We might have the worst defensive backcourt in the league

The nba really needs to begin tracking more defensive stats.

There is just so little tracked that people essentially see what they want to see.

There's no perfect way to track offensive production either but at least people have a general consensus on certain players.

 

Yes and I'm also sure that we all know that a Rockets team that is missing Kyle Lowry, Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier isn't going to be a as good of a defensive team. That's not even taking the absence of Yao into consideration.

Were we playing lockdown defense the last couple of weeks before the trade? No we weren't so then why is Martin a problem? Regardless of who we roll out there at the 2 , we still aren't going to be as good defensively as we have been in the past.

Would we be any better defenively with McGrady at the 2? Nope. So we're pretty much going to be the same either way defensively, but without Martin we also struggle on offense. Sorry, but I'm still not seeing the problem.

You are absolutely correct that a defensive player's isn't always measured by his counterpart's production, but are you going to tell me a guy is as bad defensively as people are making Martin out to be and it NEVER shows up in his counterpart's production? Sorry, but if a player is that bad his opponent is going to put up big numbers some games.

 

They actually do, track defense, well paint defense and points allowed.

It is actually pretty easy, there's a stat I can't quite put the name to it that tracks how points a player allows vs. how many points he averages, it might even be a Hollinger stat.

Whatever it is, Yao Ming gets high ratings in it.

 

McGrady hasn't been an option for this team for a long time and yeah at this point he's a statue on defense. Still, not having better options doesn't make the options you have adequate.

Maybe. I think the 1on1 matchup is a better defensive indicator for bigs but you could say this thread is a little premature in regards to our team. My thoughts on Kevin Martin's defense come mostly from his previous years. I prefer my own intuition but some metrics rate him as one of the worst few defenders in the nba (atleast of the ones who play significant minutes).

 

you guys act like our D was good before that....

 

The Rockets defensive approach has been based off team defense since the Rudy T. days and has continued under JVG and Adelman. Our defense has always been better than the sum of it's parts. I have no reason to believe that once we get all of the pieces back that we won't be good defensively. The Rockets were able to be a good defensive team with Charles Barkley in the lineup and his defense was historically bad.

Martin's has stepped in and played within our team concept and hasn't been overmatched. What Martin does with the Rockets is what matters. The fact is that in the first 5 games his defense hasn't been a problem. Additionally, his offense has provided a much needed boost. Would I rather have LeBron or Wade? Of course, but that's not realistic. Martin is a much better fit than Iguadala, Butler or anyone else that the Rockets potentially could have acquired. If we reach the point where Kevin Martin's defense is our biggest issue then I'll be happy because that will mean that we are truely among the NBA elite.

 

as soon as we got Martin I was thinking this same thing

 

Nope. When there are teams like Suns, Kings, GS and Knicks. Raptors, Pacers and Nets does not strike to me as defensive gurus either. And you still have the likes of Bucks, wizards and TimberPups.

Rox have a "starting" backup that is in the bottom half of the league. Factor in Lowry and Ariza/Battier, suddenly it does not look that bad.

 

I don't think we got Kevin Martin with the goal of using him as a lockdown defender. We got him to score

 

http://twitter.com/DraftExpress

 

I dont know if I'd say the worst backcourt in the league, but the entire team is beginning to lose its defensive identity for sure. I cant remember the Rockets ever giving up 100 or more points so frequently in recent memory.

 

Are you really surprised that our defense falls off without Yao ,Battier,Ariza and Lowry? I don't think it has anything to do with our identity...we are currently undermaned.

 

The Suns?