<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>George is average (melo061 will emphatically back me up on that one</div>Well judging by his analysis, he sure emphatically backed you up.
[quote name='Rok' post='268755' date='Jan 22 2007, 01:16 AM']And you know these Mavericks right, your in their heads knowing that their worried. Please. Rockets feel great about a superstar swingmen coming in because of Battier? I'm supposed to buy that. Kobe doesn't put out an effort every night on the defensive end, so your telling me Lakers should not worry when a swing star comes in. Very few teams have man to man defenders at every position. Don't tell me it's the opposite of the realm and Mavs are the minority. Like I said, that's bullsh**. Especially regarding star players, because as I've said this entire time. And it applies to worrying as well, every team has the same issue. Your telling me teams don't worry when a star comes in?[/quote]Rockets should feel a lot more confident with a top notch man to man defender in Battier guarding another team's superstar than the Mavs should. Again, throwing words in my face. Mavs are not in a minority, a lot of teams have similar problems. But mostly all of the elite teams have a very good man to man defender that can contain another superstar (assuming they can match up, like you can't put Kidd on Dirk). No one on the Mavs is a very good man to man defender. Average defenders. They play great team defense, but there is not 1 player on the Mavs that I consider a very good man to man defender. I can pinpoint teams that have very good man to man defenders that can do a good enough job on the opposing superstar that they won't let that player single handedly bring a team down. I never said Dallas didn't deserve to win that series or it should have went the other way. What happenned happenned. But for the future, if they can't contain opposing stars better than they have the past 2 years, then they will likely be downed. I'm not basing everything off stats. You don't have to look at the stat sheet to see Wade destroyed the Mavs D to win the championship or that the Mavs have no great man to man defender. They play very good team defense, and it is definately improved from last year. But they don't have any great man to man defenders, and it is exposed a lot and not just at one position. Therefor I am sick of hearing that they are one of the 2-3 best defensive teams in the league.
OMG, just shut the heck up Nitro.Harris has become one of the better defensive PG's in the entire league...many people besides us have been saying that, how about listening to the experts, OR, how about actually watching the games without your mind made up already.Howard is an above average defender, Diop is ONLY known for his defense, and Damp is above average as well.You keep on spewing the same garbage over and over and you haven't proved your point one bit.I bet even if the Mavs win the title, you'll still say they wont' be able to do it again because they are overrated.Let me know when Tmac actually wins a SERIES, much less a title.I think you're just bitter about Houston being the 3rd rate team in the state.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marvinmartian @ Jan 21 2007, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey Rok, mavsfan, just let it go...Nitro is one of those guys that will go on and on, saying non sensical crap to confuse everyone, just so he can say he didn't lose this arguement.</div>I almost posted about how Nitro truncated Kobe's stats. He ignores the fact that Kobe scored less than his season PPG twice against us this year.But I figured he'd say something about the Lakers being a team and blah blah blah, which would be a waste of my time, so I didn't bother replying.
Rockets should feel a lot more confident with a top notch man to man defender in Battier guarding another team's superstar than the Mavs should. No they shouldn't, they'll still be sitting at home in June.Again, throwing words in my face. Mavs are not in a minority, a lot of teams have similar problems. But mostly all of the elite teams have a very good man to man defender that can contain another superstar (assuming they can match up, like you can't put Kidd on Dirk). No one on the Mavs is a very good man to man defender.Once again, you have NO idea what you are talking about. If Harris, Howard, Diop or Damp(Well maybe not with Yao) were on the Rockets, you'd be propping up their defenseAverage defenders. They play great team defense, but there is not 1 player on the Mavs that I consider a very good man to man defender.Have you seen Harris play?I can pinpoint teams that have very good man to man defenders that can do a good enough job on the opposing superstar that they won't let that player single handedly bring a team down. I never said Dallas didn't deserve to win that series or it should have went the other way. What happenned happenned. But for the future, if they can't contain opposing stars better than they have the past 2 years, then they will likely be downed. Harris does a good job on Tony Parker. Howard has done a decent job on most swing Superstars, he just doesn't always guard them the whole game.No top team has a guy that'll keep Nash, Kobe, Dirk, Tmac, Amare or the like in check. You are ignoring the plain as day facts, and making up crap.I'm not basing everything off stats. You don't have to look at the stat sheet to see Wade destroyed the Mavs D to win the championship or that the Mavs have no great man to man defender. They play very good team defense, and it is definately improved from last year. But they don't have any great man to man defenders, and it is exposed a lot and not just at one position. Therefor I am sick of hearing that they are one of the 2-3 best defensive teams in the league.Well you must be looking just at the stats to totally miss the fact that Dirk had a bad series, Howard and Harris hit slumps at the wrong time, and the Mavs just didn't have the experience or make up to actually win the title yet.But you'll see...
