View Full Version : “Our Defense Has Saved Us”
spectre
03-26-2010, 01:51 AM
Bobcats’ success fueled by well-rounded defense (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AqOLxkWlmJW44oejbdIf2Vq8vLYF?slug=ap-bobcats-defense)
How Charlotte got to giving up just 93.5 points a game starts with the demanding Hall of Fame coach, who constantly preaches defensive principles and has stocked his roster with long, athletic players through seven trades since the start of last season.
It’s left a club with an underrated defensive point guard in Raymond Felton (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3931/;_ylt=AsR5I2gy9xIBtU_WGWyXT3iLvLYF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3931/news;_ylt=Aj9HZFGdJyC1BGoOKKfaoxWLvLYF), an athletic small forward in Gerald Wallace (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3533/;_ylt=AiQImtV1Ova5GV1khLfImZSLvLYF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3533/news;_ylt=AlMXqigypJWM8_q.TbUbcbSLvLYF) who’s been dubbed “Dennis Rodman” by his teammates for his rebounding prowess, and a trio of shot-blocking big men who allow for more trapping and gambling for steals on the perimeter.
“We have two great point guards that pressure the ball well and pick up full-court,” guard Stephen Jackson (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3210/;_ylt=AuWHrIAaICJNZ.Rkwkw_DbSLvLYF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3210/news;_ylt=AlDcc6R4u5Q0GLGVyxY6w_CLvLYF) said. “I think me and Gerald and Larry (Hughes) are good on-the-ball defenders and get in the passing lanes to get steals. And we have great shot blockers with Tyson (Chandler), Theo (Ratliff) and Tyrus (Thomas). So I think we have a little of everything, and when it comes together we’re really good.”
“We can gamble more because we know we have those big guys back there that can challenge shots,” Jackson said. “And if they come over and challenge we know that Dennis Rodman is going to grab the rebound.”
Despite being 6-foot-7, Wallace ranks seventh in the NBA at 10.5 rebounds a game and grabbed 19 in Tuesday’s overtime in Washington. A night later the Bobcats blocked 11 shots against Minnesota. They had 12 blocks in a win over Oklahoma City earlier this month, helping them move into the top 10 at 5.25 per game.
Much of that is due to Ratliff and Thomas, acquired just before the trade deadline last month. The Bobcats were missing an intimidating presence in the paint for the first half of the season after trading Emeka Okafor (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/;_ylt=AjCUnR3MYvc2HmGOvb6U0BiLvLYF)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3819/news;_ylt=Ard7A_Vb_j1eAb9_kmKU9huLvLYF) for Chandler, who until recently has been slowed by foot pain.
“That’s what Emeka used to give us when he was here,” Wallace said of Ratliff and Thomas. “To have both of them in the game at the same time, it’s amazing because it gives us an opportunity to pressure and get up in guys knowing that they’re going to contest the shot.”
~more at the link~
Heh, I didn't know they've been calling him Rodman! Sure fits, at least on-court.
And that was a great writeup, Cranston is so much better than Bonnell it's not even funny.
Marvel
03-26-2010, 02:48 AM
Huh, Bonnell who.Our defense is our mojo,without it we would be nothing.We are also ranked 8th in steals. LB has brought in a culture here, or revived a culture that once existed back when we were called the Charlotte Hornets.
CarolinaBlue704
03-26-2010, 04:06 AM
That was a good article.
Just imagine If the 'Cats had a more consistent offense.
superb1
03-26-2010, 07:54 AM
Did you know?
The Bobcats have now gone a dozen games without allowing an opponent to reach 100 points. Half of those opponents never reached 90.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/25/1337097/bobcats-gameday.html#ixzz0jHbFTnPR
SCBobcat
03-26-2010, 09:58 AM
All of those quotes came from a video at practice yesterday. You can find it on the Bobcats's webpage. I am on my Blackberry now so it is a pain to post a link. Sorry about that.
spectre
03-26-2010, 10:37 AM
All of those quotes came from a video at practice yesterday. You can find it on the Bobcats's webpage. I am on my Blackberry now so it is a pain to post a link. Sorry about that.
http://www.nba.com/bobcats/video/2010/03/26/100325stephenjacksonmov-1270789/index.html
Nice find! It's not on Bobcatsbreak but on Bobcats.com.
