We probably have 2 of the top 5 1on1 defenders in the NBA with Ron and Shane. That's amazing to have on one team. I'd place Chuck in the top 15 which is pretty good. Other good 1on1 defenders: Kevin Garnett Bruce Bowen Gerald Wallace Trevor Ariza James Posey Ben Wallace Joel Przybilla Andrei Kirilenko Tayshan Prince Marcus Camby Tim Duncan Elton Brand Can't think of much others that are in defensive mode all game long. Kobe, Wade and Lebron can be up there but I don't consider them defensive specialist since they don't always spend a great amount of energy on D all game long, it's only when the game is on the line. Yao and McGrady have their moments but it depends greatly on the matchup and if there's some motivation.
looks like we don't have much choice, scola, landry, and chuck. unless we can get a legit PF with some size and strength.
let's see him do that in a 7 game playoff series. love the guy, but would rather have size with his strength there, some offense wouldn't hurt either. maybe a baseline jumpshot? mini hook? something. he's got nothing.
Easy. Scola, but the refs have to actually call the game, not the NBA reputation. Scola is a bad man. Only time (aka this playoff season) will tell.
Can't stop every player every game from going off. If you make it hard on the opponent 2 out of 3 times, that to me is acceptable. Think of Hayes defense. Now in comparison think of McGrady's defense....or Luther Head. Was Kelvin Cato a capable scorer, or the current Dikembe Mutombo? This 4 on 5 offense thing is the overstated 2 years ago argument when Hayes was the starter, which he's not anymore. & not every team has a capable scorer at all 5 positions. Whats the difference between Hayes who's in for defensive purposes, and another team's big lug 7 footer at center with no hands who only scores on putbacks? A pass first point guard who comes in and...well passes first and doesnt score. That player is "facilitating" but he's not scoring.. Can't a player facilitate the defense and not score?
Shane is the most fundamentally sound. Artest is the most physical/strongest. Hayes is the best post defender we have. It really depends on matchups. I'd have to go with Shane though. Also, the love Hayes gets from Rockets' fans is WELL warranted. Sure he may be a liability on the offensive end, but the guy makes what, 2 million a year? That's chump change in the NBA. He brings strong post defense, and is a tenacious rebounder. Not many people just turn and shoot over him for the record. Antawn is a hybrid PF. He's more a SF/PF. I don't consider that a player Hayes would be usually assigned to guard. Shane wans't there to do it that game so Hayes had to. Even though Antawn was taking it to him, that's the versatility of Hayes proved right there, that he'd be even assigned to guard him. Most PFs dont' "score at will" over Chuck Hayes. Unless you're talking about guys like KG, etc. who score at will over everyone.
artest is not getting a lot of love here, battier and hayes i guess are our best 2 defenders. i thought artest would get more votes.
FOr the perimeter, it really depends. Guys who can just shoot over anyone and don't dribble much, Shane doesn't guard too well. Look at Stephen Jackson, I thought Ron did a much better job on him. Ditto for a guy like Rashard Lewis. For slashing perimeter players ala Dwade, Ron is better because he can strip them and force them to shoot jumpers. For shooters who move without the ball, BAttier is better. Guys like Rip , Ray Allen, Peja !! I also think where Shane has the advantage on Ron is where is comes to guarding the cream of the crop. Kobe and Lebron, I feel much more comfortable with Shane guarding them. He chases them off the dribble and challanges every one of their shots. Ron goes for steals, but you can't do that against those guys. Shane's defense on Kobe the last few yrs has simply been amazing !
You must a guy who is oppose the trade of Rudy Gay for Battier. Battier's help can not reflect by stats
we'd be screwed without battier, we wouldn't have the cohesive defense that we've had, he's our most reliable 3 pt shooter, he plays with grit. artest is an amazing defender, but i'd rather have shane on most of the perimeter players. he's quicker, knows the defense better, and always motor running.
Ron Artest is probably the best individual defender when he gives it 100% on D. Maybe it's just me, but Ron tends to slouch a bit on defense every now and then but that might be because his ankle is still bothering him a bit. Still, team defense is so much more important than individual defense though, and Battier is the better team defender. People who play basketball regularly know that good communication (as well as effort) is the key to any good defense. Battier is like the LeBron James of defense: he makes everyone well else around him play better defense because he communicates well and leads by example.
