Defense

[C.lupus]

Let's talk about what passes for defense with the Timberwolves. It is an abomination, we all know that. I'm curious what or who you all feel is the root cause.

Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Luke Ridnour, Jonny Flynn are all poor defenders. Kurt Rambis' defensive scheme looks terrible with guys just standing around in no man's land. Are Rambis' schemes just bad? Is Rambis trying to adjust his defense to cover for his poor defenders at most positions? Are players like Love worse defenders because of Rambis? Is it something else? It's probably a chicken-egg debate but I'm curious to hear other takes because, frankly, I don't know.

What say you?

[TDWOLVESFAN]

Yes Rambis' defensive scheme is lame and its flaws are more glaring with the players he is trying to use it with. Everyone who is not on the ball has one foot in the paint or near the paint leaving the passing lanes. Then we have to scramble to close out on the 3 pt shooters. Most of our players are not quick enough to cover that much ground that quickly and others don't even recognize or see the play developing so they don't react at all so they are standing in no man's land.

We also have a number of players who do not take an interest in playing good defense or maybe just can not stay focused on their defensive assignments.

AGAIN - as many of us have said before we need to hire a coach or assistant coach that can teach defensive techniques and schemes before next season.

[collin_k41]

It's a combination of things. We have a few poor defenders but I don't think our defensive schemes help at all. You'd think as a coach you'd try to take the defensive approach that allows your players to maximize their abilities, or lack thereof but I don't think that's happening. There are times where I think we play actually decent defense though, so a lot of it might be effort related. I mean, it's been the same old story all season for the Wolves, I can't blame them much for lowering their defensive intensity at this point in the year. These guys have been going at it all year with not much to show for it. I wish, for their sakes, that they could see team improvement. Anyways, here's my list of reasons for poor defense in descending order:

1. Lack of effort, effort is the bottom line in defense. You can have all the skills in the world but if you don't put in effort on the defensive end you're going to stink at it. Plain and simple.
2. Rambis' schemes
3. Poor defenders. Luke is out-muscled by bigger PG's, Jonny doesn't try, Beas isn't quick enough to guard the quicker SF's, Love lacks size and athleticism, etc.

[GeorgiaWolf]

I think all of Rambis' coaching evolves around a system that he developed/learned while with tthe Lakers and it worked for them. What doesn't work is this system with this group of players. A good coach would adjust but Rambis keeps throwing the same stuff against the wall an d nothing really sticks...

[Piecake]

I think all of Rambis' coaching evolves around a system that he developed/learned while with tthe Lakers and it worked for them. What doesn't work is this system with this group of players. A good coach would adjust but Rambis keeps throwing the same stuff against the wall an d nothing really sticks...

I dont know, I think the offense definitely has adapted to the players more this year. We are using a lot more pick and role, because that is simply what Love and our PGs are very good at. Maybe next year he adapts the defensive scheme.

There are games where we have played good defense. The problem is is that those are few and far between. I dont know what that really means though. Is our effort just not there and the vast majority of nights? Or is it a problem with our crappy defenders and scheme that they have to put a supreme amount of effort to make the defense passable?

[B Calrissian]

It's a combo of players and Rambis. With bad perimeter defenders and Rambis having them pack the paint it's a wonder we win any games.

I've criticized Love in the past about being a lazy sob on defense but this year he seems to be trying.

On the whole roster who is even considered an average defender? Webster, Tolliver, and Darko?

[funkatron101]

We see the same "mistakes" over and over again. I don't think it's really on the players.

It's hard for us to really say though, unless we actually see them in practice.

[C.lupus]

The scientist in me wants to see the controlled experiment putting good defenders into Rambis' system and putting a proven defensive coach on this team. Watching Love sag off his man to stay by the basket (thus getting better rebounding opportunities) it just makes me wonder how much is player and how much is coach. Love's lack of lateral quickness would certainly make a coach come up with a scheme that has him sag so he doesn't get burned on the perimeter so that kind of makes sense. On the other hand, they all seem to do that, too and it's obvious that it doesn't work so there probably is more to it.

If it is a lack of effort, then Rambis really needs to take a different approach to his "teaching" because his method obviously isn't working.

IDK, I'm rambling. I would just like to see what this system is supposed to look like...

[LordBaldric]

Some guy on Canis who was allowed to attend practice before the Lakers game said Rambis specifically instructed them to sag off the Laker bigs on the perimiter. Toliver asked "even Lamar Odom?" and Rambis said yes. It's like the guy isn't aware that a 3 point shot exists.

What I would give to switch him for Tom Thibideau. He has totally transformed the Bulls into a defensive beast using essentially the same players they had last year.

[Cyborg21]

Defense you say? DEFENSE!? WHERE!? It requires too much effort and doesn't look cool.

[john2jer]

Kurt Rambis is essentially a JV coach. He's teaching a system, no matter the players, with the mindset that this it's what the Varsity coach runs, and he's preparing those players to be ready if they ever actually get Varsity minutes. Most likely it will be in a blowout.

[Krapinsky]

Well we have a roster that contains arguably the three worst defenders in the league at their respective position -- Love, Beasley, Flynn. Hard to be a good defensive team with those guys getting heavy rotational minutes.

Beasley and Flynn need to go in my opinion. Move Johnson and Webster to SF. Find a SG that can play some D.

[Devilzsidewalk]

too much helping in the paint, I'd rather take my chances off the dribble than the broken record of getting crushed on threes

[AQuintus]

At this point I would say that it's 20% players and 80% scheme/coaching. Just look at Chicago and New Orleans.

Last year under Vinny Del Negro, the Bulls were 13th in the league with 99.1 OPPG, this year under Thibodeau and with arguably a worse defensive team (Brad Miller switched with Boozer and losing Hinrich), they're 1st with 91.5 OPPG.

The Hornets were 21st in the league (102.7 OPPG) under Bower, and now they're 3rd (92.5) under Monty Williams. Obviously coaching matters a lot on defense.

With that said, I think that we could be a good, above average defensive team with the right coaching, but not a great defensive team due to personnel.

Edit: split it up a little to make it more readable