Elite defense is great, but a team should play sound enough offensive basketball to put up points. With rules constantly being implemented to hider the defensive side of the basketball, the pendulum is artificially swayed toward the elite offensive squads, by none other than the NBA itself. Points sell out seats, low scoring games are generally more pleasing to your basketball junkies than mainsteet fans. I am generally very amicable to selecting Mobley or Green. I would even be okay with the Gonzaga point guard.I think all three guys can be special talents. But let’s remember that Elite Defenses were the prerequisite for titles in the past, but not so much nowadays. However, every once in a while the defense outshines even the biased refereeing against it.
Most of these games except game 6 were in the 120 range where the perimeter players were the most important players down the stretch. You saw a Scott Foster reff'ed game against CP, where the Bucks were bigger and allowed to play very physical and Giannis was given every call as he barreled his way to the basket like a prime LeBron. It's also a case of a 26 year old 2x MVP international superstar vs a storyline involving an old timer all time great. Which is the hotter selling story?
Elite team defense is abetted by elite individual defense. Jrue, Middleton, Giannis, Tucker All above average to elite individual (as well as help) defenders. Elite team defense still requires an anchor.
MIA, GSW, Toronto, even CLE were top 10 defenses. How soon you forget that Rockets goal was to balance top 3 offense with at least a top 10 defense.
I think Mobley will get cooked by NBA PGs if you expect him to switch onto them consistently and lock up. He may be able to that in spurts, but broadcasting he can do that all the time is setting up some heartbreak. Mobley switching out on Luka and locking him up? Kyrie? CP? Jrue? It will be a layup drill and will put him in foul trouble IMO. Mobley competing and being a positive on zone switches among the frontcourt opponents is probably more realistic dont you think?
I mean you are projecting him to be a defensive anchor in a thread about the Bucks/Giannis defense. You did the same when it was Ayton as well.....
Look at Giannis on this instant classic. He just needs to hold his ground and his athleticism takes over, but he's not switching on point guards often, and thats GIannis! How can the speculation be so rampant that Evan Mobley WILL be expected to do that? I dont see it.
And when he isn't being a defensive stopper on the perimeter then he'll be a rim protector with his frame and strength? My issue with Mobley is you can close one eye and see whatever you want which is scary.
You're right in that the best player on the team doesn't always have to be the best defensive player or defensive leader of the team. Dirk and Steph both won championships even while being really flawed defensively. However... when your best player is also the best defensive player on the team, everyone else on the team falls in line much better. Giannis - Bucks LeBron - Cavs/Heat Duncan - Spurs KG - Celtics Kobe - Lakers MJ - Bulls Dream - Rockets I really don't mind who we pick between Green or Mobley, but I would really hope Green develops into a much better player on the defensive side of the ball. Re-watched some of his games and it seems like he does try on defense, but he gets beat fairly easily (with his quickness and length, he shouldn't be getting beat baseline over and over again)... and even though it seems he has that killer instinct on the offensive end, he doesn't seem to have that will or drive to just shutdown somebody on defense the same way Kobe or MJ did. Offensively though... man he does seem like he'll be a monster and he'll be really exciting to watch. Mobley has great natural instincts on the defensive end and definitely seems like a game-changer in that sense, but on offense, I can see why people would be concerned of his lack of assertiveness, as it seems like he floats on the offensive side at times. He does seem to have great offensive potential as well though - can go left or right shoulder in the post, pretty good footwork at his age, can handle the ball, make skip passes, good form on his outside shooting. If he could develop more aggression on that end, then watch out. It's gonna be tough choosing between the two... would be nice if we could just draft both.
Oh god i cant take anymore of this. The bucks did not have to play any great teams en route to this title. I realize that isnt their fault and injuries happen, but we have never had this many top players go down with injury. This is possibly a once in a lifetime type scenario. Now i have to listen to people overrate this bucks team until the end of time SMH
instead of these endless threads on bigs vs. wings and defense vs. offense... why not just use data? What are the average ORTG ranking and DRTG ranking for the last 10,20,30 champions, and conference champions, and what are the means, and min/max on each? I'm not doing it, lol
you could say the same thing for basically every warriors championship run. injuries and luck have always been part of the championship experience.
Who said that Mobley was going to defend PGs all of the time??? Seriously, switching essentially means defending another position when a SWITCH is forced. Mobley will not and should not be assigned to defend guards all game long - this nonsense is pure Green Gang propaganda. And I have no doubt whatsoever that Mobley can lock up Luka. Mobley gets low and has great lateral ability but it's his recovery that excites me the most. Mobley is so long and fluid that even if he is beat he can still cut off the lane or get block from behind. And Mobley is a very good perimeter defender but his best attribute is actually drop coverage and defending PnR.
