Why is it that every good shooting guard/forward kills us

[ktown]

If you look at the Boston game vs the Spurs this past weekend, it's quite indicative as to why Toronto just simply isn't a top tier team.

As Van Gundy stated in the telecast, Boston deploys very aggressive close outs on dribble penetration and then continues to rotate with more aggressive close outs and rotations. Toronto simply doesn't play that type of intense defense during an entire set, let alone an entire game. When you have a team of players closing out hard on shooters without fear of further penetration because of rotation and more close outs, you'll get quality stops as well as contested shots. Ginobili had uncontested shot after uncontested shot until the last 5 minutes of the game which was about 25 points too late.

[ponder276]

1. Lack of a shot blocking 5
Our perimiter players can't rely on help d if they get beat, so they have to play off their man, allowing easier jumpers. When they get beat anyways, other perimiter players have to collapse, allowing for open looks when the ball gets kicked back out.

2. Average man defenders at the 2/3
None of our 2/3s are lockdown defenders.

3. Calderon
Lack of lateral quickness means easy drive and kick for opposing PGs. Lots of drive and kick = great for guards/forwards who can shoot. Calderon's d is amplified by the lack of a shot-blocker who lives in the paint.

4. Poor offense at the 2/3
Means opposing 2/3s don't have to work that hard on d, and can save their energy for offense.

5. Poor fast-break d
Not sure exactly what causes this, but we don't do so well against the fast break, and fast breaks = lots of scoring by wing players


All 5 problems can be fixed by acquiring a shotblocking 5 and a 2/3 who can create their own shot and play good perim d. Don't expect either of these players this year, but next year, with our $19+ mil in expiring deals, plus a handful of other tradeable assets, there's a good chance we can address both of these needs.

[Komodo]

I think the reason for our poor fast-break D is because we are a pretty unathletic team.

[gangstaff]

1. Lack of a shot blocking 5
Our perimiter players can't rely on help d if they get beat, so they have to play off their man, allowing easier jumpers. When they get beat anyways, other perimiter players have to collapse, allowing for open looks when the ball gets kicked back out.

2. Average man defenders at the 2/3
None of our 2/3s are lockdown defenders.

3. Calderon
Lack of lateral quickness means easy drive and kick for opposing PGs. Lots of drive and kick = great for guards/forwards who can shoot. Calderon's d is amplified by the lack of a shot-blocker who lives in the paint.

4. Poor offense at the 2/3
Means opposing 2/3s don't have to work that hard on d, and can save their energy for offense.

5. Poor fast-break d
Not sure exactly what causes this, but we don't do so well against the fast break, and fast breaks = lots of scoring by wing players


All 5 problems can be fixed by acquiring a shotblocking 5 and a 2/3 who can create their own shot and play good perim d. Don't expect either of these players this year, but next year, with our $19+ mil in expiring deals, plus a handful of other tradeable assets, there's a good chance we can address both of these needs.

+1

[CB4-TJ11-AB7]

If its any consolation Roger Mason is apparently also a Warriors killer. He dropped 32,7,5 on them

[saham]

One of the reasons we get smoked by other wings is the fact that our offense runs through our bigs. The other team's wings don't have to defend our wings which doesn't get them as tired as any other team with good wing players and thus they have more energy on offense against us.

Edit: Didn't read the other responses before posting. ImissJordan and Ponder276 mentioned this reason as well.

[Darrick Martin]

-our wings suck at 1v1 defense,
-jose gets exposed a lot as well, we a wing has to help him out
-we have no big interior presence (aka. shot blocker)
-lack of consistent help D

[ilikecb4]

i simply dont think our SG/SF put enough pressure (especially driving the ball) on the defense....


that's why guys like Ginobli, Kobe can wonder around on D and just light it up on Offense