I have not read this whole thread, which I will do in a moment... but Carl Landry is the reason that Deron Williams was able to get a lay up to tie the game in the end of the 4th. He isn't playing a lick of help defense. EVER. I'd rather see Scola at least try to play defense then Carl completely missing rotations and having no idea how to help in the lane other than to swat at people too late to actually block it. That is all. Now I will go see if someone else said this same thing.
and what should my wandering eyes find on the first response to the post... DD and I agreeing on something. Landry may be able to dunk, and now shoot a pretty little jumper, but he MUST play better defense... before he makes me lose my mind. And DD and I agreeing on something... must be the holiday season. (sorry for the two posts in a row, I couldn't help myself)
that's convenient for you to excuse the fact that he had a help-side block on defense to end the 1st half. but i guess one play towards the end of the game does prove that he "NEVER" helps on defense
Which would you rather have, a block when it doesn't matter or someone playing defense to keep the lead with 20 seconds left in the game? I choose not to give up the freaking layup. I was being dramatic by saying he never covers. How about I say instead he only goes for the block instead of playing fundamental keep Deron Williams out of the lane when it matters instead of being late and having to swat at the ball on a block to recover. Does that make his defense sound better? He doesn't play good help defense. He just doesn't. He tries, sometimes, but he just doesn't make the right rotations to protect the basket all the time. Look, I love what Carl brings to the table... I love how he hustles and works hard offensively. I just want him to learn to be smarter on the other end of the court so he can help Yao and the point guards by playing consistent help defense. Edit: I forgot to say, that help side block wasn't a help defense block, it was a crash the boards someone got the offensive rebound let me block it now block, was it not?
and i'm sure by "block when it doesn't matter" i hope you mean regular season 30 games in. cuz if you remember, Carl had the "the block that mattered" when Deron Williams got around Rafer last year in the playoffs
I was wondering why it took so long to mention that....but i think its pointless to argue who's better, they are equal in half the things they bring to the table, and in the other half they are opposites....so the question should be, who's better suited to play alongside the others? Unfortunately, i'm not even sure that question can be answered right now since they still haven't shown what style of play will define them (since they keep having injuries).
From what I've seen, Scola is the starting power forward, but he also gets a large chunk of his minutes as center when Yao is resting on the bench. Landry gets minutes as backup power forward, but often plays at the end of games, with and without Yao. I get the feeling that this rotation has as much to do with Scola's versatility - his ability to play center and PF - and our current lack of another option at center, as the two player's individual abilities. If Mutombo does return to the Rockets, I think Adelman could consider modifying this rotation. For example, I'd like to see how Landry and Mutombo do as a backup frontcourt, offensively and defensively. And if Scola is required to play less as backup center, I wonder if Adelman will start playing him more in the fourth with Yao.
