Kwame is a solid defensive player...he's just terrible on offense. (99.7 On, 115.0 Off!) Do me a favor and look up the defensive numbers for the following players who are considered defensive standouts... Gerald Wallace Emeka Okafor Shane Battier Chuck Hayes Raja Bell Shawn Marion Josh Smith Kevin Garnett Rasheed Wallace Tayshaun Prince Chauncey Billups Marcus Camby Bruce Bowen Kobe Bryant Derek Fisher Alonzo Mourning Tyson Chandler Samuel Dalembert Ron Artest What's my point? Well, only one of those players turns in a negative defensive stat, and even that is just .1 difference. Nowhere near Tracy's -4.3. By the way, that player happens to be closing in on his 37th birthday. I'd say those stats are pretty much in line with what we see from/hear about these players...wouldn't you agree?
When i played here my coach always told me "Eye on the ball, and hand check to your man" here in argentina we are told to always have the eye on the ball and to know where our man goes by tact (hand checking) if not you are always going to be defeated with easy fakes.
t It is not simply how many points his man get. The defense always collapse from perimeter (at lease for the Rockets), so TMac's lazy defense either results in his man's points, or easy points in the paint by the big 4 or 5. At this point, i will give him the benefit doubt , since he is just back from injury. But I would like to see his turning on D after the all-star break.
uhh yeah..... I'm not saying youre stats dont have some truth behind it, they just aren't a good measure of individual defense IMO. Like I watch a lot of Lakers game since I'm a kobe fan and there's no way in hell you are going to get me to buy that Kwame Brown is a good defender.
Tmac was guarding Marko Jaric tonight. I mean seriously, Tmac doesn't need to play that scrub all tight. What a waste of energy that would have been. Tmac was called on to play extended minutes this road trip and paced himself nicely. What a stupid topic.
Stats can be swayed to make any argument you want. Here are some things to consider when using this statistic for your argument: 1. When Tracy is on the court, is he playing against other starters? A: Yes, most of the time he will be so expect the opposing offense to do better. 2. Is basketball a team sport? A: Yes, so drawing out 1/5 of the sample size isn't fair when considering a team stat. 3. Is Tmac expected to carry the load a lot when Yao is not on the floor? A: Yes. Rarely is Yao out that Tmac isn't out there so that leaves us without our best paint defender so at least the Rockets have a shot to score on offense. 4. When the Rockets weren't winning earlier in the year, what were the shooting %'s of Rafer, Shane or any role player? A: Worse than they are now and I've heard it mentioned several times from Bullard (who played in the league) that bad offense leads to bad defense so the numbers aren't fair in that regard with a team stat. I'm not saying Tmac doesn't bring his stuff every night to the offensive end. Frankly, I wouldn't want him to anyway. Battier is responsible for covering the hardest assignment and often that allows Tmac to cruise control it a lot of time. We need him to do that. He is our main option if teams are playing Yao like Minny did tonight. I don't think we'd be winning at the clip we're winning at if McGrady expends a lot more energy on the defensive end than he already does. Remember the block on the breakaway tonight? Remember that block to help seal the home Seattle win a couple weeks ago? Tmac picks his spots. I think that is what we as fans should expect from someone in his 11th year in the league. Don't tell me he's only 28 either because there is no telling what kind of wear and tear playing the rigors of full nba seasons before your body is done growing. The Rockets are winning and that's what's most important. There are no stats that anybody could use to build an argument. The only thing that needs to be known is by watching the game. He gets beat from time to time but so does every nba player.
I suppose none of that applies to any of these guys, right? Gerald Wallace Emeka Okafor Shane Battier Chuck Hayes Raja Bell Shawn Marion Josh Smith Kevin Garnett Rasheed Wallace Tayshaun Prince Chauncey Billups Marcus Camby Bruce Bowen Kobe Bryant Derek Fisher Alonzo Mourning Tyson Chandler Samuel Dalembert Ron Artest Also, the group that has played the most minutes together this season is Rafer, Tracy, Shane, Chuck, and Yao. Here are how those players fair in the defensive differential stat... Rafer: -7.7 Shane: -1.5 Chuck: -8.2 Yao: -1.1 Again, Tracy is at +4.3 meaning that teams score 4.3 points more per 100 possessions when he's on the court. In short, his teammates aren't bringing his number down...