[quote name='Marvinmartian' post='268774' date='Jan 22 2007, 01:37 AM']Harris has become one of the better defensive PG's in the entire league...many people besides us have been saying that, how about listening to the experts, OR, how about actually watching the games without your mind made up already.[/quote]He's average defensively, probably one of their top 2 perimeter defenders. Howard isn't above average, Diop and Damp are decent but against the West they will continually get pounded on by the likes of Yao, Brand, Duncan, KG, Boozer, etc... Do you even know what point I'm trying to make? If Mavs win a title it will be because someone steps up as a defender to slow down a Yao, Wade, T-Mac, Kobe, Duncan, Boozer, etc.. WTF? Where the hell did this come from lol? I never said he'd win a title. I'm very happy where Houston is, especially going 9-5 without Yao. When healthy they are a top 4 team in the West.
Alright guys, I'm sick of arguing this, especially to 3 or 4 Mavs fans. Bottom line is you can say all you want that no matter how much the opposing stars go off they never have an answer for Dirk and Mavs always get the win. But I promise you in the playoffs that they will likely face a team that has a superstar and a player that will slow down either Howard or Dirk. In which case, unless Mavs don't want a rerun of the 2006 Finals or a really, REALLY close call like the semi's last year, then they will need to a better job on the opposing superstar. Yes, you can't stop a superstar, but at the same time you can't let Tim Duncan go for 30/11 on you, nor can you let Wade go for 40PPG for a 4 game span (as much as I love Wade, he is simply not the kind of scorer that will do that against a good defender). Don't get me wrong, the Mavs are a very good defensive team in terms of team defense, but they could definately use a really good man to man defender. That is all I am saying, I just feel that their defense is overrated for that reason and that reason only, and if they lose in playoffs I feel it will be because of that weakness and no other reason (because, truth be told, this team is stacked in almsot every single way).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jan 22 2007, 06:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When Kobe was expected to score he put up 17 points in the 3rd quarter. Throughout the season he hasn't even averaged 19FGA against the Mavs. I think he proved he can score against you guys last year when he dropped 62 and 40+, and this year in 2nd half of the first matchup between the 2 teams.</div>lol at you bringing up a game from last year. The mavs have had success 4 games straight against Kobe and have gone 3-1 out of those. I'm not worried about that anymore as we got the personnel to challenge any superstar and make him earn his points which is usually the most you can do against SUPERSTARS. I'll look up those players you consider good defenders and prove you wrong it I felt like it. I'm not wasting the time though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 22 2007, 02:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol at you bringing up a game from last year. The mavs have had success 4 games straight against Kobe and have gone 3-1 out of those. I'm not worried about that anymore as we got the personnel to challenge any superstar and make him earn his points which is usually the most you can do against SUPERSTARS. I'll look up those players you consider good defenders and prove you wrong it I felt like it. I'm not wasting the time though.</div>I'm glad you're not worried, but I still feel they don't have the man to man defender to slow down an all star swingman. We shall see, although in the past week Wade and T-mac lit you up. If you guys can improve on that one flaw, then you guys will virtually be unbeatable. But if you don't, then you will once again tempt fate like last year.
