Reggie Jackson's defense

[El Chivo]

In every thread we talk about the fact he can't guard point guards and KCP needs to fill his role.

Is it fair to allow Jackson not playing defense at all? Is he a superstar on offense? Nope.

Why should we keep justifying his unacceptable defense?

[dVs33]

I think every fan would love reggie to get better so that SVG doesn't have to put KCP on the better PGs, but what's the solution?

[zeebneeb]

This is one topic that really bugs the crap out of me. Reggie is fantastic on the offensive end of the floor and a late game killer. He has that end of game mentality that I love, and knows how to run a team and just got better, and better as the season went on.

His defense? It really is putrid. I can't justify it at all and it really seems like an effort thing with him. He has all the physical tools so he should be even an average defender and yet, time after time he goes under the screen when he should have went over, or ~.

I have hope though. I watched RIP go from just a terrible defender to a serviceable one that learned to funnel his man to the middle, and stick to them.

The one thing I do know is that when Reggie is getting burned, he does go right back at his man on the other end but that's not good enough. He has to improve.

[BadMofoPimp]

SVG with Jameer went to multiple ECF and a Finals appearance while Meer was worse than Reggie on defense from what I have seen thus far. Most PG's are not very good on defense as they are on offense. Reggie will be fine once the team chemistry allows an effective team defense to develop. This doesn't happen overnight.

[MotownMadness]

He just doesn't try is his main problem. Not sure why he doesn't receive more criticism than he does to be honest.

[DBC10]

SVG with Jameer went to multiple ECF and a Finals appearance while Meer was worse than Reggie on defense from what I have seen thus far. Most PG's are not very good on defense as they are on offense. Reggie will be fine once the team chemistry allows an effective team defense to develop. This doesn't happen overnight.

Jameer had a great 3 point stroke and Dwight's monstrous defense to keep that in check though. But you're right, that Magic team arguably had worse defense, but I think having Howard man the paint really alleviated most issues because how beastly he was.

We don't have that with Dre, since he'll never be an elite defender IMO. The only defender capable of maybe becoming elite is KCP but he's perimeter oriented. We don't have an actual guy that can take over like that.

[DBC10]

He just doesn't try is his main problem. Not sure why he doesn't receive more criticism than he does to be honest.

Which is funny, since most elite PGs have great offense and an average defense. RJ has neither. A very good offense but piss poor defense that sometimes disrupts the flow.

I really do think if he doesn't make huge improvements on both ends, especially defense, I can maybe see a trade happening.

[Kilo]

Completely a layman watching on television but I think he has physical issues - he sweats a ton and his hands go numb/cold so he has to wear heated hunting gloves when out of the game. Sweating makes me thing he overheats easily and thus can't give max effort on both ends so coasts/slacks on defensive end, and numb/cold hands makes me think he has a circulatory issue. Now surely he has had doctors look him over, and it's nothing life threatening or even nothing they can do about it anyway and for a non-professional athlete it would never remotely be an issue in their lives.

I think Reggie is a 6th man, combo guard off the bench ideally. Where he can come into the same in spurts and give max effort at both ends and guard the 2-guard some times so he doesn't have to worry about the dribble and guarding the ball 50%+ of the shotclock a lot of the possessions.

[whitehops]

i'm not going to go as far as kilo but i think part of it definitely has to do with conditioning. in the playoffs i thought he played with effort on the defensive end and he looked solid.

despite our backup PG situation being mediocre at best RJ played the least minutes of all our starters and often looked tired at the end of games (sweating like crazy, breathing heavily, etc.). it was his first season as a starter and he had a huge role in our offense so it's somewhat understandable.

hopefully he works on his conditioning so he can play with more effort on defense.

[detroitKG]

Pretty sure he has asthma doesn't he? So he's probably working with a little less lung capacity than the normal person. His problem is technique and yes at times the willingness to get down and defend.

[coordinator0]

Jackson makes Detroit's offense go. Reggie isn't a superstar but he's still the single most important factor on the offensive end for the Pistons. Drummond doesn't even affect that side of the ball as much. Some of that last season was the dropoff between Jackson and Blake, but it's not like Smith is going to be a huge upgrade in scoring points of as a defensive replacement.

Reggie's defense is awful but the Pistons have to live with it. I think it's pretty much an assumed fact at this point. Unless Detroit trades him for a point guard who can actually defend yet can still make/carry the offense (which they aren't going to since those guys won't be available) then they have to build around that weakness.

[El Chivo]

To me he'said a good starter with a reasonable contract. I hope ish could take him off part of the burden and some minutes.

I want acceptable defense from every single player on the court.

[theBigLip]

Time to trade him for Westbrook (sort of joking)

[DBC10]

Time to trade him for Westbrook (sort of joking)

I'd do it. Russ is a legit superstar and a trip doub threat even if he would be a one year rental. Sell him on the culture here and get a long term deal done.

I'm surprised more noise hasn't been made on this. Maybe due to lack of assets.

[Laimbeer]

I'd like to see Ish get a good amount of burn. Not only would Reggie be fresher, he'd see someone Stan can go to if he isn't playing hard/well.

[DetroitSho]

Time to trade him for Westbrook (sort of joking)

I'd do it. Russ is a legit superstar and a trip doub threat even if he would be a one year rental. Sell him on the culture here and get a long term deal done.

I'm surprised more noise hasn't been made on this. Maybe due to lack of assets.

I've certainly made this argument before

[coordinator0]

I'd like to see Ish get a good amount of burn. Not only would Reggie be fresher, he'd see someone Stan can go to if he isn't playing hard/well.

This makes sense in a vacuum, but Jackson only played just under 31 minutes on average last season. Not sure the team can really afford for him to sit more than that. It's on Reggie to improve his conditioning. I think it will just because his body will be more used to it since last season was his first being a full-time starter, but if it's a physical issue where he can't then the Pistons might be in a bit of trouble if a secondary playmaker doesn't emerge (looking at you Stanley). Smith is better than Blake but he's still not great.

[mattao313]

i'm not going to go as far as kilo but i think part of it definitely has to do with conditioning. in the playoffs i thought he played with effort on the defensive end and he looked solid.

I agree with this he was at least trying in the PO's getting out to contest and even holding his own in the post on switches.

But the thing with Reggie in the regular season is he does nothing good on defense. He gives poor effort and gets stuck on screens constantly. Plus he doesn't get steals either he is basically a place holder on defense.

I also agree with El Chivo he doesn't have to he elite or anything but I can live with him just being close to average.

[Pharaoh]

Conditioning is the issue IMO and one of the reasons I mentioned the fact it was his FIRST full season as a starter.

Same for Mook too really

[mattao313]

Reggie was terrible on defense in OKC and he was a reserve there. I think its more effort than conditioning.