Toocool
03-26-2010, 11:45 AM
That was a great read. And it like CB said, imagine if we did have a consistent offense. We're slowly getting there, certainly much better than we use to be. But we struggle with bench scoring and if Jax is in a slump. Those are two things we need to work on. However, defense wins championships, and with defense like that and improvement on offense, we can go far and deep.
Dexmor
03-26-2010, 08:46 PM
All we have is D. We are offensively retarded. You think Steven Jackson can be a go to guy on any other team? Were the best D team in the league. This play the right way and you can win is being proven by a weak team who should be losing is winning and scaring the power houses by playing the right way.
Larry Brown is our mvp.
spectre
03-26-2010, 09:34 PM
Larry Brown is our mvp.
Without a doubt.
Larry Brown is our mvp.
You're right Dex. As frustrating as he can be at times, there is no doubt he has added a whole new dimension to this team.
It sure has got his finger prints all over it.
Can't believe the Knicks played him like that.
King Taharqa
03-26-2010, 11:10 PM
Mike Cranston always writes great articles on the Bobcats. This was a very good one. Keep it up Mike.
It has certainly been the only constant (defense) from the team...but (IMO) if we want to be be taken as a "serious" team it is the constant you want to hang your hat on...create dread before the other team plays you...:biggrin:
spectre
03-31-2010, 12:56 PM
Tyson's Defensive Impact - QCH (http://www.queencityhoops.com/TysonsDefensiveImpact.php)
When the Bobcats have had Tyson Chandler around, they are far and away the best defense in the NBA this season. However, that 105.2 mark would only be good enough for 11th in the league and combining the 11th best defense with the 23rd ranked offense does not keep them in their current standing, and probably does not even keep them in the playoff race. So, while Tyson's injury issues and turnover habits have been frustrating for fans, keep in mind the difference maker he has been when patrolling the lane this year.Charts and other stuff at the link. Of note...the comment about "that 105.2 mark" is our defensive efficiency WITHOUT TC.
Best C we've ever had (when healthy).
Walt Cronkite
03-31-2010, 04:17 PM
Tyson's Defensive Impact - QCH (http://www.queencityhoops.com/TysonsDefensiveImpact.php)
Charts and other stuff at the link. Of note...the comment about "that 105.2 mark" is our defensive efficiency WITHOUT TC.
Best C we've ever had (when healthy).
Bollocks. I'm surprised Spectre, since you always talk about how statistics are manipulated to paint a specific side of a story (This is sarcasm. I am not surprised).
We're at 100 for the season right now, 3rd best in the league. This is our season earned rating with Chandler out entirely or playing less than half of the game in 56 of our 73 matches so far. The number you note (105.2 without TC, 11th best) doesn't make a distinction for the games without TC where we also didn't have Mohammed and/or Diop and/or Ratliff, with Jackson, without Crash, etc, etc.
"Best C we've ever had (when healthy)" is the best part, since the article shows that Boris Diaw has an even more amazing Drating at C in not too large of a sample size difference. Oh, and that it disregards the negative impact Chandler has on our offense. "Best defensive C we've ever had (when healthy)" would've been a little less ridiculous, though we have nothing to compare this season's Drating at C to last year's for comparison's sake.
SMH.
spectre
03-31-2010, 06:54 PM
Yup...best C we've ever had! He's a big contributor in that he can usually cover his man without help (he did a great job on Bosh the other night...dunno why LB didn't match them up more) and he's flat awesome stopping the PGs on those screen and rolls.
We've never had anyone that had a clue on how to do that.
KT#20
03-31-2010, 07:42 PM
Bollocks. I'm surprised Spectre, since you always talk about how statistics are manipulated to paint a specific side of a story (This is sarcasm. I am not surprised).
We're at 100 for the season right now, 3rd best in the league. This is our season earned rating with Chandler out entirely or playing less than half of the game in 56 of our 73 matches so far. The number you note (105.2 without TC, 11th best) doesn't make a distinction for the games without TC where we also didn't have Mohammed and/or Diop and/or Ratliff, with Jackson, without Crash, etc, etc.
