[/QUOTE] 103 is still a very good Dtrg, regardless of what Ginobli ended up with. 109, not so much. My observation tells me that Matthews has been an average player who has moments where he explodes, yet just as many moments where he disappears. In other words, he's wildly inconsistent in what you get from him, just like most other average NBA players. It's my opinion that Matthews is overrated by some people. Don't know what else to tell you, other than we disagree on him. This doesn't mean that I don't cheer for him as a player; it means that I have lower expectations for his nightly performance than others might have.
Again, useless without looking at the rest of the team. The Blazers, as a whole, have a DRTG of 107, Wes's 109 (usually guarding the opponent's best player) is a smaller delta (-2) than Bowen's was from the Spurs 99 DRTG (delta of -4). The reality is - that DRTG is not a statistic you can use in a vacuum - without looking at the role (who you guard) and your team-mates. Before Oden went down last year, the team was 2nd in the league (to the Celtics) in defensive efficiency, at the time LMA had a fantastic DRTG of 102 - he ended up at 107 - did he just stop playing defense when Oden went down? No - it is not a good individual statistic in a vacuum. My observation is that he is inconsistent (not wildly inconsistent, Martel Webster was much more inconsistent if you ask me) - which is to be expected from a 2nd year player. But, he is always playing hard and his defense is more than adequate. You can disagree as you want - but DRTG is just not a good statistic to measure an individual's defensive prowess in a vacuum. He gives you an average starter production on offense and an above average production on defense, which is just great for a 2nd year player. I have no clue what expectations others have for him - I want him to continue playing hard and get better - I do not have any indications that he is not on track to achieve that.
Drtg used as an individual statistic shows us that Carlos Boozer is a top 5 defender this season. Michael Beasley was a top 20 defender last season.
So, Matthews is an elite defender? He doesn't even defend the opposing team's best player on most nights. That falls to Batum. Average PER, average stats, wildly inconsistent = average NBA starter. I'm not sure why this would upset people.
I know this, I posted it in the first place. I also noted the difference between 103 and 109. Care to repeat that as well? I know this. I'm just pointing out that there is no statistical evidence to suggest that Wesley Matthews is anything other than an average NBA starter. I'll gladly address the statistics that show otherwise; the problem is, I haven't seen any yet in this thread. All I see is people telling me that the actual statistics prove the opposite of what they prove, or something like that. Inconsistent, wildly inconsistent, tomayto, tomahto Above average production based on what? Observation? Neither do I. I just don't think he is "there" at this point; others seem to think he is there.
