Are we watching the same games or what? Everyone's talking about "Defense" is Kenny's motto this year. Where in the hell is it. He got lit up by Shareef for 28 pts. 18 rbs. in game one then by Brand for 26 pts. And the best are yet to come in Garnett, Duncan, etc..... Just look at Shareef, he's not even a natural power forward. He's a small forward playing out of position. Brand is a great talent with heart and desire, reminds me of Barkley, (undersized, but won't back down from no one). But what is Kenny going to do when he faces taller power forwards who are playing their natural position. I got so sick and tired of hearing about Kenny's great defense in overtime of the Hawks game, especially on Shareef. If Kenny would have played better defense through regulation then we wouldn't have needed overtime. Guy's this is just my assesment on Kenny's defense that is waaaaaaaayyyyyy overrated. I sure would be glad when Rudy throw Griffin in the fire and get experience. Because let's face, Kenny would serve a better purpose coming of the bench with Willis and Mooch.
Funny you should mention Duncan. After Kenny was forced to start against the Spurs last year, Duncan praised Kenny's defense.
Regardless of his defensive skills (which could be better), I really like Kenny's offensive skills. He does a good job slashing to the basket but needs to work on his finishing. I also love the fact that he is left-handed. Left-handed players in the NBA have always created an extra degree of difficulty to their defenders.
Really??? My bad...is just seems he has an above average driving game with his left hand. Maybe he's just amphibious!!
J-Bone, I do not agree. He is a very good defensive player which is not reflected in the stats. In fact the "thin frontline" thread has the stats for the Atlanta game. Atlanta frontline, led by Rahim, had 11 turnovers and shot a very low percentage for which Kenny played a role. In fact as the 5 and the 3 gets their act together defensively Kenny will be even more effective. I would agree with the apparent lack of desire and heart. You mentioned Barkley and that is so correct. Offensively KT is trying to finesse the play and Barkley would be punishing. KT should let his defenders feel him. Afterall, he is a power forward, or supposed to be. Let's get some hard fouls and a little intimidation going.
I wanted so badly to post in all those "KT's a defensive STOPPER now" threads.... There are two things keeping Thomas from being even an average defender: 1. Desire - If he can somehow do what Cato can't, then this can be overcome. But, I've watched him for too many years with his hands stapled to his side to think he'll get the "desire" to even put his hands up on defense. 2. Instincts - I just don't think Kenny has them. It's sorta like the pro-KT argument for his offense: "He get's great position" "He has great footwork" "He has good hands" "He has good post moves" If you can't put the biscuit in the basket, then all that don't mean JACK! So, on defense, he could have the best fundamentals in the NBA (which he doesn't), but if he can't stop his man on a consistent basis, then that don't mean poop.
Kenny's defense vs Rahim wasn't that bad,Rahim is just a great player. Kenny stole the ball from around 4 times. It's not for the lack of desire or that Kenny is just a plain bad defender. The bottom line is that he's only 6'7" and always outsized. There's nothing he can do about it. That's why I would Rudy to start giving Griffin more minutes cuz he's taller and block more shots.
DREAMer, who ever said that KT was a defensive stopper? could you please copy the post for me? pretty please? i'd love to see who, exactly, said that. or are you just overdramatizing for effect and credibility?
j-bone, re: brand... how many points did brand have against the spurs? 27. how many against houston - in Overtime, no doubt ? 26. stop b****ing, please.
In fairness to KT, it's not like he could play defense from the bench. He was in foul trouble most of the game. He did get lit up by SAR though...
