Defense by … um, oh well
Unfortunately, it’s articles and season forecasts like this …
No time to waste? Fast-forward through the 2009-2010 season
Surprise Team
They stand a far better chance of holding a UN summit than the Larry O’Brien trophy. But the Raptors, who speak more languages than Berlitz, will throw a memorable season-long going-away party for Chris Bosh. Six new players will figure into the rotation, which raises the possibility of a chaotic first few months. But everyone on the roster has a specific role. Ballhandling by Jose Calderon. Outside shooting by Andrea Bargnani. Rebounding by Reggie Evans. Toughness by Jarret Jack. Scoring off the dribble by Hedo Turkoglu. Young bounce by DeMar DeRozan. Defense by … um, oh well. You won’t fall in love with any one player, but you’ll fall in like with several. Plus, Bosh is playing for money. They’ll finish top-6 in the East, make the playoffs, pull a first-round surprise and then reach for a hanky when Bosh goes off to … drum roll … Miami.
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that consistently get it wrong/backwards, when it comes to, “How to properly evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a NBA team,” considering the three main phases of the game: 1. Defense, 2. Rebounding, and 3. Offense.
Instead of including these five [5] simple words in the middle of this paragraph … regarding the Raptors’ collective inability to get stops at crucial times in games played this season, against quality opponents … and surrounding them with 140+ words about the:
- International flavour of the roster
- roster make-over this summer [with 9 new faces on-board]
- roles filled by only 6 players [in a game that needs, at least, 8-9]
- team’s offensive capabilities, i.e. ballhandling, shooting and scoring
- team’s infusion of toughness
- expectation to qualify for the playoffs and win a 1st Round series
- the possible departure of the team’s lone All-Star player
what Shaun Powell should have done is LEAD with it … since Defense and Rebounding are so much more important to a NBA team’s actual success or failure [as opposed to Offense, rumours and/or W-L predictions].
The teams that finish toward the top of the standings in this league, year-after-year, are the ones which perform the best in these two specific areas of the game, irrespective of the particular tools used to measure them, e.g. Points Differential, Points Allowed, Defensive Efficiency Ratings, Rebounding Differential, Rebounding Percentages and Ratings [etc.].
When any so-called “NBA analyst” uses a 30:1, like this, in her/his description of the prospects for a certain team [between the words devouted to "Offense and Others Things" vs "Defense and Rebounding"] what s/he’s really showing you is that s/he does NOT understand how the game works at this level of competition.
The only people the Raptors are going to surprise this season are those who have yet to read the work of individuals like David Berri, John Hollinger, Brad Doolittle & Kevin Pelton, Wayne Winston … and yours truly. 
Tags: Brad Doolittle, David Berri, John Hollinger, Kevin Pelton, Shaun Powell, Toronto Raptors, Wayne Winston
October 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I chock this one up to there being two days left till the season starts. 6th in the east and a first round surprise? Really? lol
October 26th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
…and hopefully one day, instead of actually watching, we can just read binary printouts of the games!
October 26th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
“When any so-called “NBA analyst” uses a 30:1, like this, in her/his description of the prospects for a certain team [between the words devouted to "Offense and Others Things" vs "Defense and Rebounding"] what s/he’s really showing you is that s/he does NOT understand how the game works at this level of competition.”
No - s/he may not be showing you any supoort for her/his conclusion, but s/he is NOT showing you that s/he does NOT understand the game… It’s like a high school math question where the kid gives an answer but does show her/his work… that doesn’t mean the answer’s wrong, it just means you can’t evaluate his/her analysis.
If this were intended as an argument or analysis to support the 6th place conclusion, as opposed to a qualitative description of the team, I might agree with you.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
In the second para - should have said “does NOT show her/his work”. Ironically, I was particularly better at English than math at that specific stage of my educational career.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
TRD3M,
Welcome aboard!
Binary printouts, etc., are already available through a variety of NBA game simulators … and although they can certainly be fun, they are a poor substitute for the real thing, in isolation.
