The real question: What has happened to our defense?

Kevin Martin happened

 

Kevin Martin has to be one of the worst defenders I have ever seen, I don't think it's an exaggeration either.

 

Martin has no hustle and intensity on defense. Literally none.

 

The question should be this: With M&M, how does Rox play the defense?

 

Kevin Martin's defensive move: Look stunned
Luis Scola's defensive move: Stare
Miller: Feet in concrete

 

Having a 7'6 center and a 7'2 backup center (who by the way was the 2nd all time shot blocking leader) helped a bit

 

Yes, Martin is the main problem

 

What happened to our defense..? I don't know maybe because we don't our 7'6 center.?

 

Yes. we really need Deke now. He is a great player.

 

By *ok*, I mean average. For games through the trade deadline, their defensive efficiency was 107 (league average last year was between 107 and 108). After the trade deadline, with Kevin Martin, it was at 112. You could say that the drop had to do with the new players and the realization that they were no longer playing for a playoff spot, but that's still really bad. And its continued into this season.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

even before martin came our defense was mediocre but we still scrapped. That's gone too this season as well. Adelman doesn't need to be replaced but maybe some of the assistant coaches. A bigger center would help and getting shane a drink from the fountain of youth, or more realistically, traded. At this point, I don't see Bud ever being a good defender.
Defense may start with your center defending the paint but if you don't have that, you need quick perimeter defenders. That's our weakest point imo.

 

Elston Turner is not a good defensive coach at all.

He was unmasked at that no-bearing preseason game vs. DAL. Horrible coaching; I still shudder when I remember the ending. When CLee messed up and Turner had Yao guarding the inbounds passer.

Many were saying it's no-bearing; no worry. But it shows the quality of our bench strategies and sadly that's where we are hit most greatly.

Poor composition of the roster and poor coaching = 4-11 record

It's not measured by the point differential in our games. It's how and why we are losing games. It's like we fold up when we are hit by the opponent with a scoring run. We are soft and we have no leader on the court to toughen us up and bring on the energy.

 

Interesting, that's with Ariza still here sharing time as well. We maybe have to experiment with a zone with all these liabilities on defense.

 

From next game, DNP Martin and Play JT