I just said that I don't think Tmac brings it to the defensive end every night. He picks his spots. When looking at your list, I see good defensive guys, yes. How many offensive game changers are on that list that a team can milk? I'll go with: Bryant Billups Garnett and possibly Rasheed Wallace Bottom line, whatever the team stat says for Tmac, he helps the team win. I don't see the point in overly criticizing a player when it's obvious that Tmac isn't some all-nba defensive talent.
I didn't say anywhere in this thread that I expect Tracy to be a great or even good defender. I'm just providing information to show that, for whatever reason, he isn't. Critical? Yes. Overly critical? Only to people who don't want to hear that their star player is a lackluster defensive player.
Kwame is generally considered to be a very solid post defender. Not a great rebounder or shot blocker. Probably better in pick and roll and just moving his feet compared to Bynum.
Yes, if he want to. But in this game, whoever he defended scored!!!! It is his attitude that matters! I believe that he trusted himself can save the game at the very begining. He like to play as the God to save the team.
True. I wasn't referring to you per se about the one being overly critical. It is my opinion that Tmac picks his spots and it works out for us when he is able to have the energy to do what he did tonight, against the bucks, against the Sonics in Seattle, against the Jazz in the 2nd game of the season and so on... I guess I find it dumb for people to rant about something that is pointless to rant about. Like b****ing about how much offense Chuck brings or why doesn't Yao get more rebounds. The main reason I don't think the team stat is the best indicator though is my point #3. I was only playing devil's advocate on the stats.
I totally agree with you. Tmac has the abillity to be a good defender. But it's his lack of quickness/speed that slows his reaction so it isn't advisable to watch the ball unless you're a really quick player. tmac isn't but he has long arms so he should basically follow his man rather than the ball. This isn't conventional defending but it works really great because that's how i defend and it helps a lot! Or just watch how bruce bowen or some other nba player that people call 'great' defenders. Bruce bowen basically follows the player and doesn't even care where the balls at. So that's why bruce bowen sticks like glue to his assigned man all the time no matter what making him such a effective pest
you arent telling the truth !in fact ,IMO,the post isnt the business of whether t-mac is a good defender,he can be better (such as after his turnover ,he run over the full court to block),but he always wouldnt ,he is inactive and lazy in his defence ,in game thread ,i had pointed out:t-mac have no defence ,he wasnt playing bball,he was showing his model walk. his defence indeed hurt the team,there have been four games after he was back , offence in every game was different ,today ,he was excellent for all some neglectable flaws except turnovers,but defence in every game was same ,he nearly stand and walk with his eyes staring to defend ,it isnt defence ,let alone good defence !this game ,rockets' live origined from his offence making up for his deficit in defence ,next time ,when rockets come across an elite team or t-mac is in an off night ,how about rockets ?if there was good defence ,i think rockets could blow out wolves ,why did you yourself made the road hard ?it isnt cinema which need thrillingness and suspense.
if t-mac's contributing no defence was tactic of the coach ,by conserving t-mac's energy to contribute more in offence end ,i must say it is a very bad tactic ,forthmore,consecutive four games ,using the same tactic (if the tactic exist),RA is a very bad coach !rockets will answer for t-mac's defence someday !
It is all about attitude When opponent PF/C has a great night, we blame Yao for defense. When opponent SG/SF has a great night, Oh, it is on Shane. Not so many of funs pay much attention to defense, Coach knows, but AD cannot force Tmac to change. "Why would I change?" -- Tmac
+1 we all know yao cant defend bigmen with jump shots well ,is it a new story?this shortcoming is different from t-mac's bad defence ,even though yao defend badly today ,he went all out for every defence ,his deficiency stems from his ability ,he is scarce of athletic cell and slow reflection ,t-mac's defence is selective ,when he palys happily ,when he plays against Durant ,when the game leave few minutes,he defend ,such defence deficiency stems from his attitude .
