Thanks for your comment and Welcome aboard! [assuming that you're the same verbatim from RR]

re: Calderon vs Bibby

It is difficult to distinguish correctly between those times when a player legitimately loses track of his specific defensive check and those times when he is consciously abandoning that responsiblity in favour of another more urgent need, given the specific parameters of the defensive scheme his team is using in that game or on that possession.

That said … I would never say that Jose is a top notch defender, nor a very good on-ball Man-2-Man defender, or someone who does a terrific job keeping track of his check during the course of a game.

IMO … he is decidely “average” on the defensive side of the ball.

In general, though, there are a lot of starting PGs in the NBA who fit into this category [i.e. weaker on this side of the ball, in comparison with their individual offensive game] … which is, in part, an indicator of exactly where most NBA coaches actually think the emphasis SHOULD be placed for a player at this position in this League.

In general, the back-up PG spot is where a NBA team will choose to go with a solid defensive role player rather than an offensive specialist.

based on what I saw from Jose’s coverage of Bibby so far this year, Calderon’s defensive awareness was lacking as he watched the play but not his man. There were too may times that Bibby was allowed to loiter on the 3pt line unharassed. I don’t believe that Calderon is as bad on defence as it seems, but I do think that other PG’s are finding ways to exploit him by spreading the floor out, as Calderon seems to have had trouble keeping a track on his man.

I love Calderon, and if he stays healthy, and gets some support from a #2 that can at least SOMETIMES create his own shot, we will see more production out of him.

re: Mario Chalmers

I think Mario Chalmers is going to be a solid defender at the PG spot in this league for years to come. Right now, he makes a few too many poor decisions, in this regard, to be listed much higher in my rankings, as a 1st-yr smaller PG. For example, Derrick Rose, although a rook, as well, is just a tad more imposing physically than Chalmers. As time goes, however, Mario certainly has the smarts it takes to compensate effectively for what he lacks in sheer size and strength, so it would not surprise me in the least that he gradually moves up these rankings.

In my book, as his play has improved in recent weeks, so too has the fortunes of the Heat. That’s a very good sign, right there.

re: Devin Harris

I’ll admit to having a soft spot for this player, as I really did think he was much better than many others realized during his initial years in Dallas. Physically, when he wants to play first rate defense, he has few peers in the EC, even including Mr. Rondo, according to these eyes. Admittedly … he is still somewhat erratic with his overall effort, and it’s more the highs I’m looking at with his performance than the lows.

As New Jersey adds to the their team over the next few years, shoring up thier inside game, expect Mr. Harris to reduce his overall scoring output and become more consistent in the other areas of his individual game.

Thanks for your comment.

Also, I think you should take a closer look at Mario Chalmers. He is an extremely mature situational defender, along with being athletically gifted. He is in the upper tier of point guard defenders.

I like your blog even if I think you haven’t watched a lot of these players enough - it is great to get a conversation started. Good job.

First.

Something Magic Johnson showed us long ago was the relative importance of having size at the PG spot for an elite level team in the NBA, in comparison with exceptional quickness.

One is absolutely crucial for a competent PG in this league … the other is not.

Secondly.

Size, alone, is meaningless. What matters is … what and how a specific player utilizes that size to the best effect possible for the benefit of his team, especially at the PG position.

You are free to disagree with my assessment of Deron Williams’ defensive abilities … but, IMO, there’s a reason he logged the heavy duty minutes that he did with the Redeem Team and Coach Sloan refers to him as being a super smart and tough player, at the PG spot, in the mold of the great John Stockton.

D-Will uses the gifts he’s been given very effectively on the defensive end of the floor.

Thanks for your comment.

re: Rondo’s Rebounding

The reason this aspect of his game isn’t covered in this specific evaluation isn’t because this corner of the net doesn’t value the contribution he makes to the C’s team in this area of the game.

In fact, it’s the complete opposite.

I encourage you to take a look around the other parts of this blog.

If you do … what you should find is that REBOUNDING is one of three separate and distinct Phases of The Game, according to yours truly, which are absolutely critical to Team Success in the NBA.

i.e.

1. Offense
2. Defense
3. REBOUNDING [there's a good reason why it's in caps, as well]

At a later date, perhaps, I will publish my rankings for each of the five positions in terms of Rebounding ability.

Note: I can tell this much though, one of the reasons the Celtics are as good as they are is because of the number of solid, solid Rebounders they employ at different positions, one of whom is RR.

Thanks for your comment.