Lots of NBA players are terrible defenders (for the NBA) and it's not because they don't try or don't have the physical tools, it's because defense (beyond the youth or high school level) requires talent, not just effort. Just as all players aren't talented passers or scorers, all players aren't talented defenders. I know it feels good to blast players as just "not caring" or "not trying" because it's harder to yell at a guy to "be more talented."
Yeah I really did not see that last night. Nurk was never visibly pissed at Dame. Dame's D was not great but last night he played 41 minutes (compared to Jackson who played 24 and Ish who played 29, and the two of them were a combined 9-25 and some of those baskets were off of offensive rebounds. Dame exerts a lot of energy on offense because we need him to. He will never be an elite defender because of it. Only a few are very good two way players. Not sure why we always focus our defensive problems on our guards when IMO it is our best defenders who struggle the most on a nightly basis. (Harkless and Aminu) Their focus should only be on defense, yet too many times it is the stretch 4's that are lighting us up from the outside. Last night it was Morris' turn. Are they leaving their man to help on Ish Smith? (who was 5-13) The defensive team strategy is the bigger issue IMO.
I have no problem with people calling Lillard out, but there are two stars on the team. One of which had 6 of Portland's 24 turnovers against Detroit and had 25+ turnovers in Feb alone. About 3.1 a game if you realize he had zero against Toronto. I'm just waiting for the people who call out one star, to hold the other one to the same standard. The other Star guard let KCP go 3-4 with 11 points in the 4th quarter alone. Good defense right? I'm not coming to either Star guard's defense here. However it certainly seems like every poster(minus one or two) on this forum who points out holes in one Star's game. about the holes in the other Star's game. Double standards trigger me.
So in your opinion, an ultra quick, great bball iq player doesn't have the talent to play average defense
I think a coaching change would certainly benefit Dame, this team could use a Larry Brown type at the helm.
You mean a slimy, egomaniac who is always looking out for his own best interests at every turn? No thank you.
Might have had something to do with personnel. I don't remember his NY teams being all that good on defense after he weaseled his way out of DET (was taking interviews DURING the conference finals). I hate that POS. It's 2017, and people still think of this guy as a standard for coaching.
What exactly is the 'talent'? Outside of speed and good footwork, is it brain? long arms? Or the fact that you actually have to play it and are being held accountable? Defense requires more effort than it does talent. Having physical characteristics do help (being tall, long arms, able to jump out of the gym, etc), but it's not like Damian is the PG equivalent of the 2017 version of Avydas Sabonis. He has talent. He's fast, has good footwork, he's athletic and quick. And he's obviously not stupid.
Good point, but I think his defense this season has been worse. Or at least the system of defense the team plays (and for most of the season, there wasn't a system of defense that the team played) has been worse.
Here's the thing...when Damian HAS played defense, he's played it well. Because he actually can play defense. It's just that outside of that 2 minute stretch of the season...
Yeah, because defense requires its own set of circuitry, just like passing. Harkless is quick and has solid basketball IQ, that doesn't mean he can be a good passer if he just tried harder. The idea that defense is just athleticism and effort, and doesn't require its own talent, is unfounded in my opinion.
I agree but if this was the GSW no one would be saying anything about Steph Curry defense. Winning cures all and it's not all Dame's fault!
Minstrel has posited previously that defensive talent includes the ability to consistently read, recognize, and respond to the opposition's offense in a manner that allows you to be in or get to the right place at the right time. Split second pattern recognition and reaction. If I've read and understood Minstrel correctly, he isn't saying that Dame doesn't have the physical ability to play defense, but that the mental makeup necessary to be an effective defender (which, BTW, is a lot more than simple cognition) is not necessarily a given for even the most gifted basketball players, Dame included.
