The Randy Ayers Appreciation Thread

[DCZards]

They made a big deal about talking on defense in the preseason. I don't think Randy Ayers is implementing a new system -- it's still EJ's basic defensive ideas -- but he's taught the players how to run it a little better by communicating.

Likewise, Ayers brought in some specific knowledge of defense that complements EJ's knowledge and there's nothing wrong with that either.

I'm sure no one is happier to have Ayers "coaching 'em up" on D than EJ. It allows him to concentrate on other aspects of his job as head coach.

The W-L record and two wins over Boston reflects that as well as the impact of Ayers and Hopla.

[zardsfan]

This thread is long overdue most likely because people (myself included) can't believe that the Zards (with the same no-D players from last year) are playing great defense on a consistant basis this year.

EJ has "preached" defense every training camp for the last 2 or 3 years and there was Zero, I say again, ZERO improvement on D until this season.

What changed?

Ayers

Just goes to show you that you can't "learn" to be taller or faster but you CAN learn to be a smarter, better defender... if you have a coach who can "teach" what they "preach"

[ebr0t]

magic fan here, hahahah great thread. Randy is my moms best friend

[Donkey McDonkerton]

Just wanted to throw a few quotes in here from todays post article

ordan said that the concepts and systems introduced by Ayers are not drastically different from what the team has done in the past. Indeed, Jordan and his coaches have stressed the need to play better defense every season since he took over in 2003, but he acknowledges that the emphasis is greater now and that his players have bought into the teaching and coaching with enthusiasm.

Jordan sees individual improvement as well. He says Haywood is protecting the rim better than ever, DeShawn Stevenson is locking in and taking on scorers such as Boston's Ray Allen and Atlanta's Joe Johnson like never before and that Butler has continued to grow as a defender just as his offensive game continues to develop.

"It's like a chain, you can't have a weak link," Jordan said. "You can't have a guy who doesn't care for one possession. You can't have guys doing wrong rotations, so we work on it and we work on it more. It's muscle memory. It's visual as far as watching film. It's verbal as far as commands. It's all these senses that are involved in trusting each other."

not sure I believe that too much...

Even Jamison has earned praise for playing better defense.

"Certain individuals on this team, including myself, were the reasons why the defense has been poor," said Jamison, who is averaging a career-high 10.6 rebounds. "I think we got fed up with that and wanted to do everything possible to make it work. We really listened and even when it didn't feel like it was the right thing to do, we did it. . . . When Gil went out, we knew we couldn't be the same kind of team."

He really has stepped it up.

[newslowsad]

Big props to AJ for owning up about his weak D.

[Rafael122]

During the Dallas game, I noticed this team did a much better job on the pick and roll. They rotated perfectly.

[fugop]

Browsing through Utah's game thread, this comment really brought things home:

Except Washingtons D is x98 then any team we have played at home lately(well except SAS).

The Washington Wizards?

[nate33]

Browsing through Utah's game thread, this comment really brought things home:

Except Washingtons D is x98 then any team we have played at home lately(well except SAS).

The Washington Wizards?

Haywood and Blatche totally dominated the paint. Nobody scored in the middle until Blatche got tired in the 4th (and Haywood inexplicably missed most of the 4th).

[gowiz999]

One thing I don't understand is why we have only been playing good defense for the first quarters of games lately. It's like we give up and forget trying hard on the defensive end after the 1q for some reason.

[fugop]

-= original quote snipped =-


Haywood and Blatche totally dominated the paint. Nobody scored in the middle until Blatche got tired in the 4th (and Haywood inexplicably missed most of the 4th).

I know they did, and it was beautiful to see. A real change in the character of the team, reflecting improved personnel and better coaching. I love seeing it.

Other people bitch about EJ's rotations, but I've always thought he was just an idiot on defense. The schemes were to complicated for people to implement them well, and even when implemented, they weren't any better than simpler schemes. I figured it had to do with covering for Jamison's natural inability to guard PFs, but I was just wrong. Jamison, who I've often advocated just letting expire, has unthinkably become a mediocre man defender and a great defensive rebounder. Leopards don't change their spots, and Jamison has revealed himself to be no leopard. It's great to see.

Whether it's just Blatche getting with it, Ayers' coaching, or the realization that the Gilbert crutch won't always be there, the Wizards are playing defense. I'm actually pretty happy with the team, even after a loss.

[fishercob]

HAHAHA!!

[LyricalRico]

Didn't Ayers get passed over for Tapscott after EJ was fired? I seem to recally being really surprised by that. What could have been...LOL

[pancakes3]

I didn't realize it was a zombie thread until i saw zonk's old avy. I was pretty excited that newslowsad started posting again.

[dobrojim]

I wanna know what happened to the Bill Ayers thread!

[BigA]

"Zombie thread of the day" could be a regular feature.