He's average defensively, probably one of their top 2 perimeter defenders.You want to talk to us about us using our opinions, when this is an opinion yourself...and it's way off to boot. I've heard and read many experts talk about how Harris, while still a work in progress because of his shooting, is already one of the top defensive PG's in the league.You really have an ingnorant view if you keep on ignoring guys that know more about it than me and you.Howard isn't above average, Diop and Damp are decent but against the West they will continually get pounded on by the likes of Yao, Brand, Duncan, KG, Boozer, etc...Howard is above average, and sometime even really good. That's why he's compared to Marion, and is actually, IMO, a better all around player offensively and defensively.And then you add your little tag about Yao...how laughable. You diss everyone of the Mavs and then prop up Yao like he's a dominant player in the playoffs...he's not.Besides, it's not the Bigs out west that give the Mavs problems...in fact you're whole point is how the Mavs couldn't stop Tmac, Kobe, and Wade from going off...Centers and PF's getting points haven't caused the Mavs to lose games.As a matter of fact, Nobody going off has costs the Mavs games so far this year. Everytime someone has a good quarter or half(Kobe/Tmac in the last 2 weeks) the Mavs HAVE in fact stepped it up and pretty much shut them down in the late stages of the game...WHEN IT MATTERS THE MOST!!!Do you even know what point I'm trying to make? Yeah, I know what you keep saying, but you:1) are not proving your point at all, as a matter of fact you're getting destroyedand2)you really just seem like you're dissing on the Mavs, when you have no reason too.If Mavs win a title it will be because someone steps up as a defender to slow down a Yao, Wade, T-Mac, Kobe, Duncan, Boozer, etc..Once again a Yao comment, hahahaha. Once again, most of these guys don't give the Mavs problems, even when they do score alot of points. And agian, even if they do, it don't mean jack if the other team loses because everyone else is shut out.I'm very happy where Houston is, especially going 9-5 without Yao. When healthy they are a top 4 team in the West.But still WAY behind the Suns and Mavs, and that just eats at you.
Dallas's defense had nothing to do with kobe's scoring.Kobe's mentality has simply changed. He simply does not have the scoring mentality anymore. How many times this season has he decided not to score alot but instead involve his teamates. He has done this multiple times against shiity defensive teams. Kobe raped dallas last season because his mentality was way different. He was In Kill mode last year. The only way to contain him was hope that he was off. That is the real reason why kobe hasn't scored alot . Again, if you want proof watch the games against memphis and nuggets. Soft Defensive teams but kobe decides he won't be agressive. It had nothing to do with D. It had to with KOBE'S Mentality.If anyone realised, lakers were winning with kobe only taking 3 shots. Then the game got out of hand because we were getting raped on the boards.If kobe was in kill mode, he would've taken more than 20 shots and 18 shots. I've been watching kobe for a while know and I understand his tendecies. The only way to Contain kobe is either a) He is offb) Mentality isn't therec) Doubles thrown at himAll 3 have happened this season. The only time I saw kobe contained was against the rockets and that was because he has injured groin and stopped driving.If you notice kobe this season, he comes out and is passive as hell. Then later in the game, he has no shooting rhythm and is ice cold. Against dallas, if kobe was in kill mode he would've been Way more agressive.If kobe is agressive as hell and is being contained then I''ll admit dallas can contain kobe. But imo, that's utter bs. Dallas cannot contain kobe. The only individuals who can do that is kobe and PJ.
