The Larry Brown/AI theory . . .

Post #1 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:07 pm

IF you have a person who is going to take a third of your team's shots and want to build a defensive juggernaut around him, what better defensive supporting teams have there been than the 02 Sixers:

Mutumbo (or Ratliff)
Tyrone Hill
George Lynch
Aaron McKie
Eric Snow

and of course your dominant scorer (Iverson, Dantley, Harden, etc.).

Post #2 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:10 pm

Thinking the Bad Boy Pistons maybe?

Laimbeer
Mahorn/Salley
Rodman
Dumars/V.Johnson
Isiah

Post #3 » by **Fadeaway_J** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:12 pm

2019 Raptors?

tone wone · Post #4 » by **tone wone** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:46 pm

2011-2012 Bulls

Frontcourt: Noah, Gibson, Asik
Wing: Deng, Brewer,
Guards: Bogans, Watson

70sFan · Post #5 » by **70sFan** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:50 pm

1964 Celtics:

KC Jones
John Havlicek
Willie Naulls
Satch Sanders
Bill Russell

(Sam Jones started, but I pick the best defensive lineup)

Post #6 » by **penbeast0** » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:56 pm

Yeah, I should have mentioned the Celtics but in addition to Sam Jones, Heinsohn rather than Naulls was their 6th man, and he was not a good defender either . . . just that Russell made up for so many sins.

Roddy B for 3 · Post #7 » by **Roddy B for 3** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:38 am

Tyson Chandler
Shawn Marion
DeShawn Stevenson
Jason Kidd
+A 25+ppg guy at PF who does it on super elite efficiency

SHAQ32 · Post #8 » by **SHAQ32** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:47 am

Bron only took 26% of the shots but I'm still mentioning the 2007 Cavs. They kinda fit that mold.

Varejao
Ilgauskas
Hughes
Snow
Pavlovic

Basically defensive guys and a defensive coach, Mike Brown, and LeBron.

Triples333 · Post #9 » by **Triples333** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:51 am

The Raptors were the best post season defense since the 04 Pistons. Along with the Warriors starters spontaneous combustion, it's why they won it all.

Post #10 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 12:05 pm

Triples333 wrote:The Raptors were the best post season defense since the 04 Pistons. Along with the Warriors starters spontaneous combustion, it's why they won it all.

How much of it is Kawhi, or are you taking away Lowry and having Kawhi and Siakam not shoot much (and do you really think Kawhi will be willing to do that? Remember, the keys are great defense built around a single scorer.

Triples333 · Post #11 » by **Triples333** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 12:22 pm

penbeast0 wrote:
Triples333 wrote:The Raptors were the best post season defense since the 04 Pistons. Along with the Warriors starters spontaneous combustion, it's why they won it all.

How much of it is Kawhi, or are you taking away Lowry and having Kawhi and Siakam not shoot much (and do you really think Kawhi will be willing to do that? Remember, the keys are great defense built around a single scorer.

Including free throws, Kawhi did take close to a third of their shots. I'm barely awake but not even following what else you're trying to say.

Post #12 » by **penbeast0** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:41 pm

Triples333 wrote:
penbeast0 wrote:
Triples333 wrote:The Raptors were the best post season defense since the 04 Pistons. Along with the Warriors starters spontaneous combustion, it's why they won it all.

How much of it is Kawhi, or are you taking away Lowry and having Kawhi and Siakam not shoot much (and do you really think Kawhi will be willing to do that? Remember, the keys are great defense built around a single scorer.

Including free throws, Kawhi did take close to a third of their shots. I'm barely awake but not even following what else you're trying to say.

What I was asking is, if you replace Kawhi with a great offensive (but not defensive) player like Carmelo Anthony, is that still a great defense and still a contender or is Kawhi the key to their defense as is often credited?

Triples333 · Post #13 » by **Triples333** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:56 pm

penbeast0 wrote:
Triples333 wrote:
penbeast0 wrote:
How much of it is Kawhi, or are you taking away Lowry and having Kawhi and Siakam not shoot much (and do you really think Kawhi will be willing to do that? Remember, the keys are great defense built around a single scorer.

Including free throws, Kawhi did take close to a third of their shots. I'm barely awake but not even following what else you're trying to say.

What I was asking is, if you replace Kawhi with a great offensive (but not defensive) player like Carmelo Anthony, is that still a great defense and still a contender or is Kawhi the key to their defense as is often credited?

I see. Yes, their defense was excellent with or without. You wouldn't want a deficit defender like Melo, but if a guy like Harrison Barnes was their SF, they would still have had easily the best D in the post season. Lowry/Green/Siakim/Ibaka/Gasol. It's vicious.

70sFan · Post #14 » by **70sFan** » Sun Sep 29, 2019 2:59 pm

Raptors with someone like Bernard King would be still title candidates.

Post #15 » by **GeorgeMarcus** » Tue Oct 1, 2019 12:21 am

My mind jumped to Kawhi's supporting cast in Toronto, but some other good mentions here