I find it pretty hilarious that you and every other poster cites last years playoffs as an indicator of TJones being some kind of monstrous liability on defense. Why don't you watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMFV7WFtHm0 And tell me how many of Aldridges 43 points are a result of TJones bad defense.
He just hasn't learned how to play proper defense yet. He's got the physical talent to be a decent defender, but he hasn't learned the mental side of it. Positioning, rotations, and the like.
But but but Terrance jones is a liability because Clutchfans told me so! Josh smith is the best defender in the league! He would've shut down Aldridge! Jsmoove is the answer at PF!
Dankush, I don't know what you're trying to show me, and I stated he could get better... But if you watch the whole series the Rockets had to make adjustments to their lineup. TJones just wasn't ready and basically Howard had to help. You'll see him be behind or missing rotations on defense. Pretty much what Bobbythegreat has stated. I also clearly stated that I'm not sure if Smith would have definitely made a difference those first 2 games, but I can tell you after Houston made the adjustments Aldridge was making a more human 25 ppg or so
Exhibit A. This was game 2. I'd give you one hundred rep points for that video if I could. I've been saying this for months and eventually just stopped even bothering to reply because why let facts get in the way of a good story. We've heard over and over again about how badly LMA abused Jones when Jones only really checked him for game 1 of the series and had a decent game himself scoring and rebounding. You know the game we should have won easily if Harden didn't miss nearly every shot he took in the second half and Dwight Howard nearly all of his free throws. LMA completely abused Asik and Howard the remainder of the series and a 22 year old Terrance Jones was made the scapegoat while our two best defensive players have gotten a complete pass. I'd like to see Jones operate in our new defensive scheme before completely writing him off as defensive liability like so many here have. Defense wasn't a point of emphasis for last year's team. Jones needs to be coached up in that area, but he has the athletic ability to at least be decent. He defends in space just fine and blocks a lot of shots off ball and on ball, but he can be bullied in the post.
lol I just watched Smith shut down Nene. With Smith we can now ball with every elite big PF where in TJ you hope in a few years can do it.
LOL, are we going to re-write history and pretend that Jones wasn't a huge part of the reason LMA was so comfortable shooting the ball that he got into a rhythm and was hitting just about everything in sight? I guess we are just supposed to believe that it's a coincidence that immediately after Jones was pulled from the starting lineup, LMA stopped being as effective? Jones brings a lot as a player, but defense isn't one of those things. At all.
Absolutely. When you let good shooters get comfortable on offense, they can get hot on you. That's what LMA did because we threw out an incompetent defender on him for the first 2 games. When he had to deal with Howard and Asik defending him all the time, he stopped being as effective because he was no longer comfortable. He actually had to work for shots. Jones might make a plus defender one day, but his rotations and positioning need to be improved a lot to make him even competent.
Undersized most likely. Not that smith can **** down every good of bit size does help. Tjones has the build of a sf
Did you not watch the video? Jones didn't guard Aldridge in the 2nd game. He scored most of his points on Howard and Asik.
WTH, I can't believe we're discussing this... Go look up LMA's stats after game 1 and 2, you'll see LMA not exactly playing to his caliber. You'll also notice there's even references to Asik doing a better job. Here I'll help you: http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2014/westseries4/#$/games/20140425/HOUPOR/gameinfo.html?ls=iref:nba:serieshubs:mid:seriesschedule Look at Aldridge's stats and ppg starting from game 3 on, it wasn't just a hot streak. Rockets had ****ing issues all season long against bigger frontcourts. I like Jones but this is reaching crazy levels of bias. What you guys are basically telling me is that Jones is awesome, Houston didn't need to make lineup changes last year during the playoffs, and this year there's no use in trying Smith because we're all set... ROFL, I've been an NBA/rockets fan long enough to know if this team doesn't take risks they're not going anywhere. I'm also not saying Smith is the answer, I'm just saying it's worth a shot, unless you're happy with them just making the playoffs in the stacked West.
Well you've got that right, but it doesn't mean he wasn't supposed to. Last season Jones would get so lost when trying to make rotations that he often wasn't checking anyone at all. Let's not change history. Jones isn't a good defender, he wasn't a good defender. He was a huge part of why LMA got in such a groove shooting the ball because he didn't have a competent defender on him. There's nothing wrong with accepting shortcomings of players, even if they are players that we like.
No one is saying Jones is Mutombo on defense, just that the dropoff from him to Smith is not that big on defense. And all the numbers and videos support that. The dropoff from Smith to Jones on offense is much bigger though.
I'm referring to the fact they had to run Asik and Howard at the same time starting game 3. Obviously that wasn't the whole game or something, but it definitely helped on the Defensive end.
