Omri Casspi: Surprisingly productive defenders

BaYBaller · Post #1 » by **BaYBaller** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:45 am

So I stumbled upon this gem in the TrueHoop blog (http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/64486/surprisingly-productive-defenders

I can't say that this passes the eye test for me, although in retrospect I was paying more attention to Casspi on the offensive side of things since that is where he gets most of his reputation from. Small sample size yes, but the stats presented in the article are of a magnitude that's quite hard to ignore. I for one will be keeping a closer eye on Omri on the other side of the ball going forward at least.

rocketsballin · Post #2 » by **rocketsballin** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 12:51 am

saw that on cf. gotta reach deep in your ass to pull something like this out

MKL · Post #3 » by **MKL** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 1:55 am

Yeah, I remember having the same conversation with Novak's defense, and now Bargnani's defense.

But Casspi is productive, the most he's been in his career, maybe with exception of his rookie year.

I'm waiting for the talk about regressing to the mean...

Guy986 · Post #4 » by **Guy986** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:15 am

THats *****ing bullsh*t. Thats why you can't use +/- as a way to determine if said player is a good defender or not. Even Morey said there isn't a single advance stat available right now that can be used to accurately measure defense.

The eye test is still the best way to evaluate defense. Watching defense is not that hard.

For a wing its,

Can he stay in front of his man?
Can he contest shots?(whether the shot goes in or not is irrelevant)
Is he foul prone?
Is he attentive? Does he have good defensive instincts?
How well does he move his feet?

For a frontcourt player its,

Can he hold his position?
Can he defend the post?
Can he block shot?
Can he rebound?
Can he move his feet?
Can he rotate?

Casspi cant hold his position inside. He can't block shot. He's too skinny to defend the post. He can't rebound.
No amount of crap defensive stat can convince me he is a good defender at PF.

MKL · Post #5 » by **MKL** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:26 am

The focus is "surprisingly productive".

Also, truehoops from ESPN is garbage. It's almost as bad as their women talk about basketball and sports segment.

Casspi is playing well, just like Garcia playing well for us last season. The fast pace and open looks working great for them.

Guy986 · Post #6 » by **Guy986** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:32 am

He's an important part of our offense as a stretch 4 sure.

I dont think he's a productive defender at all. When Casspi is playing the 4, we frequently have to send help to shade or double his man. We don't help any other position like that.

kam_soluusar · Post #7 » by **kam_soluusar** » Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:48 am

It's the Shane Battier argument. Does the things that no one recognises. I noticed no one has mentioned help defense, rotating on the man (both on and off the ball.) does he have a knack for channeling his man into the bigs, (Howard, Jones Asik etc.) these are all things that have no official stats. Some guys don't look like they are great defenders, and aren't known for it especially. All I want from our team on the defensive end, is effort. Play both ends of the court, that's what wins titles.