http://www.hornets247.com/post.php?id=553
And here is where my original intent for this post diverged. Peja's weakness in the post is pretty obvious. Why isn't he always put into that situation? The answer: against good teams, he is. Watch any disciplined offense - Detroit, San Antonio, Dallas - and you will see them running screens to get their man on Peja in the post. But it times like that where the Hornets show the effect of their coaching. Almost every time Peja gets posted, the double comes. It's nearly automatic. As a result, the ball kicks out and the defensive rotations start, players scrambling to their new man without even looking at each other. There is no hesitation, no worry that their man will be left uncovered, they just move to their new assignment and the defense continues. Even if there is a breakdown, the next play, they do it again. They trust each other, and they trust the system.
That trust is why the Hornets have a top defense despite all five of their starting players having defensive weaknesses that can be exploited. Paul and Peja can be posted. Chandler doesn't like to leave the paint or leave his feet to block shots. Morris can be beaten by fleet-footed guards. West will leave the jumper open and can be slow to contest it. These weaknesses, however, instead of being points of contention, are simply recognized by the coaching staff and compensated for. If a player needs help in the post - it will arrive. If someone is lost on a screen, the big steps out to slow them down.
Defenses are all about effort and trust, and are created and fostered by great coaching staffs that are capable of getting their players to buy in to the system. Byron Scott has done this before, when he took the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals on the back of a great defense. It looks like he's doing it again, building an efficient defense that functions around the players he has, no matter their flaws.
That's a good take imo. I watched Peja going against the Raptors and he actually had pretty good footwork and was able to stay with his man. I don't think the Hornets defense can lock a team down. But they are decent. Defense is about trust and covering your teammates and the Hornets don't really have great individual defenders but they seem to play well together.
I think it is a good point that only the good offensive teams are able to exploit the Hornets......
