Why do [some supremely athletic players] suck at defense?

[YFZblu]

Ughh Nick Collison is only making ~11 million dollars over the next four years.

What a steal.

[YFZblu]

We are one mobile defensive power forward away from having an elite defensive frontcourt.

Add that to the fact that Phoenix possesses a player who can get his team a good shot on literally any possession...and the Suns could be very competitive next season.

I still don't think people get this, how far this reaches.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/04/12/statscube-the-end-of-the-nash-streak/

The run began in Nash’s second season as the full-time starter in Dallas. Nash has not only led the No. 1 offensive team each season, but he’s led the five best offenses of the last 20 years (when you compare the team’s efficiency with the league average).



This season’s fall-off isn’t exactly Nash’s fault. His individual numbers are down, but just slightly. The Suns are still a great offensive team with Nash on the floor, scoring 111.1 points per 100 possessions in his 2,465 minutes.

The problem is that the Suns’ offense has been pretty awful when Nash has been off the floor, scoring just 99.9 points per 100 possessions. That’s equivalent to the fourth-worst offense in the league.

Yep! As it relates to team offense, Nash is arguably the most efficient ever. EVER.

The Suns in 2005 had almost the same problem they have now: Ineffective bench play, which kills Nash's production and can lead to loses. Obviously the problem was less prominent in 2005 because the Suns had more talent...

The biggest difference between the 2005 Suns bench and the 2011 Suns bench: D'antoni wouldn't have played 1/2 the guys Gentry does IMO at times Gentry fuels the fire instead of helping. He should be playing our best players HUGE minutes if he truly wants to win games.

[Sidenote: Good teams don't play Hakim Warrick. Just saying.]

[Fo-Real]

Defense is a state of mind, as much as it is an athletic thing, Jared Dudley is an example of that. You have to take it personally being scored on. You have to be basketball smart, and know what your man is doing, going to do, and what is going on around you, as well as where you are on the court. There are plenty of players who arent the best athletes but were known as defensive stoppers. Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, hell John Stockton is one of the league leaders in steals isnt he? Joe Dumars and Duds to name a few.

[Wannabe MEP]

Ughh Nick Collison is only making ~11 million dollars over the next four years.

What a steal.

That move was absolutely brilliant.

[Wannabe MEP]

Defense is a state of mind, as much as it is an athletic thing, Jared Dudley is an example of that. You have to take it personally being scored on. You have to be basketball smart, and know what your man is doing, going to do, and what is going on around you, as well as where you are on the court. There are plenty of players who arent the best athletes but were known as defensive stoppers. Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen, hell John Stockton is one of the league leaders in steals isnt he? Joe Dumars and Duds to name a few.

I bet all those players you mentioned would be worse than league average in the 100m...but better than league average in the 800m.

[lilfishi22]

Ughh Nick Collison is only making ~11 million dollars over the next four years.

What a steal.

That move was absolutely brilliant.

Yep, OKC FO smartly front-loaded the heck out of Collison's deal since they had unused cap space this season. Ahhh if only our FO were like that.