Devan Harris (Baron cannot keep up with him).
Chris Paul (didn't see the last game Baron played against him, but know that Paul outscored and I believe out assisted him)
b]But who won the game? who cares if he had better numbers. Good/great players will get theres nightly.[/b]
That game. But what about the one before? Baron outscored (and outplayed him for 3 quarters) but Deron took over in the 4th when Baron couldn't touch him defensively. I'll venture to say that Monta could do a better job and this is not just speculation. Look at your TIVO of last year when they played. Nellie had Monta matched up against Paul and he played him close to even (for most of the game) both times.
Tony Parker (maybe Monta's toughest cover)
Deron Williams (Baron plays him about even but I'd give Williams the edge)
Great young player, who gives just about everyone trouble. I'd like to see what/if Monta can do any better.
Probably about even. Baron has had some decent games against him (see playoffs last year) but Monta can play him pretty decent also.
Kevin Martin (we know what Monta did to him) Don't tell me you think Monta played great D on him that night? Martin had an off night and was on a back to back. I guess no excuses, to have a bad night so Monta played great D
Monta completely shut him down although maybe his scoring on him is what overshadowed his defense on him. Yeah, a guy gets shut down and you say he's "had a bad day". He sure did but maybe it was due in a large way by the opposing player.
TJ Ford (another guy who's quick for Baron)
Chris Duhon (had the most prolific day of his career against Baron)
Yes. That's a weak article by Thompson (really more like a forum and it's weak too).
Rafer Alston really did well against Baron last time they played:
For what a quarter?
17 pts (averages 12), 8 rebounds and 12 assists? That's a lot of scoring for just one quarter.
Raymond Felton (thought he payed pretty well against him when they played last)
U gotta be kindin me right? You know we won this game by 30 right?
I meant Telfair. We lost by 1.
Leandro Barbosa (covered by Monta, too fast for Baron)
Mike Bibby (lit him up just the other day) Ok, I'll give you this one.
Andre Miller (always seems to play well against Baron) ?????
Always plays well against Baron (see last year and previous ones).
Overall, I think that Monta is more consistent defensively but the purpose of this poll is because of those who say that Monta is so bad defensively. Well, at the very least he would be no worse than second to Baron since Jack and Pietrus are not really playing much guard for us. As floppy said (and I believe Sleepy may have intimated), it's amazing how so many think Pietrus is such a "great" defender now, after all they've been saying about him all season.
All I have to say is watch Monta more closely on defense. When Nick Young, Bino, Mason, Duhon goes off on you somethings wrong. If you tivo the games, just watch Monta's defense and you'll start to notice he's terrible on defense. Ok terrible is being harsh, lets just say bad.
The bottom line is that Pietrus is a "good" defender with the potential to be "very good" some day. Monta although young and inexperienced, is already above average defensively and if not the best, is the second best defensive guard on this team and I say most definitely our best defender against guys like the Harris'es, the Parker's, the Paul's, and the Williams'es right at this moment.
Above average defender WOW. Are you sure you didn't mean above average offensively?
Yes he is. He's way above average offensively. I suppose you wish to dispute that too?
Our next game is Utah right. Ok, lets see who Monta starts on. Ill bet any money he starts on Brewer.
He probably will, partly because Baron would have trouble covering Brewer (he likes to leave his men wide open and Brewer can hit the open J and he feels Baron has a better chance against Williams and matches up strengthwise. If Monta is so bad, why doesn't Nellie do what he can to protect Monta by gearing his defense to protect him? Because Monta is not the weak link defensively on this team.
Why cause Nellie knows BD matches up better and Deron will eat up Monta.
Brewer had had very good games against us (averaged 18.5 against us compared to his season average of 11.9) and Monta was not even starting that second game (Bukie was probably the one who guarded him). BTW, that game
Deron scored 30 to Baron's 11.
Of course Monta would be second best. What other guard is getting significant minutes right now?
I think you to need to ask yourself why is no one else getting any minutes? Last game Monta played a full 48 (which was more than even Baron did) for the first time in his career. I think you ought to try and figure that one out.
I recommend you watch Monta more closely on defense. Tivo a few games and you'll sit a watch. Dont let Monta's offense blind you
quote[/b]
I do watch his defense as I do the rest of the teams including Baron's which many times is not very pretty. Because of Monta's youth and his ability to guard people one on one, people that no one on this team can really match up with (and that includes Baron) I overlook some of the mistakes he makes on occasion. Baron who has the ability to be an excellent defender just doesn't seem to take it as seriously as I know he can (the way he did against Dallas) and although he may be my favorite player, I cannot make excuses for him. At times he looks downright lazy and if he played his best on a more consistent basis, there wouldn't even a question as to whether he was an all star. Forget about second string, he should be first string with all of his ability. Monta gets just as much as he can out of that small body of his and I respect that in a player.
rone is falling quickly into pathetic territory... Young put one nice move on Tay and then ate it in the backcourt... then his hero BD guarded Young, switched to Mason, had Tay on Young for the final minutes... forced 2 TOs and shut the guy down...
