Steve Nash's defense...

[S_Nash]

...not the worst out of all the starting PG's according to this guy.


http://khandorssportsblog.com/wordpress/?p=561

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

If I'm reading it right, his list is completely subjective. And it doesnt refute the fact that Nash is our worst defender and the current weak link on the other end of the court. The problem is compounded because they are all consistently average on defense.

 

[arwillan]

that list of defensive point guards is pretty bad. Baron Davis is actually a pretty good defender, and deron williams is far from the best in the west. i would also debate tony parker being 7th.

For the eastern part of it, Stuckey isn't even a starting point guard. Andre Miller 4th is a joke. Mo williams last is probably something based on his reputation from milwaukee. Nobody cared about defense on that team, and mo was no exception. This year, he is the starting point guard for the second best defense in the league. The worst defensive point guard in the conference couldn't head the second best defense in the league, sorry.

 

[Lorenzo]

I like derek fichser, baron davis, jason kidd(at times)those guys are all big and strong....but all of those guys can be torched by faster players. tony parker gets torched a lot as well(devin harris used to own him). I really like the way chris paul steals the ball as well. defense is tough to evaluate at that position...but i guess you just look at a guy and see if he brings it at that end like he does at the offensive end. nashy never really stood out I guess, but he tries. I know in the playoffs he's had some tough matchups over the years.

 

[greensborohill]

By this the Suns are 2nd to last in preventing PG effectiveness.

http://www.82games.com/0809/BYPOS2.HTM

 

[Mainstreet]

I like derek fichser, baron davis, jason kidd(at times)those guys are all big and strong....but all of those guys can be torched by faster players. tony parker gets torched a lot as well(devin harris used to own him). I really like the way chris paul steals the ball as well. defense is tough to evaluate at that position...but i guess you just look at a guy and see if he brings it at that end like he does at the offensive end. nashy never really stood out I guess, but he tries. I know in the playoffs he's had some tough matchups over the years.

I still cannot understand how the Mavs thought Kidd was an upgrade over Harris. I just think Cuban made a panic trade when other teams were adding players. I do like Barea as a back-up PG for Dallas. In regard to Phoenix, I was hoping they would go after Pargo among others. I think Pargo would have been a great fit here. I guess the Suns were sold on the idea that Dragic could be a contributor both short term and long term.

 

[Proteus]

By this the Suns are 2nd to last in preventing PG effectiveness.

http://www.82games.com/0809/BYPOS2.HTM

Does that mean Nash isn't the worst defending point guard? Way to go Steve.

 

[Irish]

Steve is not quick enough to stay in front of his guy and does not have someone like Duncan to clean up on the inside. Finley is a terrible man defender, but nobody exploits him because of Tim (never gets foul calls) Duncan.

 

[nowagimp]

that list of defensive point guards is pretty bad. Baron Davis is actually a pretty good defender, and deron williams is far from the best in the west. i would also debate tony parker being 7th.

For the eastern part of it, Stuckey isn't even a starting point guard. Andre Miller 4th is a joke. Mo williams last is probably something based on his reputation from milwaukee. Nobody cared about defense on that team, and mo was no exception. This year, he is the starting point guard for the second best defense in the league. The worst defensive point guard in the conference couldn't head the second best defense in the league, sorry.

Agreed the list sucks. Andre miller is worse than nash defensively, but elton brand and dalembert are there to stuff his man when he gets torched. Part of the PG rating is in the ability to defend the pick and roll and handle screens on the dribble penetration. In those areas the suns stink, and that involves the defense of shaq, amare and lopez as well. When the bigs are trying to avoid fouls, it means they will not play the screens well, or sometimes not even try. Screens on the dribble penetration are reality in the NBA and handling the screens is a team effort. In todays NBA a moving screen is almost never called, but frequently used to free up the dribble penetrator. And in the NBA today, you can screen a guy with your knee or elbow and not even get called for it. Nash isnt a good defender but but the suns interior guys contribute to the terrible defense on opposing PG's.

 

[Errntknght]

Nowagimp,

In todays NBA a moving screen is almost never called, but frequently used to free up the dribble penetrator. And in the NBA today, you can screen a guy with your knee or elbow and not even get called for it.

You noticed that, too. Last year they were poor and inconsistent about calling moving picks but this year they seem to have become a lot more consistent in not calling them. I've seen them this year when the pick setter didn't even have both feet on the floor - forget being 'set'. Not infrequently, you see the pickee getting called for a blocking or holding foul when the picker knocks him into his man. The announcers occasionally point out the failure to call a moving pick, but not very often - and probably the only thing that would get the refs calling them right again would be the announcers making a big fuss about it. Coaches generally like lax refereeing as it gives them more latitude...