Gentry Has Implemented Kerr's Plan

[toucansma]

I know this is probably past the point at the moment, but looking back, Gentry has implemented Kerr's plan exactly as stated.

Tasks from Kerr (obviously some implied, not word for word):

1. Overhaul Defense/Simplify ------ Check
2. Increase Communication on Defense ---- Check
3. Keep offense fast paced ---- Check
4. Improve execution of half court sets ---- Check
5. Work on team rebounding ---- Check
6. Develop a bench ---- Check
7. Do not burn out the veterans ---- Check
8. Accountability on Defense ---- Check
9. Atmosphere loose still/players trust coach ---- Check

I am taking these from what Mike D said, Porter said, Kerr has said or implied, Gentry, and various players. I am amazed all along, that Gentry has done this. I also think Kerr has kept his hands off and let Gentry deal with the team how he sees fit. I think there is a better trust there with Kerr and Gentry than Mike D and Kerr unfortunately. Looking at this list, I think Porter maybe did 4,8 at most (maybe 1). As much as Kerr wanted to do those things, Porter refused or could not do this. Just find it interesting that Kerr's plan is actually succeeding (the implementation).

[BurningHeart]

We were a better defensive team under D'Antoni than we are under Gentry. Sherkin has talked at length about this. The bench just hustles more under Gentry, and I think that's because they play.

[toucansma]

No I agree, I think we also had much better athletes under Mike D. People got skewed because of the possessions. I was talking about changing Defense, since especially with Shaq, getting killed on PNR. I think Mike D was and is a fantastic coach that got way too much crud.

[lilfishi22]

D'Antoni also had better defenders than we do now, so it's not surprising that SSOL team was top 15 or whatever in defense.

But overall, Gentry has done most of what Kerr wanted D'Antoni to do, play more defense and play the bench while keeping the offense going.

[irish22022]

It's pretty tough to agree with the statement that our defense now isn't as good as it was under D'antoni. Maybe on paper it is (which I'm not sure of, but it very well could be), but if people actually watched the games back then, and then watch them now... There is simply no argument.

Is/was Marion a better defensive player then anyone else on our team? Sure. But our team didn't play good defense for a full 48 minutes EVER -- no matter who was on the team or how athletic they were. The only time we kept our leads were when we kept on shooting lights out. Now we can keep our lead by slowing down and going into a half court set, and getting great stops in tight games. This is the first time in a long time that I don't assume the game is over if it's close and we aren't having a good shooting game.

Individual defenders mean nothing to a team game. We may have been able to slow down certain key players, but we were always vulnerable at one point or another, and that was always our downfall. Now we play great team defense, and it's proving** that a team of mediocre defenders can play better defense then a team of 2 or 3 terrific defenders and 2 or 3 really bad ones. Not to mention we play a full 48 because we're 10 deep now (or will be when in full health).

** The adequate proof will come in the playoffs, when we play a 7 game series. Until then, I guess the jury is still out on the effectiveness of our team defense.

[lilfishi22]

It's pretty tough to agree with the statement that our defense now isn't as good as it was under D'antoni. Maybe on paper it is (which I'm not sure of, but it very well could be), but if people actually watched the games back then, and then watch them now... There is simply no argument.

Is/was Marion a better defensive player then anyone else on our team? Sure. But our team didn't play good defense for a full 48 minutes EVER -- no matter who was on the team or how athletic they were. The only time we kept our leads were when we kept on shooting lights out. Now we can keep our lead by slowing down and going into a half court set, and getting great stops in tight games. This is the first time in a long time that I don't assume the game is over if it's close and we aren't having a good shooting game.

Individual defenders mean nothing to a team game. We may have been able to slow down certain key players, but we were always vulnerable at one point or another, and that was always our downfall. Now we play great team defense, and it's proving** that a team of mediocre defenders can play better defense then a team of 2 or 3 terrific defenders and 2 or 3 really bad ones. Not to mention we play a full 48 because we're 10 deep now (or will be when in full health).

** The adequate proof will come in the playoffs, when we play a 7 game series. Until then, I guess the jury is still out on the effectiveness of our team defense.

Actually the closet player we have to Marion defensively is Hill. Hill's a good defensive player but I'd take Marion over Hill any day of the week. We had better individual defenders back then but we didn't play much team defense and our top 15 defensive ranking was pretty much soley attributed to the contributions of Bell, Diaw, KT and Trix. I still wouldn't call our defense right now, great. But it is good to see our guys playing with a lot of energy on defense. We're still lacking defensively in the bigs department and we still get schooled nightly by quick guards, whereas back then we could put KT on a big and Raja or Trix on a guard.

Had D'Antoni actually coached some defense we would've been a top 5 defensive team and a much better defensive team than we are now. But I'll take what I get now since this could be the beginning of an SSOL system which preaches defense, who knows.

[KJ7]

^^^ Well summed up. That's exactly how I feel. When we got KT we actually had some very good individual defenders but as you say team D was never preached.

Now, espec our starting 5, are much worse defenders individually but as a team they have shown signs of playing for each other on D and are doing little things which we never did under D'Antoni.

[JohnVancouver]

I think you guys have nailed it. This is a much more determined, committed team defensively by virtue of who we've added, guys like Duds and Lou, and Dragic. Stat is much more involved defensively, seems to be getting his arms up, thinking about position, etc except for some lapses. he'll never be a great or even really good defender, I don't think, but so long as he isn't a huge liability.
Same with Nash, who just flat out doesn't have the physical ability to contain a lot of guys. That's where our team D can really help.If we could just add one tough man to man defender ...

I have to say too that although I think it was a shame how Mike D left, I think ending up with Gentry is an improvement - he preaches defense and the team loves him, so they listen. He plays the bench, he encourages the young guys, team morale is as high as it's been - from what I see and hear - for the last few years.

[aIvin adams]

does anyone have the actual data about our def eff in 05-06 before kurt when down. bc that was well into the season and the suns were kicking butt on both sides of the ball.