Post by DERRENMATTS on Apr 16, 2007 4:42:33 GMT -5
A key component we lack on our roster is a tough perimeter defender in the mold of Ron Artest/James Posey/Shane Battier--lock down defenders who use their strong bodies, their quick hands and feet, and their smarts to disrupt their opponents from getting by them.
Tony Allen is our best perimeter defender, but someone who has a bigger body would be a terrific defensive addition. Tony can do an excellent job guarding slick athletes like Kobe, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter, but against stronger opponents like Grant Hill, Lebron James, Q-Rich, Joe Johnson, Michael Redd, Josh Howard, Andre Iguodala, etc., it'd be optimal to have a defender who won't lose ground when bumping into these guys.
We have excellent athletes on the team, like Gerald, Tony, and Rajon, but they are considered lightweight defenders and can get pushed around by guys like Hedo Turkoglu when they are taken to the basket. But stronger bodied defenders like a Posey or a Ron Artest, can absorb the bump and still have excellent defensive position on their man, and I think this will help us out a lot to become a better defensive oriented team. All too often, we get taken off the dribble too easily and allow wing players to get into the paint where they are either fouled, allowed to create offense for other teammates, or score at the front of the rim. This trend should be trimmed down with a stronger bodied defensive wing who can disrupt opposing wing players from easily getting into the lanes. I really think this will help us improve our defense.
Ron Artest is one of the premier strong bodied defenders in the league, but he's a nutcase and I don't think it'd be a good idea to bring him here. I thought the fiasco with the fan brawl, and a fresh start with a new team would help him to change his attitude around, but it hasn't. So he's out of the question. Shane Battier is an all around player, who is also a pretty good defender, both against slick athletes and stronger wing players. But I doubt Jeff Van Gundy is going to let him go (even if we dangle Pierce). Van Gundy loves defensive players like Battier.
James Posey is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and should be a guy we target. It may be hard to pry him away from Miami, since they are a team who are going to be the favorites to win the east for the next couple of seasons (until Shaq retires). But who knows--maybe money talks louder, or maybe he sees us as the next powerhouse team and wants to be a part of us.
Posey doesn't have to be a starter for us, but the 1st wing player off the bench who gets a lot of minutes. Just by adding him, I think we will be an improved team because of the impact he'll have on our defense.
I'm going to be pushing for Ainge to go after him this offseason.
Tony Allen is our best perimeter defender, but someone who has a bigger body would be a terrific defensive addition. Tony can do an excellent job guarding slick athletes like Kobe, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter, but against stronger opponents like Grant Hill, Lebron James, Q-Rich, Joe Johnson, Michael Redd, Josh Howard, Andre Iguodala, etc., it'd be optimal to have a defender who won't lose ground when bumping into these guys.
We have excellent athletes on the team, like Gerald, Tony, and Rajon, but they are considered lightweight defenders and can get pushed around by guys like Hedo Turkoglu when they are taken to the basket. But stronger bodied defenders like a Posey or a Ron Artest, can absorb the bump and still have excellent defensive position on their man, and I think this will help us out a lot to become a better defensive oriented team. All too often, we get taken off the dribble too easily and allow wing players to get into the paint where they are either fouled, allowed to create offense for other teammates, or score at the front of the rim. This trend should be trimmed down with a stronger bodied defensive wing who can disrupt opposing wing players from easily getting into the lanes. I really think this will help us improve our defense.
Ron Artest is one of the premier strong bodied defenders in the league, but he's a nutcase and I don't think it'd be a good idea to bring him here. I thought the fiasco with the fan brawl, and a fresh start with a new team would help him to change his attitude around, but it hasn't. So he's out of the question. Shane Battier is an all around player, who is also a pretty good defender, both against slick athletes and stronger wing players. But I doubt Jeff Van Gundy is going to let him go (even if we dangle Pierce). Van Gundy loves defensive players like Battier.
James Posey is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and should be a guy we target. It may be hard to pry him away from Miami, since they are a team who are going to be the favorites to win the east for the next couple of seasons (until Shaq retires). But who knows--maybe money talks louder, or maybe he sees us as the next powerhouse team and wants to be a part of us.
Posey doesn't have to be a starter for us, but the 1st wing player off the bench who gets a lot of minutes. Just by adding him, I think we will be an improved team because of the impact he'll have on our defense.
I'm going to be pushing for Ainge to go after him this offseason.
