Poll: What Do We Need to Do to Improve Our Team Defense?

[Rod700]

In previous posts, I've noted our lack of team defense. Against the Kings, any player who wanted to jog into lane and catch a pass was allowed to every time. While playing the Knicks, Zach Randolph took us apart inside. The recent debacle versus the Warriors was a new low. Not only did we fail to rotate after a double team and gave them more open threes than I've seen in any high school game, if a player beat his man on the drive from the 3 pt line, Hawks teammates often stood by befuddled, offering no help to defend the lane . . . in fact not moving one inch to offer any help on defense. Never have I seen such a complete lack defense. It occured to me that this may not be the players fault though, since it is unlikely that we have built a team of all the players in the league with the lowest defensive IQ's (except Smoove of course). Since the players simply did not move in the least to rotate on defense most of the night, I'm wondering if it wasn't a coaching issue, if he actually required them to play defense in which they did not rotate. If it's not Woody's fault though, maybe we need to look at tweeking our roster. Maybe we need to add affordable defensive role players off the bench, or even trade for a defensive starter. If we could use some combination of Zaza (who many teams still like), pick(s), and/or Chill in a sign and trade, maybe we could get a Prince/Kirilinko/Battier type of player (doesn't have to be any of those actual players) who can be a solid starting defensive presence while still possessing some offensive versatility in scoring their less-than-all-star-points to keep opposing defense guessing. Marv could serve as a spark off the bench. A defensive starter doesn't have to be a small forward though, it could be anyone. My point is that we have different options to address this issue. Which one is the most important, and the best place to start?

[JoshB914]

I thought statistically our D is actually pretty good.

[killbuckner]

The D on this team has been better than the offense (though maybe with bibby that will change). The biggest problems with the defense are that the PG's are bad defenders and they don't have a true center. I would like to see the team add a true shotblocking center off the bench. That would help in games where the opposing PG is taking over, and against the bigger PF's that give Smith trouble it would let Horford slide down to his natural position where he would match up better.

[smabie]

Choice: D
Priority: A definitely; then C maybe B.

[Rod700]

I thought statistically our D is actually pretty good.

I agree. I looked back at the stats not too long ago and remember thinking our D was fairly moderate overall. It seems to be a pretty recent meltdown though. In looking at the team stats on nba.com, here is what I found:

Season:
12th best in the league in Points Allowed per game (ranked 12 of 30)
17th best in the league in FG% Allowed (ranked 17 of 30, just below the median)

Last 10 games:
5th worst in Points Per Game Allowed (ranked 25 of 30)
10th worst in FG% Allowed (ranked 20 of 30).

Even though the breakdown is fairly recent, it is so complete, and poses such damage to our record, that I feel we at least need to be considering a coaching change and adding defensive role players at this point.

[Rod700]

I would like to see the team add a true shotblocking center off the bench. That would help in games where the opposing PG is taking over, and against the bigger PF's that give Smith trouble it would let Horford slide down to his natural position where he would match up better.

I'd like that too, and I've actually said the exact same thing. I don't know how you feel about Diop in particular, but I'm about ready to start printing out "Sign Diop This Summer" T-shirts.

[Jjforprez]

I think our offense is what happens to our defense. These guys go through a lull every game where they can't score, and I think it affects how they play defense.

So while the other team is scoring every time down, the Hawks are putting up bricks, creating turnovers and they get down on themselves, panic, and it takes the will out of them to play D.

[tontoz]

Before last nights game the Hawks had given up 106 ppg in their previous 10 games which obviously sucks.

The reason should be obvious. Bibby is hurt and Acie is out. Get those two healthy and that will make a big difference. Opposing pgs can do whatever they want right now.

As for the offseason getting a defensive center and getting rid of Childress should make the Hawks a very good defensive team.

[conleyorbust]

The Hawks had been a "good" defensive team for much of the season. That has sort of been lost lately for a few reasons.

One of our biggest problems is that we have no frontcourt depth at all, never mind needing a shotblocking center, we just need anyone... but yeah, Diop would be perfect.

Go to 82games. We defend 8 points better per100 possessions with Smith on the floor. When he comes out, we basically replace him with Zaza or Marv. Zaza is just a terrible basketball player and Marv can't bring that defensive presence that Smith does in the frontcourt.

You pointed out that our pgs are liabilities on D, that is true... I'd like to see if Bibby can at least be passable when he's healthy.

I like the idea of putting a specialist at SF. Whether its a deep shooter or a defender, I think the team gets better just because of fit. Hopefully we could get both.

I also think our perimeter defenders are getting tired as the season wears on and we (EDIT: forgot to say "don't" here) have a reliable backup who plays great D, although I'd like to see Mario for stretches.

A coaching change would help, I don't think because of strategy as much though. Woody can't get these guys to play for him and a big part of defense if effort.

[JoshB914]

Bibby has actually been a better PG defender then our previous group. I was actually surprised by his defense it hasn't been bad at all. What has hurt us is as COB said, we lose an incredible amount when Smoove goes out of the game. And without IV right now we have to play Salim or Chillz at the point.

[D21]

Bibby has actually been a better PG defender then our previous group. I was actually surprised by his defense it hasn't been bad at all. What has hurt us is as COB said, we lose an incredible amount when Smoove goes out of the game. And without IV right now we have to play Salim or Chillz at the point.

Looks like since Bibby is here, he's improving both offense and defense at PG.

The stats start to show it too. A look at this page: Link and you see that the Net Production at PG is now "only" -3.9. It was between -6,5 and -9 much of the time before.

[JoshB914]

I never thought I'd say this, but we REALLY miss IV right now. Our backup "PG's" cant cut it on defense and it's forced Bibby into a ton of minutes.