"Best C we've ever had (when healthy)" is the best part, since the article shows that Boris Diaw has an even more amazing Drating at C in not too large of a sample size difference. Oh, and that it disregards the negative impact Chandler has on our offense. "Best defensive C we've ever had (when healthy)" would've been a little less ridiculous, though we have nothing to compare this season's Drating at C to last year's for comparison's sake.
SMH.
Well said.
ETA: For the record, I think "Best defensive C we've ever had (when healthy)" is certainly possible. Chandler had some great defensive years in Chicago and NO, but spectre is definitely discounting Okafor's defensive impact and not considering offense.
spectre
03-31-2010, 10:27 PM
Nope...not at all. Okafor didn't have a clue on how to defend the pick and roll. He's also struggled against any big that moved outside the paint. TC on the other hand defends the P&R almost perfectly every time, and he's very good on guys who shoot from the perimeter.
Cases in point was Brand tonight and Bosh on Monday. I'd have to go thru the numbers, but I don't think Bosh got many points at all when matched up vs. TC...and tonight I don't know that Brand scored at all when TC was on him.
On P&R TC knows exactly where to go when the opposing PG slides around the pick; TC forces him to stop short and then gets back quickly to keep his guy from getting the pass/dunk. In fact...I can't remember one time where his guy got a pass off the P&R for a shot.
This is a huge weapon as it stops dribble penetration (which is the main culprit for breaking down a defense) and it allows the wings to stay with their man.
Mek was great with the weakside blocks (probably a little better than TC) and pretty decent man up in the paint, which TC is as well. He was also had a better offensive game, but TC can usually finish a dunk.
TC also shoots FTs better than 57%...which is another plus as we won't be seeing our C getting intentionally fouled so much.
Given their pluses/minues...I think there's a clear choice between the two.
Best C we've ever had. :cool:
WarioVsMooChicken
03-31-2010, 10:52 PM
better than PRIMOZ?!
KT#20
03-31-2010, 11:04 PM
Okafor was 5th in the league in total dunks last season. Chandler's a career 61 percent FT shooter, Okafor's a career 59 percent FT shooter; Okafor's not a turnover machine, Chandler is a turnover machine; Okafor's durable, Chandler's not...
We'll just have to agree to disagree.
better than PRIMOZ?!
I think my 12yr old diabetic cat can defend better than Pimoz...:p
Marvel
03-31-2010, 11:48 PM
TC "when healthy".Oh Lordy IF only
When healthy is the key in Spectre's post. Tyson wasn't healthy until his most recent comeback, and it showed. He was horrible the first half of the season, but right now he's better than I ever saw Mek be. He scored 15 points tonight without really trying and Okafor was never as good of a finisher (nor will be) as TC. Now, I'm not going to say he's a better overall player than Mek 100% of the time, but he's passionate and the best fit for this team.
spectre
04-01-2010, 05:34 AM
Well KT was correct in his fist post as I am focused mainly on the defensive (refer to the title of this thread). Okafor was definitely a better offensive C.
I place the need more on defense from that position (shocker I know), and IMO the things I listed above what TC brings we need more than a couple more baskets.
And "when healthy" is absolutely key as Teej says.
spectre
04-01-2010, 08:12 AM
BTW...
Chandler says he's now at about 85 percent.
''It was more frustrating for me than it could possibly be for anybody else because I'm a very prideful person,'' Chandler said of the criticism he received for his suspect play. ''I took it to heart. Me and coach (Larry Brown) had a talk about it. I had to get over it because I wasn't 100 percent.''
If he can ever get to 100% I expect even better things...esp. as our other players get acclimated to him.
BTW...
If he can ever get to 100% I expect even better things...esp. as our other players get acclimated to him.
"If" is the real key...he has not been 100% for a couple of years and I get the feeling his injuries are of the "lingering" type...I wish the guy a good career but just not sure he'll ever be 100% or capable of staying injury-free...
There is no questioning his defensive ability though when he can't take the floor...
If he can ever get to 100% I expect even better things
Double-double! I'm serious.
Walt...:p
Marvel
04-01-2010, 08:23 PM
Double-double! I'm serious.
Walt...:p
I agree......10 rebounds and 10 turnovers per game,yeah that would be something.
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