The Elton Brand effect

[geiger]

Leading the league in steals as a team doesn't make you a good defensive team. In fact, often times it means you give up more defensive possessions and gamble a lot, but aren't very good defensively overall. You know which two teams led the NBA in steals last season? Denver and Golden State - both terrible defensive teams. Sixers were 4th.

Where were the best defensive teams in the league ranked in steals? San Antonio was 26, Detroit was 17, Dallas was 29, Cleveland was 18. Celtics were 5th and Lakers were 6th, but their man to man defense was stellar - steals didn't come from gambling or mutliple possessions given up.

Iverson no longer plays any defense. I love the guy, but he gets physically abused by bigger, stronger guards, and he doesn't stay in front of the smaller, quicker guards. He allows players to get in the lane and then gambles for steals. Most of the time, it leads to him being beaten for easy buckers or forces the big men to get off their man to guard the lane, leading to easy buckets for bigs or foul trouble. It helps the big men on his team increase their shot block totals, but it leads to bad team defense, more offensive rebounds given up, more defensive possessions, etc.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

Leading the league in steals as a team doesn't make you a good defensive team. In fact, often times it means you give up more defensive possessions and gamble a lot, but aren't very good defensively overall. You know which two teams led the NBA in steals last season? Denver and Golden State - both terrible defensive teams. Sixers were 4th.

Where were the best defensive teams in the league ranked in steals? San Antonio was 26, Detroit was 17, Dallas was 29, Cleveland was 18. Celtics were 5th and Lakers were 6th, but their man to man defense was stellar - steals didn't come from gambling or mutliple possessions given up.

Iverson no longer plays any defense. I love the guy, but he gets physically abused by bigger, stronger guards, and he doesn't stay in front of the smaller, quicker guards. He allows players to get in the lane and then gambles for steals. Most of the time, it leads to him being beaten for easy buckers or forces the big men to get off their man to guard the lane, leading to easy buckets for bigs or foul trouble. It helps the big men on his team increase their shot block totals, but it leads to bad team defense, more offensive rebounds given up, more defensive possessions, etc.

The Lakers man to man D was "stellar"? Nah, the Celtics gave the Lakers an 04 Pistons like ass kicking. And the Celtics man to man D? Nah, the Celtics were simply the best defensive zone team in the league.

[Flash4thewin]

AI might go play euro ball for the money, who would blame him considering the money they can throw around.

[geiger]

He can fill the stands in the US - imagine him in Europe. I'm just not sure there is quite that much money over there, but maybe. Would someone offer him a Euro equivalent of $10 million, tax free? Maybe a team in Moscow or Athens? Very well could happen. Not sure if he's the type of guy to go and this early in his career, but it's possible. I can see him there at 38, maybe not at 32.

Yes, both Celtics and Lakers played stellar defense. Celtics were simply better than the Lakers, but yes - the Lakers defense, even without Andrew Bynum, was still stellar. It got them to the Finals.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

Their defense was stellar? What Western Conference playoffs/finalshave you been watching? Pao Gasol got burned throughout the entire playoffs. With Tim Duncan and KG owning him

[Don]

Let's keep our fingers x'd and avoid any physical prob's with Elton. By the way, Pau's a good scorer, but he can't keep up defensively. I think that when Bynum's back, all will be righted in LA. With Bynum, I see those guys beating the hell out of the Celts. If KG could be stopped without a double team down low, they can d up on Pierce and co. Luckily we shouldn't have that problem with ma man Elton. He's a beast down low and can hold his own on defense with anyone.