Are we still a good defensive team?

[moofs]

"supposed" is a tricky word.

[Iggyemu]

Its all about the coaching. When we first got Adelman I was very excited b/c I thought that even though we wouldn't be nearly as good defensively...we would improve dramatically offensively. Obviously as we sit here today...only one those things is true. We are nowhere near where we use to be. Last year with a healthy Battier and Deke's presence after Yao went down...along with McGrady actually being able to stay in front his man made for another great defensive year for us. We won 22 games in a row on defense and hustle.

The difference this year is obviously the health of both McGrady and Battier. But even further....it comes down to coaching. A defensive minded coach like JVG or Thibs would have guys like Von Wafer, Brooks, Landry, Scola playing lights out defense. They would teach them to do it..they would bench them if they didn't. They would require that they give all their focus and energy to the defensive side of the ball. So while we would struggle offensively we would be more consistent in stopping teams...especially the athletic ones like Philly and Memphis. But this is what our management chose.

They wanted more offense. So they didn't offer Thibs the job and alienated JVG. It was a good idea to try to be better offensively. Unfortunately we just don't have the personnel to pull it off. So we are still bad offensively and worst defensively. So what does that add up to...likely another first round exit.

[T-Wack]

Oh man, it's so ironic. If we played with last years intensity, but had this years talent, we would be unstoppable. Adelman has done quite a number on this team with his ineptitude. His inability to do anything for us offensively last year was forgiven because he found a way to keep guys playing JVG defense, but this year, he continues to fail miserably at utilizing his talented offensive players, and the defense has fallen off dramatically.

This season has been hard to watch. We still have no identity, and this failure of a coach is the main reason why. Even when we've have all of our guys healthy, Rick continues to be the stupid idiot that he is, and make horrible decisions. At least JVG demanded that extra toughness out of our stars.

[jove9]

Ok, so for the sake of argument, let's say that Adelman was fired tomorrow. Who's out there right now that can step in and do all the things that you guys want?

Word of warning: if you say JVG, I'm going to hit my head against the wall. Hard.
Like this:

I don't see anyone, besides MAYBE Avery Johnson, who is available and who has enough coaching expertise to turn this around. But then again, it didn't take Avery long to wear out his welcome in Dallas, did it?

[grond]

Sometimes, but only for short stretches. Mostly, no - at least not recently. Like BayBaller said, a lot of it is personnel, but some of it is the coaching as well. There's a lot of sloppy reaching that has crept in lately which generally just results in fouls (Artest, Wafer, Landry do this a lot), instead of just trying to funnel dribble drives towards the help. Also, our end of game defense is highly vulnerable to the pick and roll because Yao no longer shows. If there's one significant change we need, it's for Yao to show on the p'n'r on possessions where we absolutely must get a stop. ie most of them in the 2nd half of the 4th. Good thing the Western Conf doesn't have a lot of good PG/BIG combo's that can exploit this weakness tho'. Dodged that bullet, yeah. oh boy ...

[jzmagik]

We are screwed if this is what we're going into the playoffs with.

[red96]

Short answer: No.
Bonus answer: Not a good offensive team either.

[grond]

Long answer:

Yao is a decent defensive anchor, but it's too much to ask of him when small guys get a free unimpeded run down the lane at him. Battier and (sometimes) Alston, if they get beat off the dribble or p'n'r or whatever will at least stay with their man laterally, jockeying them and limiting their space and options. That way Yao can get set in front of the rim early and all he has to do is react to a shot, vertically, which is his strength (or take a charge). What I've been seeing lately is when guys get beat they either reach, or just give it up completely and let Yao take the foul because he has to react to a free-wheeling guard driving down the lane, and he's just too slow for that. Either way, it's lazy defense.