Best defensive frontcourt we've had since...???

[YFZblu]

Yes, but to say we've been a poor defensive team is not being completely accurate.

I agree that we weren't as bad defensively as people thought because our fast-paced, higher scoring games made it look like we were poorer defensively than we really were. If you evaluate our defense per possession instead of per game, we had some decent seasons.

However, we haven't been in the top 10 in defensive rating in a decade. I don't know that you can win a championship that way. Name the last team that won a championship that didn't have an elite defense anchored by an elite defensive frontcourt...

There isn't, but I'm not sure there's a championship winner anchored by an elite go-to big-man either.

Gasol, Gasol, Garnett, Duncan, Shaq, Duncan, Rasheed Wallace....

Offense is just as important as defense. Shaq, Duncan, and Garnett were great defensive players too...Gasol and Wallace aren't exactly known for their defense as much as their offense but they were more than capable. We would have been more than fine if we had Amare + a dedicated defensive/rebounding guy a la Camby/prime Kurt, etc.

Oh well, water under the bridge.

I would argue that prime Rasheed Wallace was the best post defender in the NBA next to Tim Duncan.

[YFZblu]

Yes, but to say we've been a poor defensive team is not being completely accurate.

I agree--There was only one time I remember seeing a major ESPN writer write that the Suns problem wasn't defense, it's rebounding. I think it was Tim Legler...

[BurningHeart]

I would argue that prime Rasheed Wallace was the best post defender in the NBA next to Tim
Duncan.

I wouldn't argue that. He was good, yes, very good....but nowhere near a defensive stalwart-type like Duncan, Mutombo, Ben, Mourning, Garnett, etc.

[Wannabe MEP]

I would argue that prime Rasheed Wallace was the best post defender in the NBA next to Tim Duncan.

Rasheed was very, very good defensively. Ben was better. Wallace-Wallace was incredible.

According to the stats: Rasheed Wallace was a little better than average offensively, while Ben Wallace was pretty bad offensively, but both were elite defensively. It's pretty hard to argue that there was a better defensive frontcourt than Wallace-Wallace.

There isn't, but I'm not sure there's a championship winner anchored by an elite go-to big-man either.

Gasol, Gasol, Garnett, Duncan, Shaq, Duncan, Rasheed Wallace....

Offense is just as important as defense. Shaq, Duncan, and Garnett were great defensive players too...Gasol and Wallace aren't exactly known for their defense as much as their offense but they were more than capable.

I agree that offense is just as important as defense, but I think that bigs have to be elite defenders, but not necessarily elite offensively. Most teams have had an elite offensive frontcourt, but not the Bulls or Pistons.

To win a championship, the formula is:
1) elite defensive frontcourt
2) consistent ways to score

#2 doesn't have to come from the frontcourt.

[YFZblu]

According to the stats: Rasheed Wallace was a little better than average offensively, while Ben Wallace was pretty bad offensively, but both were elite defensively. It's pretty hard to argue that there was a better defensive frontcourt than Wallace-Wallace.

I agree with you for the most part, but Ben Wallace was used mostly as a disruptor/rebounder...I always felt the Pistons valued Rasheed more as a positional 1-on-1 defender...

[suns32]

Can someone call Rasheed up so we can sign him for the playoff run. It wouldn't hurt the team unless he completely quit playing bball. Amare was atrocious on defense and everyone knew it. Poor rebounder and couldn't move his feet laterly.

[BurningHeart]

Rasheed is well past contributing, in my opinion.

[lilfishi22]

Rasheed is well past contributing, in my opinion.

Well well past

[YFZblu]

Rasheed is well past contributing, in my opinion.

Well well past

Well well well past

[DRK]

Why not give Alonzo Mourning a buzz and see if he wants to beef up our front line.....


Once a player is retired, he's retired. Only in very rare cases do players make a "comeback."

[BurningHeart]

Yeah, not everyone is Brett Favre.