Understanding properly the Raptors’ defensive problems
There is nothing wrong with the rigid defensive philosophy which Jay Triano is using this season for the Toronto Raptors, i.e. to force baseline and protect the paint. In today’s NBA, this is actually standard fair and is used by other good teams, as well [e.g. Miami Heat, 6-1].
So, too, however, was there little wrong with the flexible defensive philosophy used for the previous 4 seasons by Sam Mitchell, former Raptors’ head coach, which required game-to-game [possession-to-possession?] adjustments based on the specific strengths or weaknesses of the team’s opponents.
The Raptors’ main defensive problems are not rooted in the team’s philosophy, per se, but are based on the specific short-comings of their individual players … several of whom should NOT have been expected to be able to play first rate defense this season by anyone with a sound grasp of how the game actually works in the NBA.
|
TORONTO RAPTORS CURRENT ROSTER |
||
|
PLAYER |
CONTRACT |
INDIVIDUAL STRENGTH |
|
RETURNESS [from 2008-2009] |
||
|
Chris Bosh |
$15.7 M for 1 yr |
Solid all-around |
|
Jose Calderon |
$8.2 M for 4 yrs |
Offensive |
|
Andrea Bargnani |
$6.5 M for 6 yrs |
Offensive |
|
Marcus Banks |
$4.5 M for 2 yrs |
Weak overall |
|
Quincy Douby |
$0.9 M for 1 yr |
Offensive |
|
Patrick O’Bryant |
$0.9 M for 1 yr |
Weak overall |
|
NEW ADDITIONS [for 2009-2010] |
||
|
Hedo Turkoglu |
$9.0 M for 5 yrs |
Offensive |
|
Jarrett Jack |
$5.0 M for 4 yrs |
Average overall |
|
Reggie Evans |
$5.0 M for 2 yrs |
Weak overall; good rebounder [PF] |
|
Amir Johnson |
$3.9 M for 1 yr |
Weak overall; average defender [PF] |
|
DeMar DeRozan |
$2.3 M for 2 yrs |
Offensive |
|
Rasho Nesterovic |
$2.0 M for 1 yr |
Defensive |
|
Antoine Wright |
$1.8 M for 1 yr |
Weak overall; average defender [OG] |
|
Marco Belinelli |
$1.5 M for 2 yrs |
Offensive |
|
Sonny Weems |
$0.7 M for 2 yrs |
Weak overall; good offensive transition |
When your team has a roster that looks like THAT ↑↑↑, and struggles to DEFEND and REBOUND effectively:
Points Differential Rank, #18
Points Allowed Rank, #28
Rebounding Differential Rank, #26
Opponent’s FG% Rank, #23
the primary responsibility lies, not with the head coach or the individual players, but with the architect[s] of the team.
On an annual basis, the very best franchises in the NBA place their emphasis on Acquiring and Retaining individual players who advance the cause of their squad by contributing a great more than just scoring points.
When you look at the list of teams that have achieved major success in the history of the NBA:
NBA Finals: All-Time Champions
2009 NBA Champions, Los Angeles Lakers, QIR #6
2008 NBA Champions, Boston Celtics, QIR #1
2007 NBA Champions, San Antonio Spurs, QIR #2
2006 NBA Champions, Miami Heat, QIR #3
2005 NBA Champions, San Antonio Spurs, QIR #1 [tie]
2004 NBA Champions, Detroit Pistons, QIR #1
2003 NBA Champions, San Antonio Spurs, QIR #1
2002 NBA Champions, Los Angeles Lakers, QIR #4
2001 NBA Champions, Los Angeles Lakers, QIR #9
What it takes to win the NBA Championship [QIR definition]
it should be plain to see how placing an inordinant value on the “offensive” contributions made by any individual player is Fool’s Gold.
Related:
Where and how exactly Toronto lost last night at San Antonio
Tags: Amir Johnson, Andrea Bargnani, Antoine Wright, Boston Celtics, Chris Bosh, Detroit Pistons, Hedo Turkoglu, Jarrett Jack, Jay Triano, Jose Calderon, Los Angeles Lakers, Marco Belinelli, Marcus Banks, Miami Heat, Patrick O'Bryant, Quincy Douby, Rasho Nesterovic, Reggie Evans, Sam Mitchell, San Antonio Spurs, Sonny Weems, Toronto Raptors
November 11th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I agree with what you say above, but could Triano have done a better job with specific player substitutions to mask the teams overall lack of defensive ability? Specifically the Spurs game?
November 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Raps Fan,
Yes, Triano could have done a better job of this in this specific game, BUT … and it’s a pretty BIG ONE … that would have involved sitting down the pride and joy of the Raptors’ GM:
1. Hedo Turkoglu [2009 off season UFA "Big Ticket" signee]
2. Andrea Bargnani [2006 No. 1, overall, Draft Pick]
and to a lesser extent,
3. Amir Johnson [2009 off season acquisition, in the trade for Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic]
4. Jarrett Jack [2009 off season RFA signee]
5. Marco Belinelli [2009 off season acquisition, in the trade for Devean George]
6. Sonny Weems [2009 off season acquisition, in the trade for Carlos Delfino and Roko Ukic]
7. Antoine Wright [2009 off season acquisition, in the trade for Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries and Nathan Jawai]
as well,
each of whom performed poorly vs San Antonio at crunch time.
————————————
If you take a close look at what I outlined in yesterday’s blog entry:
Where and how exactly Toronto lost last night at San Antonio … especially, in the sections:
Critical Factors
Critical Plays
you should be able to see the specific players responsible for the Raptors’ ineffective crunch time performance against the Spurs.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Khandor,
I don’t agree that Chris Bosh’s individual strength is all around. You see in their game against Dallas he got burn by Dirk Nowitzki, he may be a good offensive player but defense is not his forte. Further to this, I look at him as just a great stats fodder.Whatever point production he has will always be negated by the player he is guarding, check this out in the coming Raptors game.
Gal
November 11th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
gal,
Although you are certainly entitled to hold your own opinion about this specific subject …
IMO, when playing within the context of an elite level team, I’ll take Chris Bosh over Dirk Nowitzki in a 1-v-1 match-up each and every day of the week, and twice on Sundays … as an all around basketball player.
No question, Dirk is the superior offensive player but with the right mix of teammates around him … when he’s used at the Center position … CB4 is a better Defender and Rebounder than Mr. Nowitzki, and it isn’t even close.