Have you guys seen the latest issue of SI with Jameer Nelson on the cover...They present a poll about defense where all the coaches in the NBA vote... I'll list a couple of them for discussion sake... Three starters whose defense you like to exploit: Glen Robinson...........6 votes Dirk Nowitzki............5 votes Shaquille O'Neal........5 votes Three players not know for their defense but who are good defenders: Andre Kirilenko........5 JamesPosey...........3 Kurt Thomas..........3 Best zone defense: Timberwolves........17 No one.................3 The defenders you'd want, by position, if you needed to make one stop to win a title: Ron Artest, SF.........20 Keven Garnett, PF....13 Tim Duncan, C.........15 Kobe Bryant, SG.......12 GaryPayton, PG........12 To see the rest of the polls, check out SI's February 16th issue...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Have you guys seen the latest issue of SI with Jameer Nelson on the cover...They present a poll about defense where all the coaches in the NBA vote... I'll list a couple of them for discussion sake... Three starters whose defense you like to exploit: Glen Robinson...........6 votes Dirk Nowitzki............5 votes Shaquille O'Neal........5 votes Three players not know for their defense but who are good defenders: Andre Kirilenko........5 JamesPosey...........3 Kurt Thomas..........3 Best zone defense: Timberwolves........17 No one.................3 The defenders you'd want, by position, if you needed to make one stop to win a title: Ron Artest, SF.........20 Keven Garnett, PF....13 Tim Duncan, C.........15 Kobe Bryant, SG.......12 GaryPayton, PG........12 To see the rest of the polls, check out SI's February 16th issue...</div> That's pretty sad right there. With his size and ability he should be on the NBA All Defensive team every year. Too damn lazy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post"> Best zone defense: Timberwolves........17 No one.................3</div> Ah, good stuff! :bigthumbu But Flip gets some crap sometimes from fans for running the zone. I hope this shuts them up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">That's pretty sad right there. With his size and ability he should be on the NBA All Defensive team every year. Too damn lazy.</div> Yea, I agree with you....but to be fair, Shaq did get the most votes for "Defender who froces your team to make the most adjustments" followed by Ben Wallace and KG....but he is lazy on D that's for sure...
Yeah Shaq is lazy and stiff on defense...but that list is pretty much accurate...the Wolves have a great zone because of their length and versatility...I'm very surprised Wallace got more votes than Duncan for defense at center...I would take Wallace on defense in a heart beat over any post player...
Shaq can only guard within 12-15' from the basket. LA gets owned by the pick-and-roll because not only does Shaq have to be 23' from the basket, but the other Laker is often Fisher...and Fisher on D...
i have kobe @ #1 if i need one guy for defense to win a championship. he's been there, done that, and done it well. no one else on that list has. the only one to come close is gary payton, and he failed.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq can only guard within 12-15' from the basket. LA gets owned by the pick-and-roll because not only does Shaq have to be 23' from the basket, but the other Laker is often Fisher...and Fisher on D...</div> Not good, as you saw T-Mac put a mean cross on Shaq last Sunday. However, Shaq does not deserve to be on that list. There's much more defenders I'd love to eat up with a cross in the NBA. What about Derek Fisher? The defenders you'd want, by position, if you needed to make one stop to win a title: Ron Artest, SF.........20 Keven Garnett, PF....13 Tim Duncan, C.........15 Kobe Bryant, SG.......12 GaryPayton, PG........12 Love that list right there, that's a perfect defensive lineup. Kobe and Artest defend well around the perimeter, and as you know, Payton is "the glove" and is due for a defensive stop when you need it.
Kind of digging up an "old" topic but I just want to say that if it came down to one stop I would take Tracy McGrady for both guard spots as the go-to defender. I may be going out on a limb here but I will say that this guy is the best defender in the league when he's putting forth maximum effort (and on a possession that could determine the champion, please believe that he will put forth that effort). No I'm not high.
^ I was a bit surprised GP made that list...He was a great defender but he's no where near what he use to be....I'm not sure I would have that much trust in him
