm
by p_s
DuckIII wrote:Duhon, Hinrich and Nocioni have been doubling-down with reckless abandon for years. Its the coaching strategy and its stupid.
I think it was Doug Collins who said during the broadcast of a Bulls game that doubling down is a foolish strategy. There are only a few guys that require a double down. By my count, it's only Shaq, Howard, and maybe, Duncan. Otherwise, you are best served to play everyone straight up.
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:10 pm
by Rerisen
It doesn't really matter what interior defense we would get if we continue to play Ben 30+ minutes a night. Why don't we try the guys we have on the bench first and then evaluate how the interior defense stands?
Play Noah, Tyrus and Thabo some more and we might look a bit different.
It's not like the guards have been doing a good job either, or even Noc and Deng for that matter. Our defense has been poor and porous most of the season all the way around.