babyjax13 wrote:The Rebel wrote:babyjax13 wrote:
Really? Condescending? Mitchell shot like 30 percent this season when matched up against Craig (listen to the Locked on Jazz series preview if you want the exact statistic). I guess I hit a soft spot by coming here to talk basketball after your team lost, but to say it's condescending to make a contribution that no one has defended him better this season (and I watch a lot of Jazz games) seems petty.
Oh the locked on pod cast which is basically 2 former posters on these boards that try to sound like they watch every game while digging up stats, fact is that stat is wrong and anybody who actually watches the Nuggets knows it. Craig is an average defender and has not done well on Mitchell. Go actually watch the games.
As for condescending, yes it is condescending and truthfully flat out ignorant to come onto another team's board and talk trash about how your guy is not guard-able while ignoring the fact that our 2 best perimeter defenders are out.
To clarify, I meant the locked on Jazz podcast, which is Utah's radio analyst. And perhaps what I said was poorly worded. I mean to say that TC has done a terrific job on Mitchell in the regular season, better than anyone we've seen. He's absolutely locked him down, so having him guard Mitchell (along with Grant) seems like the right strategy. The hard doubles this last game did not work, but his shooting will come back down to earth. I think other than that, there really has not been a major problem with Malone's schemes, and after someone drops 57, I can't really blame them for thinking that slowing down our best scorer is the recipe to win.
I will agree that Craig has held Mitchell to 25% in the matchups, but Harris has held Mitchell to 0%. Look it up, Mitchell put up an ofer when guarded by Harris this year. Although both are very limited possessions. The previous year Harris held him to 20% shooting also in limited matchups.
Fact is Craig gives up 45.6% overall and 36.4% from 3 on defense. Harris this year gave up 40% shooting and 34% from 3, when Harris was on the court our defense net rating is 6.2 points better than it is with Craig on the court. Harris did it while guarding the opponents best perimeter scorer, Craig did it coming off the bench most nights.
Truth is Craig is not even close to the defender that Will Barton is. Our defense is 6.4 better with Barton than Craig, and Barton gives up 45.7% shooting and 33.2% from 3.
Craig is not even in the same ball park as Harris or Barton on defense and most of us that watch the Nuggets on a regular basis know it. Mitchell, Clarkson, and even Conley did not just get hot, we just have nobody that can cover them.