Where does Cuttino rank defensively amongst the two-guards?

Since you don't have an option between elite and above average, I'll say elite. He works very hard on his D which he's damn good at. Not to mention, he's the best defender on the league's best defensive team.

 

what is your definition of best defender on the team? He is problably the one who tries the hardest on defense, but yao and cato are the most influential in the rockets being a league leading defense.

 

I put "above average." Mobley's excellent as long as he's facing a single defender one-on-one. He has some problems getting posted up... and I don't think he's a good help defender at all.

 

Cuttino hasn't gotten the NBA all-defensive 1st or 2nd team in his career, but he is an above average defender. If anyone wants to see an elite defender at the 2 guard spot, watch tapes of Kobe during the championship runs.

 

Above average

He's really busting his butt out there. Almost "angry" like.

I like!

 

Definitely not elite. Part of his success is embedded in the the Rockets' excellent team D. Probably above average and I'm being generous because he brings his "A" defense almost every night.

 

elite = Vernon Maxwell when he played for the rockets

 

Iverson has quick hands and plays the passing lane all the time. It really isn't a fair comparison. If I had to shut down a two guard with no help defense and was only given the option of Cat or AI, I would take Cat. But if I needed a steal in the final moments of a game, there is no question its the answer

 

I am having a hard time understanding what your are saying. I said myself that I would like Cat better as a defender with no help. But if you needed a steal in last few seconds....


it is a hypothetical. In this world, you don't have to play the man the whole game. Like spongebob would say... It's Imaaaagination. And if you wouldn't take AI over Cat in that situation, thats fine. You are blind, but that's fine.

 

He shuts his man down -or at least keeps him under his average - better than anyone else on the team and more often.

 

All you have to do is watch how JVG and Cuttino talk to each other on the bench...

Cat gives Jeff 100% of his attention and does exactly what he says. Or at least works his butt off trying. I think he really took defense to heart once he started working with JVG.

You can tell when a player believes in his coach.

It makes you understand why players like Spree, Houston, Ward, M. Jackson and Ewing remain loyal to JVG even to this day...regardless of his strict coaching style.

Tough love!

He's preparing them for a living HELL = The play-offs!

 

Hmm. I don't think I like that definition of "best defender," really. Primarily because help defense is probably more important than individual defense, ultimately.

As much as I dislike him, Pippen was an excellent defender. Better than anybody we have on our current team. However, he was only average man-on-man. He played the passing lanes extremely well and gave great help D. Cat's sort of the opposite.

 

How much do you think him being slightly below average height for a 2 guard inhibits his ability to be elite?

 

I used to wonder if Cat would ever play good defense...

Then I thought about Joe Dumars. If he could become one of the best defending 2-guards at 6'3", 195lbs, then so can Cuttino.

No one guarded Jordan better than Joe.

 

Doug Christie is better

 

I put elite. Defense is an unbelievably underrated part of Cat's game. He was damn good last season, and I think JVG has only made him better. And as for the help D part, I don't think that is as important for the guards as it is the frontcourt. Basically Cat just needs to be able to rotate to the open man on blown defensive assignments or double teams, and I think he does that as well as anyone on the team. I agree with haven that he is not great on post up defense, but it really isn't that often that an opposing team's shooting guard posts up against the Rockets with Yao Ming and Kelvin Cato patrolling the paint.

 

03, i think u should've taken one of the options off, like he sucks, and put another positive one, like decent, or very good. Cause thats what i think he is. He is not elite, but neither is he just 'above average.' Few reasons he is not elite: he is only like 6'5, and he's only an average help defender. He plays his man one on one excellent. Not many better than him. But u almost never see him playing the passing lanes that much, or even reaching in to steal from his own defender. You almost never see him in foul trouble. I actually wouldnt mind him being more aggressive, and go for a couple steals here and there, cause he has 2 big guys backing him up if he gets burned. He is quick enough for it. Maybe it will come. But i would rate him decent to very good.

As far as him better than Iverson. I stand by my decision. U know Cat's probably my favorite player in the NBA, but u cant go wrong w/ a guy who leads the league in steals almost every year. Doing it again this year, AI is. Case in point, the Seattle game just yesterday. He had 4 steals at halftime. He was everywhere. Dominant almost, casue steals mean more possesions, while blocks necessrily dont. Then he had the sickest steal in the 3 quarter i have seen this year. He finised with 5 for the game. And while Allan had 31 points, he was only10/26. I was watching Iverson more closely since our arguement, and he really gets in your mug even one on one. Dont take his height for granted, cause he makes it up w/ quickness. If Cat used as much quickness on defense as offense, he might be better at this also. Again, cant go wrong w/ a guy who is leading the NBA in steals.

So i stand w/ my arguement. AI > Cat in defense. Cat's better one on one, but AI is better overall. I still love Cat of course

I actually also wonder what many here think of this arguement as well......