Its too early to evaluate most of our team let alone Bev who only had his minutes bumped in a 6 game playoffs series..
My conclusion was based on me watching the Rockets series and cheering for hi one minute and groaning the very next as he just let his man shoot uncontested shot after uncontested shot. And if he's doubling Durant, I didn't say anything but my buddy sitting next to me at the home games can tell you how many times I pointed out when he wasn't even doubling and didn't even make an attempt to run at his man and get a hand in the guys face. As for Memphis trusting its perimeter defenders more, I saw them throwing double and triple teams on him plenty of times. But somehow they were able to control Jackson while doing it. And usually he wasn't getting wide open looks so he didn't shoot the ball as much.
+ / - is a terrible indicator, especially when you have a guy like Durant that can hit some undefendable 3s. If Durant gets hot and your teammates screw up, your + / - is in the toilet through no fault of your own.
When your series number is crap, plus you have a negative -37.6 net +/- which is like the second highest to Greg Smith, then I think there's some truth to it. Plus throw in the eye test and seeing Lin play passive and injured as well.
I hope you all realize that our whole defensive philosophy was to prevent Durant from getting the ball, prevent Durant from getting a good shot, prevent Durant from this and that this and that? This is the reason why Reggie Jackson got open so many times and Kevin Martin started heating up in Game 6. It was a sacrifice we had to take or else Durant would've torched us without the ball pressure. Beverley has better than average defense, but it is unfair to use this playoff series as an example.
? Sorry, not following. Who's + / - is -37.6? Beverley? My eye test tells me Beverley didn't play that badly in general hustle but got burnt by Jackson. My eyes could be deceiving me.
It's still misleading. In Game 4, when Kevin Martin shot 1-10, he was still a +2 while Durant was a -8.
We blocked off middle penetration and left Jackson and sefolosha open to double durant. The was the game plan so of course it would look like Beverly left his man open. Imo, Beverly could hold his own against Westbrook if he were reverted back into his bench role and not have to play starters minutes, but about 20 mpg.
I've never thought Harden was overrated. In fact, I took off half a day from work to go see his welcome press conference b/c I was thrilled to see him on the Rockets.
Oh yeah by itself sometimes it can be misleading but sometimes it fits perfectly with the eye test and along with other stats.
I agree that's the game plan but even on the playground if I see the pass swing to the open man I'm gonna run at him and try to throw him off a little (though I'm usually waving my hands wildly and screaming like a madman when I do). That's what I didn't see from Beverley... An attempt to even try to alter a shot...
Not just Rockets fans. McHale, JVG, and many other impartial observers have all said he's a strong defender. The "he's a poor team defender" commentary is interesting. First of all, "team defense" is something you pick up with experience. He's been in the league for half a season. Secondly, a PG's first defensive responsibility should be ball pressure. Of all the positions, I think a point guard's help defense is the least important to a team's overall defense.
Bev did attempt to alter some but the Thunder just spread the floor well. The screens and Durant help really got him. He needs to work out the pick and roll coverage with Asik. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MqlFg2fW6p4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Why the hell are you responding with Lin? I'm stating that + / - is not a good stat when assessing Bev's defensive ability. SMFH.
Where are the plays of him standing around doing nothing like OP said? The only points by Reggie were from Beverley's help defense on Durant and on the PnR which is just as much Asik's fault.
