Don't be so negative on those two guys. We're already asking them to contribute heavily on the scoring end. It's just that opponents know how to attack AB now and they're loading up on him when we're on offense. We just need to help mask his defensive liabilities. RA should try experimenting getting him coming off the bench WHEN Lowry is healthy. We've also taken a big hit because Lowry has been less than healthy as our season started. The rotation of the our bigs has really been frustrating. DM should sit down with RA and put some sense into him or else, we'll be in a deep hole early. He had a better rotation of bigs in the preseason.
You know what I don't get, AB played some good defense in the preseason, but now he's playing **** defense. Rick needs to hold our players more accountable on the defensive end and quit worrying so much about the offensive side of things.
Martin and Brooks should not be seeing much time on the floor together unless the PG/SG combo on the other side is O deficient. Lowry/Martin and Brooks/Lee combinations are the only way you can mask some of the problems.
Man this thread is full of panic. AB has struggled, but he has struggled before and come out fine. Martin has also struggled, so has Lowry, so has everone. Right now the entire team is struggling with whom they are as a team. JVG used to have to remind his team that they had a 7'6" monster in the paint late in games...sometimes players would forget that.......he used to joke that he would introduce the team to Yao....just to let them know. That is what is going on, the team needs to be reintroduced to Yao..... AB will be fine......he is a top tiered PG in the league....Kevin Martin will be fine....Kyle Lowry won't go 0-7 often, the entire team will be ok....we just need a better committment on defense and more trust with each other on offense. I would like to see they get a bit younger in their subs, but I am not holding my breath. DD
I think that you can play Yao 24 minutes and Scola 30-25 minutes and split the remainder of Yao's minutes between Miller, Dampier and Hayes. Adding Dampier means that you will be seeing Miller and Yao on the floor together for stretches. You know that Adelman is going to do that, and in my view the reasons for that are obvious. In any event, Miller is a good high post scorer and passer, a decent rebounder and shot blocker, and won't get in Yao's way on the low block.
That makes sense..... I just hope Miller turns out better than all the other veterans Morey has signed, which were pretty bad. So far, he is good in the draft, and pretty bad at getting veteran players he thinks "have tread left" DD
DD, Brooks is a terrible defender, he deserves that criticism whether you like it or not. -P1st, S2nd
Sorry, I disagree, I think he has issues with peeking at the ball and loses his man, but is fine when he concentrates. His offensive game has been developed, and now he needs to work on his D, he will never be the defender that Kyle is...but he can be average, and use his quickness to gain an advantage. It is the same I feel about Martin...it is all a mindset issue...they view their value as players on the offensive side of the ball, and the coaches need to get them to give more effort on defense....they can do it.....they just have to WANT to do it. DD
No, it is what a lack of concentration and mental focus is all about. Brooks needs to stop looking at the ball when others have it, and losing his man...it is a matter of focus, and attention to detail.... When I say peeking it means he is looking at someone else that has the ball rather than at his man..... DD
Wow. It's that easy. Take AB out for Chinese food and tell him how easy it is if he just thought about it some more. Maybe prescribe him some Ritalin for focus, and human growth hormone so he can grow and bulk up a little. I'm not trying to be mean, but you are glossing over the whole nature vs. nurture aspect of being a good defender.
Come on P1....I realize that he values himself as a basketball player on the offensive end, and that some changes need to happen. I am not blind, I am just sticking up for a guy that is way underappreciated around here. If Calvin Murphy can become an adequate defender so can Aaron Brooks. It is all a matter of "Want to" and accountability. DD
There's a reason why AB sags off his defender, and it's not because he is capable of playing up on his man.
Look, don't you find it funny that Brooks is getting toasted for his defense while the entire team has been lit up, and that includes stalwarts like Battier..... The entire team is in disarray, all because they don't know who they are...or who to trust, or where to go with the ball on offense or where to funnel their man on defense. It is 2 completey different teams...1 with Yao, one without..... They are gonna figure it out......I believe. DD
I don't think AB is underappreciated at all; in fact, I think that he is going to help us win more games than he causes us to lose. I do however take issue with a defense of AB that is not based on what he has done or demonstrated on the defensive end. I don't intend to dismiss the value of potential that can be realized through persistent, conscious effort and good coaching; it's just that IMHO defense isn't just about "concentration" and "peaking at the ball". For instance, Mugsy Bogues did a lot to minimize the adverse impact of his size by crowding his man on defense and relying on his speed to guard his man off the dribble. Maybe coaching is to blame here, but AB has not shown an ability to stay in front of bigger guards on dribble penetration, which is why AB sags and has to worry about "peaking on the ball". I hope that AB turns into a capable defender, but Brooks will never be an "adequate" defender by simply racking up a bunch of steals (Calvin Murphy did more than that). If you want to be an adequate defender like Calvin Murphy, you also have to help reduce point production. My litmus test for "adequate defense" in the backcourt is how good the player is at forcing turnovers without stealing the ball (forcing a bad pass on a drive or close-out), and by contesting jumpers and layups. We need to see more of this from AB by the All-Star break of we should not hesitate to trade him for an equal defensive liability with more offensive punch (Carmello), or a slighly lesser offensive force with a much better all around game (Igoudala) if either opportunity presents itself.
P1, There have been numerous games where AB did just that and outplayed players like CP3, Chauncey, Rondo....he is just not consistent at it. Do I think AB is a good defender? No, but I think he is an average one....and gets blasted for being poor. In the Denver game, he guarded Billups and Aflalo, both of them struggled against him....had bad games... AB did too....so to me, that was a wash...... What AB has to do is stop making mistakes late, those are killers.....and he needs to start hitting his shots, because some of the best defense is wearing your guy out on the other end of the floor. As for him being underappreicated? You must be under a rock, look at all the threads calling for his head, lol....the entire team has sucked, yet AB is getting blasted... Even some people have said, start Lowry...the same Lowry who was 0-7 with 3 assists and 3 turnovers....oh sure he got 7 rebounds, which is really good, but if you can't shoot, you are not going to be all that effective. As I have said in previous threads......whenever both AB and KL struggle we are not going to win, period. DD
Of course Brooks struggled against them. How else do you explain his early foul trouble? Also, it would be incorrect to assume that Billups' poor shooting game is the result of good defense. Martin shot horribly from the 3 pt line, but they were open shots. Denver didn't necessarily play good defense....Martin just missed.
you do understand that you want to trade one the most potent offenses in the league...if it really comes down to it, you trade 1, but not both. If I had a gun to my head, I'd trade brooks cause we have a legit backup/starter in his place. Agree on trading battier, but FAIL at the notion of trading Scola. Scola will retire with the rockets :grin: :grin:
