xb3at band1tx wrote:Mos_Heat wrote:xb3at band1tx wrote:KCP is a fine defender but I thought it was clear to everyone here that the Lakers defense is more about the scheme than about individual guys. I don't mind the bogdan deal although they still need to get a replacement defender for dwight.
If by the scheme you mean do not play bad defenders, then I agree
Rondo and Bradley were net-negative defenders for years by the time they touched down in LA. Hell half the guys the Lakers got last year were castaways that nobody else in the league wanted.
Putting them in Vogel's system with a bought-in LeBron and Davis made them seem so much better than they are.
I just think running it back would've been a mistake, the core was legit getting old. They still need to fill out holes for sure but I can't fault Rob for getting younger and building up to something with a much more balanced attack
League will see this next year. Rondo was garbage defensively for two full years and was a negative defender in the playoffs, which was masked by perhaps fluky Rondo 3pt shooting and AD making every midrange shot though Rondo did do a good job running offense. That was WITH Rondo trying on defense. Watch what happens next year on a no-defense team.
Bradley had turned into a negative defender before last year with people being fooled by his ball pressure and pretty good pick and roll defense. In any case, the Lakers ran roughshod through the playoffs in bubble conditions without him while going up against Lillard, Harden, Murray, and the Heat’s shooters.
Howard...thought that was sizable loss. If they replaced him with a Gasol or Baynes, then I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d prefer a defensive wing and Gasol over Trez, but if they can lock down one of these things, I still like their chances.