[quote name='Marvinmartian' post='268804' date='Jan 22 2007, 02:45 AM']You want to talk to us about us using our opinions, when this is an opinion yourself...and it's way off to boot. I've heard and read many experts talk about how Harris, while still a work in progress because of his shooting, is already one of the top defensive PG's in the league.You really have an ingnorant view if you keep on ignoring guys that know more about it than me and you.[/quote]I have heard experts say Gilbert Arenas is approaching MJ level, and that Wade is far superior to Kobe. Bottom line is the experts watch the same games we do, see the same stats we do, and make judgements based on that like we do. The only difference is that they are either great at editorializing it, debating what they see on TV, or are a great TV personality (Stephen A. Smith). What they say makes little difference on my opinion. He IS better than Marion offensively, I'll give you that. But Marion is clearly a better defender and rebounder IMO. I don't see much of a comparison between the 2, they are much different both offensively and defensively. He's a far different player than he was 2 years ago in the playoffs, just like how different Dirk is now (much more balanced as a scorer, better rebounder and slightly better defender). After Mac went down last season Yao turned into a monster and continued it this year. This year he was the best big man in the league before going down. It did last year against TD when he out up over 30/10. Your best attribute defensively is ytou do have 2 pretty good low post defenders in Dampier and Diop. But they still can't guard the athletic frontcourt of Amare and Diaw (when he plays PF/C), they are not big enough or physical enough to effect Yao, and TD was pretty big against them last year in the playoffs. But yes, the bigger problem defensively for the Mavs is the perimeter defenders. Uh, yeah there have been games where other players going off has cost them. GA going for 38/8 on 15-27 shooting, Boozer had a 31pt game in a Mavs loss, Yao went off for 36 on 12-16 shooting in a Mavs loss, etc... Not to mention very close calls, specifically against Phoenix where Amare and Nash had huge games, Utah where Boozer went big again, against the Heat yesterday, etc.. I'm sorry if you think I'm dissing the Mavs for no reason. But IMO they are overrated defensively, and everytime I hear of a player going off on them it reminds me of the Finals where they DID lose because of that one weakness (sure, Haslem played great D on Dirk and not all mavs players played their best, but if they didn't let Wade single handedly dominate in clutch situations in games 3 and 5, and if they didn't let him go off for as much as 40PPG in last 4 games, they would have won). Once again, NBA Finals, Nash in game 1 vs the Mavs, or for another example Cavs/Wizards where Bron's teammates were crap. Superstar players can win games for their team if you allow them to. After last season, I am just happy that T-Mac has been somewhat healthy and playing well, Yao has emerged, the role players are stepping up big, and this team is 10 games over .500. In playoffs they will be extremely dangerous.
The finals was rigged. Wade got every call in the book. The refs made Wade unstoppable. Not the mavs. You need to get over yourself with this one time he did this stuff. The nba is an 82 game season. 1 game isn't going to make a huge difference. The mavs in the long haul are a good defense team and sometimes great. Superstars are definitely more feared than anyone else because of the idea there is no way to stop him. You can only hope to contain him and if the refs get involved with superstar calls you are in even more trouble. There is not one player in the league that will be the answer to all superstars at any particular position. The only bad defenders on Dallas are Terry, Dirk, and Stackhouse. Everyone else is above average.
