Interesting National take on Lillard and Hickson

Steve Nash is a horrendous defender. Always has been, always will be.

Jason Kidd was supposed to be a good defender. Andre Miller hung 52 on him.

 

It's probable that our horrendous interior defense is causing Lillard's stats to look worse than they are (guards driving and scoring against us at will), though he is definitely a little uninterested in fighting through picks.

 

I think it has more to do with the mid court help. It seems the guards are open around the free-throw line.

 

Good observation. Depending on the assignments, that stretch defense is either Wes's or Hickson's to perform. If Batum is guarding their pest on-ball player, and Lillard is guarding their shortest player, and LA is guarding their tallest player, that leaves Wes or Hickson to slide off their man for a double-team, and since Hickson's probably already moving to box out, and Wes is injured... I bet Lillard's Defensive numbers have taken a huge hit in the last 8 games!

EDIT; that's probably all easily refutable bullshit, but I feel like our team doesn't commit to a double team at all, giving only cursory help before running back to position. That's everybody's fault.

 

Yeah man and that's why I was such a fan of the late 90's team. They had arguably the best D our franchise had ever had. Even Rider was a decent perimeter defender. Greg Anthony, Wallace, Augman, Williams and Jackson were really good help defenders.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1999.html

Check out their defensive category.

Holding opponents to 41% shooting, 6th in opponents rebounding, 3rd in total rebounds, 5th in blocks, 5th in points, 2nd in SRS, 6th in DRtg, 6th in eFG%, 3rd in DRB%.

I want our team to eventually get to that defensive efficiency. Then we can start talking contention.

 

Kidd will be remembered, and rightfully so, as one of the all-time great defenders at the PG position. He's barely a shadow of his former self defensively, however. Miller's 52 point outburst is a reflection of that, not a contradiction of it.

 

....with Damon Stoudamire as their starting PG. Ugh....

Even Sabonis was a nice defensive fit. Immobile as hell, but in an era where Shaq was so dominant (and there were several other really good centers) you needed that kind of size. Highly underrated rebounder too.

 

Sabas was the all time greatest person to ever play basketball!

 

I've seen glimpses of elite anticipation from him.

His defense has been below average. I think he ends up as an average defender.

 

Lillard has a ways (defensively) to go but it took Billups a while as well.

I'd still like Neil to get him a stopper at SG.

I'd target Avery Bradley.

 

I thought Lillard was a pretty bad defender earlier in the season, but the more I watch him, the more I think he's improving. He shows flashes of being a decent defender,but he doesn't keep it together for very long stretches. Sometimes it's like he gets caught watching or falls asleep and gets beat pretty badly. He gets zero love from the refs though too. He gets called for a lot of weak touch fouls that more established PGs normally don't get called for, on top of the fact that he sometimes commits dumb, rookie mistake-type fouls.

I don't think his defense will be a long term issue. He just has a lot to learn. Just my subjective opinion I guess. I really like the kid.

 

I'm not worried about Lillard's defense. Most rookies (especially PG's) are more concerned about learning how to run the team and be a floor general. Once Lillard gets more comfortable and used to the NBA game he'll have time to work on making his D better. He as all the tools to be a very solid defender.

 

"Don't say that man can't play D!" -Rice on Lillard