Hello Brooklyn wrote:CoachD wrote:Jay555 wrote:
Exactly what I meant. Something is off and no one knows what is up behind closed doors.
Let me phrase this another way to attempt to de-mystify;
What team can you remember in NBA history that won a title with it's top 3 players (yes I'm including Kyrie) all being mediocre to flat out bad defenders?
I can't think of any example. No matter what the other guys try to do, the high minute guys are giving little to nothing - so the only recipe to win is to ALWAYS outscore. Every night. That's just not sustainable.
This is just complete nonsense.
KD is a good defender. And can be great when he isn't asked to carry an entire offense.
Kyrie is average at worst. Can be good.
Harden yes is bad. But can be decent when it matters.
We were a far worse defensive team last year. And looked incredible until the injuries. Were destroying the Bucks in the playoffs in fact.
If you look at our playoff defense it was elite.
Yeah its the same tired lazy narrative we keep hearing about defense. We werent a bad defensive team last year. people look at points allowed without watching or looking deeper and then get twitter fingers.
Last year we were one of the best in the league at forcing stops. our points allowed were inflated by:
-garbage points late
-points off live ball turnovers (offensive issue, not defensive)
-Second chance points (a bit of a defensive issue but more with playign small vs playing poor D
This year our offense has been very good and at times elite. Claxton here to start the season plus Bembry/Brown before they were removed from the rotation. KD is at worst a "pretty good" defender and when engaged a great one. Bembry/KD/Claxton is as good as it gets for a switch everything defense. our F/F/C can all guard bigs and smalls.
Harden also is not a bad defender. if he is on a quick guard maybe. be he is usually guarding a PF or C, where he is average and gets alot of strips and steals.
Kyrie is good. he just doesnt really engage on D until the 4th/important games