This is the second part of the " what's wrong.." series. The first addressed offense. Let's take a look at what's missing on d.
1) Boxing out. There is no excuse. I don't care who we play, I don't care who is hurt, healthy etc. Our boxing out is not good. It's not Championship caliber, it's not even playoff caliber. Clyde always says that boxing out is a lost art. Well, we need to learn to do it. Hartenstein was a box out master. It's not possible to be top 10 on D without elite boxing out. I don't care who gets the rebounds, it could be Brunson or Bridges for all I care. No excuse, period.
2) We need to stop leaving guys open on the perimeter. This happened like 3 times or more against the Celtics. Yeah, I know they spread the floor. That's not the point. When there is a guy wiiiiiiiide open( yes, we missed a rotation)but we just look at him and not even make an attempt to run out towards him, this is pathetic. It gives shooters who are in a slump extra confidence and it's the opposite of what defense actually is. Thibs should instantly bench whoever is just looking at his man shoot a 3 without even trying to close out.
3) This is more of an additional point, the main problems are the #1 and #2. Mitchell Robinson. This idea was brought up by Richard Jefferson during the Celtics game(I personally dislike R Jefferson for some unknown reason. Maybe it dates back to NJ Nets and that team with Kidd that always killed us, but whatever) Once Mitch comes back we should be able to play up on guys more. Although I don't think it will matter as much against the Celtics since they play 5-out.
The Celtics will always be able to matchup hunt us as long as KAT and Brunson are in the game. We can't really hide them. Maybe KAT versus Horford? That matchup just sucks for us.
Our defense without OG and/or Mitch suffers. I think the better question is what will the defense look like with healthy players when we need a stop. Wingstop + MitchBeast will be a handful.
OG our best perimeter defender and Mitch our best low post defender both out
Our 3 point defense is basically last in the league. That's the elephant in the room. There's really nothing I can see that can fix that for us this year. Maybe more Mitch in the paint allowing perimeter guys to stay tight on their guys, but that seems like wishful thinking.
DLeethal wrote:Our 3 point defense is basically last in the league. That's the elephant in the room. There's really nothing I can see that can fix that for us this year. Maybe more Mitch in the paint allowing perimeter guys to stay tight on their guys, but that seems like wishful thinking.
Yep, 3pt D has been a problem for a few seasons. Mitch will help, maybe a new philosophy on defense will help as well. One that emphasizes 3pt D.
DLeethal wrote:Our 3 point defense is basically last in the league. That's the elephant in the room. There's really nothing I can see that can fix that for us this year. Maybe more Mitch in the paint allowing perimeter guys to stay tight on their guys, but that seems like wishful thinking.
It's a major problem. The last 2 years in the playoffs, the Heat and Pacers were able to work open a wide open 3 at will on every position if they wanted to. Our defense against teams like that is just literally hoping they'll miss wide open 3's.
I think Thibs is a good developer of players but a trash in-game coach and schemer.
