Watching LeBron and Wade harass the Bulls perimter ballhandlers into quivering piles of jelly last night, which basically I haven't seen since LeBron/Wade did the exact same thing during the Olympics in 2008, got me thinking of the instant poll question. I made it contingent on one play, since it removes the "offense" part of the equation.
I say stars simply because those guys are usually the ones with the most physical gifts to be the greatest defensive players.. Guys like Battier and Bowen and Allen are great defensive players but don't have the load to carry on offense so they can do it every single play full energy. Guys like LeBron and Wade have proven when 4th quarter rolls around they can become the ultimate shut down defenders.
I can tell you that as good as d.rose is, he has a ways to go before he reaches the level of steve nash in his mvp years. The heat's defense is perfect to stop derrick. Because a) some calls that derrick normally would get against an opponent who doesn't have a superstar pedigree he doesn't always get against Lebron, Wade and Bosh, all superstars in their own rite. Lebron especially because he has length and athletic ability. Nash on the other hand would have burned the heat defenders because he can hit shots from anywhere. So, I wouldn't quiver too much over them. Both the bulls and the heat are playing a college style game that relies on a lot of less than precision offensive style basketball. Dallas has veteran shooters and a guy that can provide offense that the heat have yet to see in this postseason. The key to beating the heat is to have a dominant inside presence and outside shooters. Dirk is going to beat on the heat.
The superstars only seem to come out and play tough defense when they have to or when they want to or against the best competition, the specialists apply themselves all the time (well that is the reason they are getting their checks, they are specialists). So I'll take the specialists. Furthermore, I think that every team should have defensive specialists alongside their superstars (similar to how the Lakers had Artest and Ariza alongside Kobe their past 2 years despite Kobe being a more than capable defender). Having a specialist alongside a superstar takes the effort off the superstar on that end (no need to guard the best opposing player) and allows the superstar to focus on leading the team to victory. While superstars may have superior physical gifts to be better defenders, the specialists just focus on one thing and one thing alone (the highly difficult task of taking on to stop/contain the best opposing perimeter player).
I'd love to have Lebron and Wade, but I sure as hell don't want Kobe. He can't play defense anymore and he's been the most overrated defender in the league for a solid decade.
He plays outstanding defense when he wants to. His job is not to defend the best opposing perimeter player so as a result, he doesn't give it too much effort. But when he wants to be, he can be world class.
Stars because they are generally more athletic and if a turnover occurs they'll be racing down to the other end to score.
That certainly used to be true, but from what I've seen of him this year, I really don't think it is anymore. The fact that he made yet another 1st Team All-Defense was a complete joke.
Sorry, but i dont buy the " he can play d when he wants to". Isnt kobe the ultimate competitor? Dosent he always want to win? to give 100% effort? Kobe can guard some guys... and some guys just blown him up and thats just the truth with all defenders. They all have some weaknesses against some guys, if its not speed, its athletism, or lenght, or smarts, or wathever, but i dont buy the " this guy defends when he wants to". Its the same thing as saying shaq hit his freethrows when they count. If that was true, he of all, would understand that when u shoot 20 fts a game, all are important, not just the last 4 of a close game. He was just a terrible ft shooter and even trying hard he couldnt hit more than 55% of them.
Well to me it all depends on the talent level of the specialist/superstar on D. For example KG is considered a superstar, but if I were asked whether I'd want KG or say Dennis Rodman to defend a particular play, I'd probably go with Rodman. But if its between Lebron (who's probably the best at everything right about now) and say SHane Battier, then Lebron.
You do realize that nobody in the NBA (except maybe Rooks who have no concept of pacing) gives it their all? Not even Scola. Playing 100% in the NBA will wear down on you so much thanks to the 82 game season. That is why the playoffs are so different; not because of all this atmosphere crap... it's because players are actually trying.
The specialist has the technique won't get screened, faked and knows his job in the team defense and buys into the concept, where a superstar might go for a steal and leave his team vulnerable. However in a 1 on 1 situation, maybe only another superstar is fast or strong enough to keep the likes of Rose from going to the rack at will. The X factor is the officiating, if it's one crucial play I want my superstar involved to keep their superstar from getting a superstar call. Refs usually swallow their whistles at the end of the game anyway, but if it's Rose vs LeBron it is more certain than if it is Rose vs Schmoe.
Within a single regular season game or Game 1 of a playoff series, I'd go with the defensive specialist, because he has the the better chance of shutting down the opposing team's best offensive guy. In a single game, the defensive specialist has the advantage because because he has the element of surprise and the offense has had no time to adjust. But if the play is in the middle or at the end of a seven-game playoff series, I'd go with the star with the defensive skills. It may be a single play, but it will come after battling with that same offensive player game after game and making countless defensive adjustments. By Game 3 or 4, the element of surprise for a defensive specialist is pretty much gone, but the star player worth his salt will probably have figured out how to better defend the same offensive player. This is my opinion after watching with surprise as Jason Kidd slowly turned into Chuck Hayes against Durant to close out the Mavs-Thunder series. The way he bodied up the much bigger Durant and stripped the ball from Durant when he went up for the shot would have made Chuckwagon proud.
I don't understand the point of the question. If all you need to do is to defend ONE play, then just give me the best defender, doesn't matter whether he's a star or a specialist.
Kobe couldn't guard Gordon Hayward in that one game late in this season, even when he tried. While LeBron is a great defender, I do find he gambles too much for the steal (see inbounds play to Rose late in game). It's like his heatchecks on offense - because he makes them enough times, he thinks he can get away with them all the time.
Still it comes down to REFFING Lebron will NOT get the touch foul call that Battier would get Lebron goes to the basket on Battier. . . blows the layup . . a call will happen. Battier goes to the basket on Lebron . . . Blows the layup . . no call and people drinking the Kool - Aid for the next two days Superstars get the calls on both sides of the ball So you have to take that advantage . . . . The lack of a superstar probably cost the Rockets games this year. . No REF RESPECT Rocket River
I don't like fans like you even though we are fans of the same team. Those players are superstars for a reason. It's because they are that damn good. It's hard to completely exert yourself on both ends for 48 minutes in a basketball game at any level. On topic though, it depends. I would say Lebron just because of his physical gifts. I would pick Tony Allen and Shane Battier over Wade and Kobe thuogh