[quote name='mavsfan1000' post='269170' date='Jan 22 2007, 05:25 PM']The finals was rigged. Wade got every call in the book. The refs made Wade unstoppable. Not the mavs.[/quote]LoL. Chicago and NJ were both able to keep Wade in check for the most part. Chicago has always done very well against the Heat because they have a fantastic perimeter defender in Hinrich to really slow Wade down (they lost to Heat because they had no inside presence, but with Wallace they are now IMO the best defensive team in the league). NJ had Kidd to put on Wade, and while Wade had a big game every once in awhile, he wasn't allowed to go off big time (again, NJ had no presence down low and Shaq killed them). Refs certainly gave Wade a lot of calls, but Mavs also didn't play very good defense on him. I don't know what you are referring to when you say 1 game. Wade did that for 4 straight games last year against the Mavs, and this year. T-Mac, GA, AI, Kobe when depended on to score, and nash have all been very successful agains tthe Mavs this year. Not just a one game thing. I compltely agree. But many people, MANY are touting them as a top 2-3 defense in the league, and I just don't buy it. If they had one great man to man defender on the perimeter or a great presence down low, then it'd be a lot easier to call them a top 2-3 defense in the league. But without that I feel they are very vulnerable, especially during playoff time when they could potentially play teams with 2 or 3 superstar caliber players. I never said stop a superstar. I said contain him. That means keeping him to his averages or slightly above them. Wade had over 13 more PPG in last 4 games against Mavs than he averaged during season. TD had over 12PPG more than he had during season. When Nash was expected to carry scoring load in game 1 he blew up (ultimately without any inside presence the Mavs were allowed to stick on the jumpshooters, thus making Nash's assist total go down and no one outside of Nash or Diaw was effective). When Kobe has been expected to score a lot agains thte Mavs he has. T-Mac just dropped 45 on you guys last week because of no Yao. Bottom line is Mavs are definately a very good defensive team, and if they win a championship it will be a big part of it. But IMO they still have a pretty big weakness in not having a great perimeter defender and/or low post presence (Dampier and Diop are both pretty good post defenders, but neither scare a player going to rim or keep a player from penetrating for fear of shot being blocked). Again, I never said that any team can stop all 5 positions. BUT, most of the top tier teams have a player that is either a great perimeter or low post defender. That makes a big difference. Mavs play fantastic team defense, but I feel the lack of a great man to man defender and/or low post presence ultimately is a weakness that will be exploited in the playoffs, and if they lose it will likely be for that reason.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Alright guys, I'm sick of arguing this, especially to 3 or 4 Mavs fans. Bottom line is you can say all you want that no matter how much the opposing stars go off they never have an answer for Dirk and Mavs always get the win.</div>That wasn't even my point. Go and look back at what I said and start comprehending that. No teams fit your criteria of being able to contain superstars. So quit bothering to try and say there is a team. Unless you name one, which you continue to avoid, than this argument was over on the first page. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Again, I never said that any team can stop all 5 positions. BUT, most of the top tier teams have a player that is either a great perimeter or low post defender</div>That's your opinion and I strongly disagree. You pointed out guys like Battier, and Kobe as great defenders. Those guys to me aren't great defenders. Also, I don't see these top tier teams having those great low post and perimeter defenders. I look at the Suns, see Raja Bell. That's it, the Spurs, see Bruce Bowen. He's on the downhill and has been burned as of late. Again, another top tier team that does not have guys who can contain superstars. And it shows this year as I stated ESPN ran a clip of Spurs being burned by opposing superstars for an entire week. Than, we move on to Heat. Kapano? Give me a break. Posey is a good defender but he's not great and has been burned. Same goes for Zo as well. In fact I believe Damp is better defender downlow. He bodies better and doesn't just rely on blocking shots. So honestly, your argument has holes and you've yet to provide a team that can contain every superstar. So again, laugh every time the Mavs let someone off, I'll just shrug it off because guess what nitro. Every team deals with.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jan 22 2007, 06:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That wasn't even my point. Go and look back at what I said and start comprehending that. No teams fit your criteria of being able to contain superstars. So quit bothering to try and say there is a team. Unless you name one, which you continue to avoid, than this argument was over on the first page.</div>Teams can contain superstars. When I say contain I don't mean hold below average or totally shutdown. By contain I mean not let them totally go off for way above their season averages. If you are asking me what the best defensive team is with least amount of holes, it is the Bulls. They got a fantastic perimeter defender in Hinrich who slows down Wade everytime they play each other, other pretty good perimeter defenders, and great presences down low in Wallace and Brown. They have great defenders, man to man defenders, in both the paint and on the perimeter. They play good team defense, and IMO are the best defensive team in the league. Houston is a very good defensive team, but like the Suns, becaus eof the tempo they play the stats are a bit decieving. