That's a good point but in my opinion defense is not a skill. I mean if you work hard, if you really focus on that you can be a great defender. Of course you can improve in your shooting but if you are not a shooter than you won't become a shooter. For me defense is all about energy, effort and focus. Of course it depends on who you are quarding but you can't call it a skill. T-Mac genrally is a great defender but he doesn't use and show it too often. But he can really defend and if he only wanted he could become as good defender as Battier is. If you ask me about free throws. Well Tracy you gotta take it easy. I mean sometimes he is just so angry cause he missed his last 2 or something like that and on every other attempt he is just to nervous thinking something like 'oh I have to make this one'. He just gotta take it easy, relax
i kinda bated you into this one, i do have an opinion I think FT's are mainly about shooting mechanics, most perimeter stars like Lebron and tmac learn how to shoot quickly with hands in their faces. They generally have bad trajectory and overal mechanics. Then when it comes time to shoot FT's they shoot the same way but as everyone knows when you are doing something wrong to begin with (however effective it is) it doesn't translate elswhere. I think the defense is only a small part intensity and hustle (much less than most people think). I think it is mostly what i call "Defensive Basketball IQ" Battier has terrible lateral movement, speed, and quickness but his DBIQ is off the charts. He know where most guys are going way before they get there, its the only way you can put your hand sooo close to a guys face without touching him at all. Tracy doesn't have it IMO, but he can be effective if he tries really hard because he is 6-8, is atheletic and usually guards smaller guys. I think guys like Battier, Bowen, and Artest are just seen as guys who work really hard but I think it has to be considered atleast partially a skill. If it wasn't, how could you explain so many "intense" competitors being bad at it?
When Head isn't scoring, he's making good plays and cuts. He's one of the very few players on our team that can create for themselves and their teammates. This makes me worry about our long term plans for our non-guard spots. Landry, Scola, Hayes, Harris, etc. can't really break down their man to get shots off or create shots for their teammates.
I agree, Bball IQ has a lot to do with defense. I remember Adelman said one thing : 'You gotta have clever people to be a good defensive team' and I agree with that. Heart also is very important cause most of the guys just don't care about defense. You don't see it in stats, box scores. And you know they kinda care only about points, asist, generally about offense. But guys like Shane, Bowen (especially) or Artest are just smart. In real basketball defense wins games. That's why Bowen is a starter in San Antonio. They put him on opponents best scorer and they don't have to worry about double team. As for free throws: guys like T-Mac, LeBron used to shoot with arms in their face and maybe it is a differense. I sounds like freethrows are just way to open for them. Maybe, but in my opinion it is all in T-Mac's head cause you gotta make your free throws (he was 7/9 last nigh - a lot better) especially when you are as great shooter as Mac is.
You can' really compare last season to this season. Luther was only standing at the 3pt line and waitng for a pass from McGrady. Let's face it - we didn't have any offense last year, that's sad. But Adelman prefers cuts which can make guys like Head and Jackson open not only on perimeter
