man, the Heat forum has been dead lately, so lets get it cooking. Zo a lock for Defensive Player of the Year Alonzo Mourning is playing like he's 25 instead of 35! When Mourning came to Heat last year everyone, including me, thought he was washed up and just came to Miami for a ride to the Championship. Who would of thought he would be leading the NBA in Blocks, FG%, and be the Heart & Soul of this team. Not to mention starting and playing without Shaq or any true backup Center. (Doleac and Barron have been out) Players for generations to come will be watching film of Alonzo Mourning playing defense. Simply amazing the timing he has when blocking shots. Even players who can jump higher than him can rarely dunk on him. (Yes we all know Vince got him a few times, but who can't VC dunk on!) Zo mentioned after his 9 blocks against the Knicks that as big a factor as getting a block is being able to keep the ball inbounds. Sometimes players swat at the basketball trying to prove a point by sending it to the 3rd row. But Zo tries to keep the ball inbounds and in turn leads to fast break points. Zo credits Bill Russell as the pioneer of Defense and Blocks. Most players in the NBA don't give half the effort that Zo gives on the Defensive end. Thoughts?
YES! 9 blocked shots! You know people make fun of Zo getting dunked on sometimes but they gotta remember he blocks more shots than he gets dunked on. 9 blocked shots by a player who had a kidney surgery and didn't play for nearly 2 years? and he's 35 years old? I don't care and am not sure if he will continue to play like this all season long but he's showing his heart to play basketball and play it to win. If he keeps playing like that, he might be voted by coaches to play in an all star game for the last time. That will be great for him...
''It was an unbelievable block,'' Wade said. ``He's probably the best defender in the league, probably the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year right now just by the way he changes the game. He blocked nine shots, but he changed more shots than that.'' Zo should win the DPOY. This league has gotten so accustomed to Ben Wallace that they forgot what a real DPOY is like. Per minute, Zo is a more productive player than Ben Wallace. Plus, Zo doesn't have the benefit of being surrounded by 4 great defenders like Ben does. Zo is the best defender on the Heat team, period. You can't say that about Ben.
Marcus Camby? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Heat4Life:</div><div class="quote_post">Zo is the best defender on the Heat team, period. You can't say that about Ben.</div> Who on the Pistons is a better defender than Ben Wallace? If anything, his defense makes it easier for the rest of his team.
I'm definitely lovin Marcus Camby right now. Mostly because he's on my fantasy team. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting heatfan:</div><div class="quote_post">Zo credits Bill Russell as the pioneer of Defense and Blocks.</div> How come this skill isn't widely practiced? I know that making a statment with a 5th row block does discourage the team if they're on a run or whatever, but turning it into an advantage for yourself is the best choice.
I think ZO is the frontrunner but not by much over Camby hwo is having one hell of a year. I agree that Ben isn't the best defender on his team, Tayshaun Prince is. Artest will always be there as well. I wonder if Stan will consider starting him if he keeps this up.
Nah I think Stan will shuffle the roster. So when Shaq sits down, it still doesn't give the other team any room in the paint. Zo only averages about 25+ minutes and still averages 4 blocked shots.
Just because Zo is still a very good shot blocker doesn't mean he is the best defender. His impact isn't the best in the league. He just blocks plenty of shots. Teams still attack him. Players are not scared to drive the lane. At this stage, It's hard to go against Camby. Although his team's record may effect his chances. Which is why big Ben will always be right up there. Once Shaq returns then Zo won't be in the running for long.
Mourning is playing much better than I thought he would and hoped he would because of what he did the the raptors. 9 block is an amazing feat especially when your that old, and that much of your skill has deteriorated. Marcus Camby is going to get some love or he should this year but I think Zo will be up there on the ballot.
Alonzo has been really impressive this season, another year older and hes still blocking people as if hes got those young legs. Its simply amazing the blocks he makes, they change games; everytime he blocks a ton of shots like that at home the crowd cant get enough of it. At his age to still get up there and block people like that is fascinating, people, ZO still has it in him truz me. He was blocking like crazy VS. the Knicks but my favorite has to be the block where Channing Frye refused to take the open jumper and tried to slam it on Zo ...haha funny how that ended. What was Frye thinking? If Zo keeps this up he can definitely win Defensive Player of the Year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">Alonzo has been really impressive this season, another year older and hes still blocking people as if hes got those young legs. Its simply amazing the blocks he makes, they change games; everytime he blocks a ton of shots like that at home the crowd cant get enough of it. At his age to still get up there and block people like that is fascinating, people, ZO still has it in him truz me. He was blocking like crazy VS. the Knicks but my favorite has to be the block where Channing Frye refused to take the open jumper and tried to slam it on Zo ...haha funny how that ended. What was Frye thinking? If Zo keeps this up he can definitely win Defensive Player of the Year.</div> Yes blocks are exciting, but just like steals it doesn't mean you are defending well. Is he defending well, you tell me.
Zo? No. For the simple reason that even if he did win people aren't going to go out and buy his jersey, and the league knows this.
Who votes for DPOY? People always talk about how the league percieves things in terms of money making, but are they going to start calling the voters up and telling them to vote for someone that can sell? Zo definately has been the DPOY this season, no doubt. He also had 7 blocks today.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheAnswer2:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes blocks are exciting, but just like steals it doesn't mean you are defending well. Is he defending well, you tell me.</div> Of course he is defending well. ???? ???? How can getting a block not mean that you are defending well?? I can see maybe with a steal you can get lucky. But a block is the purest defensive play you can do. Mourning is defending as good as he has at any time in his career. And to do it at 35 years old, after a kidney transplant is just remarkable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting heatfan:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course he is defending well. ???? ???? How can getting a block not mean that you are defending well?? I can see maybe with a steal you can get lucky. But a block is the purest defensive play you can do. Mourning is defending as good as he has at any time in his career. And to do it at 35 years old, after a kidney transplant is just remarkable.</div> Well, Artest isn't a shot blocker, and he's a top 3 defender in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheAnswer2:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Artest isn't a shot blocker, and he's a top 3 defender in the league.</div>Perimeter defense and interior defense are two different things. Zo's defense has a far bigger impact on the game and really forces the opponent to adjust their offense. And while they do play a big role in guarding perimeter players, you really can't compare the two.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post"> Who on the Pistons is a better defender than Ben Wallace? If anything, his defense makes it easier for the rest of his team.</div> i think what he was trying to say is that zo is the clear cut best defensive player on the heat where the pistons have ppl like sheed and tayshaun who are considered elite defenders as well....more ppl benefit of zo then he benefits off them... that's not definately tru for big ben
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">Who on the Pistons is a better defender than Ben Wallace? If anything, his defense makes it easier for the rest of his team.</div>Rasheed Wallace (most underrated defensive PF. he proved he's the best after he shut down Tim Duncan in the Finals). And Lindsey Hunter. Also, the Pistons have a defensive system where they position themselves to force their player to the shot blockers if they get beat. So yeah, Prince, Sheed, and Ben's shot blocking/long arms make everyone's lives easier but that's by design. The Spurs have their defense designed the same way and Tim Duncan picks up a couple of easy blocks because of their defensive schemes.
That just proves how good of a defender Ben is in the first place. If the team is willing to force their opponent into Wallace, it a testament to his shot-blocking and defense. The other players around Ben don't make his job easier, if anything, their reliance on his shotblocking, increases his workload and he makes it easier on them. I'm not making an argument for Wallace over Mourning for DPOY, because Zo's been a monster so far. But to suggest that Ben Wallace never deserved the DPOY title the last few years and isn't even the best defender on his team is ridiculous.