In my book, the best way to evaluate a team or player or coach or GM is with the naked eye of a well-trained, experienced, professional.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Brain,
The “answer only” option in math gets full marks in school, only if the answer is the “right” one, in the first place.
By contrast, even if the final answer is “wrong”, part marks are usually available for at least showing your “work”.
As a “qualitative assessment” of this team, the answer given here misses the mark by a wide margin, when it has only 5 words about the Raptors’ defense and rebounding vs 140+ words about their offense, etc., while suggesting they will advance to the 2nd Rd of the playoffs this season.
In general, teams that make it that far in the playoffs don’t have a 30:5, offense [etc.]:defense and rebound ratio.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Just wanted to ask what you thought about the rebounding. My thinking is that the rebounding totals are not a reflection of poor boxing out or fundamentals, but the inability to stop penetration which leads to helping and big men drifting & hedging away from their man.
If the fg % were to decrease at the 2 & 3 offensive position and penetration was negated, leading to more kickouts and shooting from outside, you might see more solid box outs & better rebounding totals.
I think we talk about rebounding at RR & various blogging sites as if it is a function of jumping higher & faster when in fact the set up for these rebounds begins 5-10 seconds before the shot goes up.
Also, it appears that Triano is aware of this by taking away the paint and driving the ball to the outside.
Your thoughts?
October 27th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Gusser,
Welcome aboard!
re: my thoughts on rebounding
Brings to mind a new favourite quote provided by a commentor [Baron Von Munchasen] at David Berri’s site [Wages of Wins Journal]:
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“Wisdom cannot be passed on. Wisdom which a wise man tries to pass on to someone always sounds like foolishness … Knowledge can be conveyed, but not wisdom.”
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Keeping this simple truth in mind … and without meaning to sound trite, in the least:
At the NBA level, the way to properly address a team’s inability to rebound the ball effectively is to:
A. Get [and, then, actually play in games] more players who are better at the skill of Rebounding, relative to their position; and,
B. Get a coach … and a GM … that knows the proper way to emphasize the importance of this phase of the game for the players on this team.
IMO … the Raptors’ difficulties in Rebounding are not related to “what happens 5-10 seconds before the shot goes up” when their players are unable to stop/deter dribble penetration on the perimeter of their defense.
Although regularly allowing dribble penetration has indeed been a problem for the Raptors in recent years, as well, it is not the case that this failure must inevitably lead to a rebounding deficiency.
I agree with the perspective that says:
There are many in the on-line hoops community who “talk” of the Raptors’ Rebounding woes without really knowing what causes it, or how to go about fixing the problem in an effective manner.
IMO …
Calderon [PG] is not a + rebounder.
DeRozan [OG] is not a + rebounder.
Turkoglu [SF] is not a + rebounder.
Bosh [PF] is a + rebounder.
Bargnani [C] is not a + rebounder.
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Jack [PG] is not a + rebounder.
Belinelli [OG] is not a + rebounder.
Wright [SF] is not a + rebounder.
Evans [PF] is a + rebounder.
Nesterovic [C] is a + rebounder.
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Banks [PG] is not a + rebounder.
Johnson [PF] is a + rebounder.
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Douby [OG-PG] is not a + rebounder.
Weems [OG-SF] is a + rebounder.
O’Bryant [C] is not a + rebounder.
Until the configuration of the Raptors’ line-up changes, and the GM and coach truly understand the importance of Rebounding, there will be no significant improvement in this area of the game.
October 27th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I’m expecting (hoping?) DeRozan to be an above average rebounder this season. From the looks of preseason, it won’t happen from day one, but I think he’ll get there after a month or two and be an above average rebounder the rest of the way.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Dave,
I, too, am hopeful that DD is capable of developing in this way, as a plus rebounder at the OG position.
IMO, however, it will only happen down-the-road … as he still has considerable amount of work to put into this specific phase of the game before this description can be applied accurately to his individual game.