05-31-2021, 01:45 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-31-2021, 01:48 PM by dirkfansince1998.)
(05-31-2021, 01:24 PM)khaled1987 Wrote: You are both right.
The argument of having multiple good scorer is valid, no need to elaborate more.
But I have talked about having a "go to" type of defensive player, someone who sets your defense and to rely on. Every championship team in past decade(s) had someone or two who were contender for DPOY at some point.
Lakers had AD and Lebron (6 times all defensive teams), Raptors had Kawhi/Gasol who own it, and Ibaka (3 all defensive team, was contender for DPOY during that time), GSW had Green and Iggy (2 times defensive team of the year)
Spurs had Kawhi, in addition to ancient Duncan, Miami had prime Lebron and Wade, Dallas had TC and ancient Kidd. Lakers had Kobe and Artist in one of the last two, Celtics had KG, Spurs had prime TD in 99/03/05/07 and Bowen , Miami had Wade along ancient Payton and Morning, Detroit had Ben Wallace (do I need to say more).
Only Cavs and Lakers from that list had one player with Defensive team of the year appearance in his career.
That is why I was really hopeful to go after Gobert if he was not renewing.
So yeah, we need another elite scorer, but we need elite defender too.
Happened that teams won with one elite scorer (2011 Mavs) but didn't happen you lacked elite defenders.
Probably on the right track. I would say that it isn´t about one lockdown on ball defender or elite rim protection. The intangibles are important. Communication, coaching on the court, calling out opposing plays and more. Call it leadership, winning culture, defensive identity or something else. Doesn´t matter. The Mavs don´t have it. Elite teams do.
Obviously also helps if the mentioned guy is a really good individual defender.
Good example: We mentioned it in another topic. Rondo (hate the guy) is calling out Mavs plays. Mavs absolutely killed the Clippers with variations of spain pick and roll when Beverley was on the floor. Made the wrong switch/rotation every single time. Did not happen once with Rondo on the floor. Already knows what is happening when Luka is dribbling up the floor and sets up the Clippers defense.
That´s the CP3 effect in Phoenix. That´s what turned Wiggins into a good defender (Draymond coaching on the floor). That´s what the Mavs had when Jason Kidd was on the floor in 2011.