So are you saying that since Kenny held him to 26 then give him credit? No, it ain't gonna happen. It seems as though I struck a nerve with you on that one but who cares. I'm not b****ing at all, I'm just saying stop putting emphasis on Kenny's "Great Defense on Brand and Shareef", when he's getting lit up like a fire cracker. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.
j-bone, first of all, let's establish some common ground: do you believe elton brand is a top PF? an elite PF? a franchise player? to me, the answer to all the is a definite YES. second, he had 26 & 13 against KT, Willis, et al. against the spurs vaunted "put-the-clamps-on-ya" defense, he had 27 & 7 in less minutes. he was under 50% against KT, and over 50% against the spurs. #1) as a franchise post player - against what is accepted as a second or 3rd tier pf (KT) - you are SUPPOSED to put up 30+ points. #2) as a franchise post player - against what is accepted as a second or 3rd tier pf (KT) - you are supposed to fare better than you did against another franchise post player (tim duncan). #3) the clippers ran their offense primarily through brand. when you factor that out, that tells me that KT did a good job on brand. not excellent, but definitely above average. brand is a monster. a guaranteed 20 & 10 every night. if you can keep him below 30, you've done your job. KT did his job. if you disagree, you tell me what you expect a post defender to hold a franchise post player to? what would you expect to hold tim duncan to? chris webber? brand is right along side those players, j-bone. to hold him to those #s is no shame. it's holding your own. now, when you chip in 11 & 5 in 28 minutes against him, you've done a good job. gimme those stats against any other franchise big man, and we'll win 9 out of 10 games...guaranteed.
Man it feels weird defending Cato, but Cato is actually showing heart and desire, especially on the defensive end. Not only is he holding his ground and blocking shots, but he's taking charges. I still feel that KT is a back-up and we need someone to step in and start at PF until Mo returns.
Verse, I agree with everything you said. I respect your basketball knowledge, but I also know that I have basketball knowledge also and I will dispute it with anyone. If you go back and read my first post, you will see that I never did say that Brand nor Shareef are not top players. Let me say this again, I'm saying we need to stop saying that Kenny is a great defender if he's going to get burned for 28 ppg. All I'm saying is that if he got burned in the first two games by Shareef and Brand then what do you expect when Duncan, Webber, Wallace, Garnett, McDyess and Malone come to town? All of these players are franchise players and all of their offense run through them also. Just because Kenny has quick feet, good footwork, quick hands, etc.....that doesn't make him a good defender. Until he put those together then that's all he will ever have. I would take Barkley's skills over Thomas' anyday. Now lets make this clear, I'm not making comparisons with Barkley and Thomas because that's like comparing apples and oranges. All I'm saying is that with Barkley, he didn't have quick feet, quick hands,height, defensive skills, etc.....but he didn't let elite power forwards burn him like Kenny. He knew how to play the game and body up on players and outwork them. I'm not disputing that Kenny is a good player, I just don't see the "Good Defender" that everyone else is seeing.
verse, Man, you're being more defensive than Kenny T. will ever be. The title to your thread read: myths exposed...Cat & KT's defense was outstanding... "outstanding". Outstanding defense. What else does "outstanding" mean? Then crispee posted a thread about how KT wanted to make defense his "calling card". No, you didn't say the word "stopper", but I'd think anyone who was an "outstanding" defensive player, would be a stopper. Yes, I was exaggerating for effect, but why would I be overdramatizing is for credibility? Did I think I could fool all the BBS members into thinking someone actually did say KT was a stopper? Or did I know everyone on the board read the same threads as I did? hmm.. Also, it irked me a little to see so many people jump on the "KT's new defense" bandwagon after ONEgame. If history stays true to form (not saying it will), we will say many many more poor defensive games from KT, than good ones.
DREAMer, so you're a patter seeker. ok, fair enough. KT's defensive pattern has not been stellar, granted. but, wouldn't you agree that people have the ability to change their patterns? especially when it comes to "defense". defense is 100% effort. and thus far, kenny has given that effort. and the results have been outstanding. notice my thread title "KT's defense was outstanding". that's not calling him a stopper. that's not calling for him to be All-NBA Defense 1st team. it's saying he did a good job on Shareef and a good job on Brand.
j-bone, trust me on this one. if kenny holds those guys to 28ppg on 26 shots, we will win. brand is in there with those guys. and kt held him to those #s. there's no reason to think he can't do it again.
