Realistically, do we have the best bench in the NBA?

lookin at the stat list... the grizzlies are way beyond the worst defensive team in basketball. heh

 

I think the "Deff" stat refers to efficiency differential.
The stat glossary button on the page gets a little more technical:

.: Deff: Efficiency Recap Difference = Efficiency Recap - Opponent's Efficiency Recap

But I think you're right, looking at their numbers they weren't the greatest defensive team last year (neither were we either ).

 

SLightly off topic but I think this year's bench is going to be different than that of last year.

Last season's second unit was all about energy, youth, and speed. The bench had three young guys (Lowry, Budinger, Landry) leading the charge and included our best post offense player in Landry. Their job was to outrun and outhustle the opposing team in short spurts.

I'm not sure that same up-tempo strategy will apply to this year's bench. We still have Lowry and Budinger, but we'll also have veteran guys like Battier, Miller, and Hayes in the mix. Instead of trying to just outrun the opposing bench, I can see Adelman slowing down the pace and taking advantage of the passing skills of the players.

Overall, this bench may even be better than last year's.

 

San Antonio shouldn't count when Manu comes off the bench. Neat source though.

 

realistically, how do you judge?

 

don't quit your day job...........

 

Sort by FTmade and attempted, we are number 1...



DD

 

I hope that suppose to be from the bottom up. We won't find out until they hit the court. Plus Morey gonna make one more good move be fore the deadline. Hopefully a two for one deal or even a three for one, moving JJ.

I'll take our bench. Let's roll!

 

Should only look at the 4 best players off the bench.

Do we have the best bench? Maybe - who cares? I can't remember the last time the team with the best bench beat the team with best starters in a 7 game

 

It's debatable...

but we're up there for sure.

 

I'd say the Celtics, esp. if they add Tmac

 

Maybe not the best, but definitely in Top 5.

 

Fixed :grin:

 

This is a question that only JC Denton can answer.

 

So please explain why Steve Blake who's getting older is an upgrade over Farmar?

Further, Barnes is a solid bench player. Nothing amazing.

Odom is a great bench player.

ANDDDDDDDDDDD... that's it.

So how is the Lakers bench amazing? They have no depth whatsoever.

 

The Nuggets bench isn't all that great. I think some of you are giving them too much credit.

I think I remember reading that before and shortly after the Landry trade, we still had higher production than them.

Birdman is garbage and doesn't do much but pose and grab a few rebounds, but I'll agree with Al Harrington being dangerous. However, if his shot is off, he loses motivation quickly.

I'd take our bench over anyone's right now because of balanced chemistry.

 

I'd rather have the best starting 5 than the Bench. But then again, with Miami and Lakers leading the way... we're far behind.

 

...seems like a lot of you guys are putting more stock than you should in big names from the past sitting on benches now. Marquis Daniels - really? Nevermind the fact that Doc Rivers will suit up before he let's Daniels in the game. I think Houston's is pretty solid, but I can definitely see that 2nd unit having a hard time scoring although defensively they are very respectable. I don't know if I would say the "best" - Orlando seems to have that but we are probably a top 5 at the least.

....you could argue that our slow pace and frequent "breaks in play" for free throws negates that advantage at least a little though. I think the who's bench is better discussion doesn't really tell the whole story of why this is a solid roster though. Houston has a lot of options to play in different situational ways with this roster - there really isn't a lot of redundancy here. There is a decent defensive lineup, FT lineup, a lineup to break the zone(shooters), a small lineup, an athletic one, etc. The only thing we really lack is a stretch 4(ya, I know - Patterson was shooting 3s in summer league, but I think he gets yanked immediately if he pulls that in the reg season) and maybe a little more length at the 4 defensively. I know are defense took a step back this past year, but for next year I think an awesome lockdown lineup to preserve a lead would be Lowry, Battier, Ariza, Hayes, and Yao. If we could just upgrade Hayes to someone with a little more length/shotblocking - that would be toughest defensive unit in the league.

 

The Mavs bench is stacked. The Celtics too.

I'd say we're top 3 though.

 

i'm pretty sure us houston fans are the only people who think we have a good bench, ask a fan from any other team and no one would say that we have "the best" or even an above average bench...