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>That's your opinion and I strongly disagree. You pointed out guys like Battier, and Kobe as great defenders. Those guys to me aren't great defenders. Also, I don't see these top tier teams having those great low post and perimeter defenders. I look at the Suns, see Raja Bell. That's it, the Spurs, see Bruce Bowen. He's on the downhill and has been burned as of late. Again, another top tier team that does not have guys who can contain superstars. And it shows this year as I stated ESPN ran a clip of Spurs being burned by opposing superstars for an entire week. Than, we move on to Heat. Kapano? Give me a break. Posey is a good defender but he's not great and has been burned. Same goes for Zo as well. In fact I believe Damp is better defender downlow. He bodies better and doesn't just rely on blocking shots. So honestly, your argument has holes and you've yet to provide a team that can contain every superstar. So again, laugh every time the Mavs let someone off, I'll just shrug it off because guess what nitro. Every team deals with.</div>I strongly disagree about Kobe not being a great defender. Sure, during the season he doesn't do it every night, but in 2nd halves, in clutch and in playoffs, if you need him to guard the other team's best perimeter player, he does it and does it extremely well. Look at what he did to wade last week, what he did to T-Mac a few years ago when he was put on Mac in 4th, among many other times. You don't make as many all defensive teams (many of them being all defensive 1st teams) as he has for no reason. I also really disagree about Battier not being a great defender. He always gets a hand right in your face, is very fundemental, great at taking charges whether on perimeter or down low, and generally very good at challenging and staying in front. Not extremely athletic and won't get many steals or blocks, but I think he is really great defensively. Suns are a bit of an exception. They got an offense unlike anything in the league, and about 5 guys that can go off on any given night. Marion at times is great on ball defender, and Raja is decent (EXTREMELY overrated). Amare is a lot better than previous years in post, but they suffer similar defensive flaws that the Mavs do. They play decent defense, but the tempo they play at gives other teams pretty easy oppertunities a lot of the time. But they do have decent perimeter defenders and low post presences with Amare and Thomas. Spurs have a great defender in Duncan and Bowen (Bowen, while not the defender he once was, still gets a hand in the face and plays fundemental ball). Heat have Haslem (who did a fantastic job on Dirk in Finals), Posey, Zo (who is one of the biggest presences down low in the league), and one of the best off ball defenders in Wade. You keep putting those words in my mouth. I acknowledged that no team in the league can contain a superstar at every position. Most teams are usually one dimensional defensively, a great perimeter defender but crappy down low (NJ, Chicago of last year), and many teams are vice versa. Dallas is one of the best teams in the league at rotating on D, helping out, and generally being feisty and getting after it as a team. But they don't have a defender at any position that I would consider very good or great, and in playoffs I think they will need to step it up a bit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Teams can contain superstars. When I say contain I don't mean hold below average or totally shutdown. By contain I mean not let them totally go off for way above their season averages.</div>Teams don't consistently contain superstars. I disagree with that and I made my point about it being consistent in my other posts. There will be times, teams play good defense on opposing stars. But that's far and between. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>You keep putting those words in my mouth. I acknowledged that no team in the league can contain a superstar at every position. </div>Case in point, my point I made on the first page. Which is why there was no argument in the first place. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I strongly disagree about Kobe not being a great defender. Sure, during the season he doesn't do it every night</div>Exactly why to me he's not a great defende. To be a great defender, you put your best effort on that end night in, night out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jan 22 2007, 09:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Teams don't consistently contain superstars. I disagree with that and I made my point about it being consistent in my other posts. There will be times, teams play good defense on opposing stars. But that's far and between.</div>Of course every once in awhile a player will go off, but I highly doubt you will see one player consistently go for over 13PPG their averages like Wade and Duncan did to the Mavs in the playoffs last season.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Case in point, my point I made on the first page. Which is why there was no argument in the first place.</div>I stated, more than once, that no team in the league can contain a superstar at every position. The only team that I ever saw in the past decade or so that could do it was the Pistons of 03-04. In the Finals the one game they lost was when they let Kobe go off in game 2, but otherwise they played great D on him and the lakers ended up losing in 5 games. They didn't let him go off consistently like the Mavs let Wade do.But Dallas' problem is that at NO position can they contain a star player from another team. They do not have any defenders that can play great man to man D. In playoffs when they will have to face teams like Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, possibly Denver, and the Lakers, I think this flaw could give them huge problems, especially if Dirk is held to average or below average. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Exactly why to me he's not a great defende. To be a great defender, you put your best effort on that end night in, night out.</div>Give me his all-defensive caliber defense in the playoffs and on the other team's best players in 4th quarters over Harris or Buckner playing consistently average-good defense.
