The old cliche..... defense wins championships. I'm biased but SA has got to have the best on paper.....TD plugging up the middle, Bowen as one-on-one specialist, Manu a pest (just ask R. Jefferson) and IMO one of the most underated defensive player...Horry. Any thoughts?
Spurs for sure Two top 5 defenders in the starting 5..with good defensive players like Horry,Rose e.t.c coming off the bench...Team defence is overall great.
Like I said before, defense doesn't win championships...the best combination of offense and defense does....either way just looking at things on paper the Lakers seem to have the best defense...they have two of the biggest intimidators in the league (Shaq and Malone), still arguably the best defending point guard in the league (Payton), and one of the better overall defenders in the league (Kobe)...the Spurs will be right up there with the Lakers though...both teams have a good combination of offense and defense thus they are regarded as the two favorites going into the season...
Team Defense- Spurs. They just flow so well as a unit, switching, etc. Individually- Lakers. Shaq is still one of the premier defensive centers in the league, Kobe on of the best defenders, Payton one of the best defensive players still, and Malone is a good defender as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Vintage:</div><div class="quote_post">Team Defense- Spurs. They just flow so well as a unit, switching, etc. Individually- Lakers. Shaq is still one of the premier defensive centers in the league, Kobe on of the best defenders, Payton one of the best defensive players still, and Malone is a good defender as well.</div> Against who? (bolded) I agree with everything tho.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J-MAC:</div><div class="quote_post">Spurs and Lakers</div> Good way to follow up on Vintage's opinion... but giving us the short version.
Yea it's not that Malone is that great of a defender, but he is a great intimidator. Take last nights game, for example, he just straight out knocked Maggette out the game, and was ready to get into a fight with Simmons. He can get a team riled up and out of their funk. One thing to notice about all these great defense teams in the league today is that they all have atleast one weak link in their starting lineup. The Lakers have George who isn't regarded as a great defender. The Spurs have Parker, the Wolves with Wally. Just thought that was somewhat interesting.
Defense doesn't necessarily win championships. The Jazz have an awesome defense, but they won't be winning any championships any time soon. My choice: Pistons
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BallerAK47:</div><div class="quote_post">Defense doesn't necessarily win championships. The Jazz have an awesome defense, but they won't be winning any championships any time soon. My choice: Pistons</div> you are taking that a little to far... I think Good Defensive teams with people who can actual score and lead a team wins championships... Utah Jazz don't exactly qualify.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">you are taking that a little to far... I think Good Defensive teams with people who can actual score and lead a team wins championships... Utah Jazz don't exactly qualify.</div> I never said they had a great offense. I said they have a great defense, and they do have a couple decent scorers that will develop down the road
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J-MAC:</div><div class="quote_post">Spurs and Lakers</div> I agree. Spurs have Duncan the shotblocker, Bowen the man-to-man defender, and Kevin Willis the bruiser. Lakers have Shaq the shotblocker and anchor, Malone the intimidator, GP the Glove, and Kobe is one of the tops in steals. Fisher can take some charges too and Fox (when healthy) and George can create problems. The Wolves ain't bad either. KG is all-first team defense, and Maddog can cause fits. Kandiman has shown signs, but it is a shame that Wally is such a bad defender. Pistons have Ben Wallace. They are one of the best out East.
I think it does come down to Spurs or Lakers. I am curious to see how the Lakers team D comes together as the unit feels one another out as the next week or two goes on. I do have to say though, Bowen is a far overrated defender. He was playing 'great defense' against Kobe in the WCSF last year, and Kobe still averaged 30+ a game on 40%+ shooting. He couldn't even contain Kobe, let alone shut him down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Manu:</div><div class="quote_post"> I do have to say though, Bowen is a far overrated defender. He was playing 'great defense' against Kobe in the WCSF last year, and Kobe still averaged 30+ a game on 40%+ shooting. He couldn't even contain Kobe, let alone shut him down.</div> Overrated? try underrated....He didn't even make all NBA defensive first team...Also find me a player who can "shut down" kobe....Bowen did a good job of forcing Kobe into tough shots..and many times during the season he kept him in check....I have yet to see a player completly shut down kobe..There is a reason for that.You can't stop him...Contend him yes and give him problems by forcing him to make bad shots.....and in Game 6 of the Spurs v Lakers series thats what happened..Kobe shot 9-19 and didn't come up with the goods in that game...Bowen had alot to do with that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Manu:</div><div class="quote_post"> I do have to say though, Bowen is a far overrated defender. He was playing 'great defense' against Kobe in the WCSF last year, and Kobe still averaged 30+ a game on 40%+ shooting. He couldn't even contain Kobe, let alone shut him down.</div> Bowen is a good defender, but IMO the factor making him look better was back- line defense. Duncan and Robinson and heck, even Willis are hard guys to get around and shoot over, and also remember that Kobe's shoulder was hurt.. On the Valentine Day game (Lakers vs. Spurs) Kobe put up 40+ points on Bowen so I don't think Bowen is really as good at defending Kobe as people make him out to be. But that is not a discredit to his game; I mean, nowadays, superstars cannot be stopped individually, it must be a team effort.
Spurs..maybe lakers or pistons.. oh wait i gotta throw in Kevin O'Neills Raptors....According to MArcus Camby, we(raps) have the best de in the league...we'll see.
spurs have the best defense. next come the pistons and lakers two teams that will be great great defensive teams by the end of the year Pacers: Got a heady defensive minded coach. Have key players in place in JO and Artest, Harrington that all show great instincts on their side of the court. Harrington is long and is already becoming an elite perimiter defender, couple that with artest and that is one scary as hell combo on the wings, with JO playing goalie in the middle. Rockets: Were already a top 10 defensive team last year....mainly with the shotblocking abilities of yao and griffin cleaning up the inside. Added Van Gundy who is a defense fanatic. Instilling a sense of urgency on the defensive side of the ball to players who other wise do not play defense with much intensity consistently (franchise, cat).
