@Chris Jent MVP, defense is clearly the main problem with this team. Like I said in another thread, if Rox just played average D they would be at the worse 11-2. Even when the offense was stagnant with the TT, the Rox would eventually end up with enough points by the end of the game. The team just can't stop anybody consistently, especially on the perimeter.
Rox perimeter D is crap. The guards too often get sucked into the paint for an easy kick out 3pt attempt. Defense is a mindset, one leak brings down the ship.
It would be better to look at these teams offensive and defensive efficiency stats (per 100 possesions). I think you will see that they are all good scoring teams. Of course they play good defense as well, but my point stands - the NBA favors aggressive offensive play and star power. Thats why why shooters and drivers are not to be touched. THats why you cannot take the ball out of the cylinder like they do in FIBA. The NBA wants more points. To win in the NBA, you must attack, and when you are cut off you must pass and hit your shots. If blocked shots and steals counted as points, or if they removed points from the opponents scoreboard, then you can truly say that defense wins - but still the reality remains that when you have the ball, you must put it in the basket. If you can't accomplish this feat, you lose.
At the end of the day, defense is more consistent than offense. There are going to be times when your offense is struggling and your defense will be called on to keep you in the game and even carry you to the end. You can't score 120+ points every game, especially in the playoffs. That's why high-powered offensive teams with poor defense continue to get exposed in the playoffs.
Still getting it backwards. Let me explain another way. You have a 10 point lead going down the stretch - so now you have a decision to make - slow it down and go defensive, or press for more points? Seems like an easy decision right, you have the lead, just play some D and you win right? WRONG. That is a conservative mindset, and bound to lose. When you are losing the game, and need to catch up, this is when you rely on defense to slow the other team down, so hopefully your offense has a chance to get some hoops. If you are losing, and then you win, it is because of defense. But You know whats even better than catching up and winning? Not being behind to begin with. That's offense. If you are ahead, and then you lose, it is because your offense choked. Scored 120 and lost? Shoulda scored 130.
lol. if you are ahead like in this game, and you lose, i'm pretty sure it's your defense choking. why? because your defense has to do REALLY BADLY for you to lose
Defensive teams in the playoffs with weak offenses also get exposed badly. Uglyball just plays tricks on perceptions. Miami plays good defense, but teams don't **** their pants because James, Wade, and Bosch are killer defenders. It's because the Big 3 are killer attackers. Teams don't stop and say "Gosh darnit How do we score against Lebron and Wade?" quite as much as they say "How are we going to stop Lebron and Wade from scoring on us?" ... That is because Defense is the strategy for the weaker team to keep pace with the superior team. By trying to slow it down. When you are the superior team, you know you are better and you impose your will on the game. You find a way to get the ball in the basket.
Or the other team just hits some amazing contested shots. Because the game naturally favors good offense.
interesting view point and I have to agree most of your points, seems they chose a wrong path to go, but emphasize on offense doenst mean no defense at all, let Monta get 37 is still unacceptable.
heh, you have a point, since that did kinda happen cause dirk is dirk, and i think we had a few bad offensive turnovers leading to awful fast breaks. still, i think it'll be far easier to improve our 27thish ranked defense than our generally-good offense.
defensive teams with weak offenses usually go farther than offensive teams with weak defenses. recently the pacers, bulls, and grizzlies have reached conference finals with mediocre offenses. no team in the last 10 years have reached the finals with a defense in the lower half in oppg and drtg. the 2005 suns couldn't even reach the finals with the best offense in terms ppg and offensive rating while the 2004 pistons won a title only scoring 90.1 ppg
Coaching and effort, that's pretty much it. If this coach can't draw a single play on offense, why should we think this crack staff can enact game plans against an offense with multiple threats and looks?
There is a reason great teams hang their hat on defense. 08 Celtics were one of the best defensive teams of all time. This modern Heat team focuses a lot on defense. Earlier this season Lebron and Spo called out the team for its lack of defense. In order for Beasley to get into the rotation he had to prove he can operate effectively and with effort in the Heat's defensive system. Torocan is spot on. Great defensive teams have coaches who focus on defense and hold players accountable. Sampson saying coaching is overrated is a copout. Maybe HIS coaching is overrated...
I would like to be in the film room when they go through the defensive lapses? If they watch film on defensive lapses at all!
Actually, mathematically speaking given equal point differentials between increased offense and increased defense, increased defense is the superior choice if you're down 10 points. The reason that is true is due to statistical volatility/variation. For example, let's say you can increase your PPP from 1.0 to 1.1, or decrease opponent PPP from 1.0 to 0.91, statistically they will have similar results over the course of the season. However, in very small sample sizes you decreasing opponent PPP is superior to increasing your own PPP. This is just due to the random factor of scoring. Scoring relies on shooting percentages. At the rim you might shoot 60%, or you might shoot 40% from the 3 point line. However, your chance of missing a particular shot is still 40% at the rim, and 60% at the 3 point line, and will vary depending on the individual night. This is different than defense which tends to be much more consistent on a nightly basis as it mainly requires on execution of defensive schemes and effort. While physical fatigue affects the ability to react defensively, the margin for error is much larger. Unlike a jump shot which can miss due to a 3 or 4 degree variation, putting up a hand in someone's face has much more room in terms of positioning to still be effective. So, if push comes to shove in small samples (like the last 6 minutes of a game) or a short series of games (like the play offs), you'll get more consistent results from defense than offense. That said, consistent defense if far more difficult than offense as it requires sustained effort for the entire possession. This is why it's easier to improve your offense than your defense. Not because it's technically more difficult, but the sustained effort required for the same result is higher.
Bring back JVG and bring SVG in as his assistant or as a co head coach with him. That's my dream after this stupid loss that we should have won.