Honestly, your still over this like I'm talking about the Dallas Mavericks and I don't believe they have trouble with superstars. When I clearly know that, my point is that every team faces the same troubles with containing superstars. So again, comprehend my point, otherwise keep babbling. Like I said refer to my post and see where I'm denying any of this regarding the Mavs. The fact your agreeing with my point(teams can't contain superstars consistently), shows that the argument was over on the first page.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Give me his all-defensive caliber defense in the playoffs and on the other team's best players in 4th quarters over Harris or Buckner playing consistently average-good defense.</div>Some bad comprehension problems eh? First off, I don't know how Harris and Buckner came into this. But I'm talking about Kobe's defense. I don't care about the others because were talking about whether I think Kobe is a good defender or not. And I stated my reasons for him not being a great defender. Because he doesn't put a consistent effort night in and night out. But for some odd reason, you decide to reply to that with I'll take his defense over Harris and Buckner. Um ok. Great for you I guess. I don't remember me being put forth the question or having to answer which defense I would take. Only my take on Kobe being a great defender or not. Comprende?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Jan 22 2007, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The fact your agreeing with my point(teams can't contain superstars consistently), shows that the argument was over on the first page.</div>But see, that is not the problem I have with the Mavs. A superstar will have his occasional burst, even if he is against one of the best defenders in the league. But mostly everytime he will not sustain that through the series and the defender will keep him somewhat in check. The Mavs haven't shown they have a player that can somewhat keep a superstar, specifically swingmen and perimeter players, in check. There is a huge difference in Kobe going off for one or two games in a series, single handedly carrying his team to a win (game 2 vs Detroit) but rest of series being held in check (in that particular series he was stopped cold). Now, I do not expect Dallas, or any team in the NBA right now outside of possibly the Bulls, to hold Kobe anywhere near 23PPG on 35% shooting like he was against Detroit, but I think it is a decent example that superstars will occasionally blow up no matter the defense. But if you are a championship team, you should be able to somewhat contain that player for most of the series. You can't have Dwyane Wade going for 40PPG through the last 4 games of the Finals. Do you get where I'm coming from? yes, every team will have trouble with superstars, but if you got that great man to man defender you can wither the storm far better and likely won't have a player blow up for the whole series.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Some bad comprehension problems eh? First off, I don't know how Harris and Buckner came into this. But I'm talking about Kobe's defense. I don't care about the others because were talking about whether I think Kobe is a good defender or not. And I stated my reasons for him not being a great defender. Because he doesn't put a consistent effort night in and night out. But for some odd reason, you decide to reply to that with I'll take his defense over Harris and Buckner. Um ok. Great for you I guess. I don't remember me being put forth the question or having to answer which defense I would take. Only my take on Kobe being a great defender or not. Comprende?</div>My point was that while you may not think Kobe is a great defender, I'd take his all-defensive team capabilities and let him show it off in 4th quarters to slow down the opposing star's best player anyday over a consistently very good defender. Had nothing to do with bashing your opinion or trying to change any minds, I just feel that when he decides to play top notch defense he can against pretty much any swingman in the league. To me that warrants him being a great defensive player, and in playoffs when he is facing, say a T-Mac, he can slow that superstar down and give his team a much better chance at winning.
