» Blog Archive » Pre-game snack: Defense?! We don’t need no stinkin’ defense!
  • Dec
    6

    Pre-game snack: Defense?! We don’t need no stinkin’ defense!

    Tim Kawakami posted a nice analysis of Golden State’s defense — or lack thereof — and to amplify his point, I thought I’d highlight a couple of first-quarter plays from the Warriors’ 131-112 loss to Houston on Friday that illustrate the woeful nature of “defense” they’re playing right now.

    With 8:15 remaining, the Rockets’ Rafer Alston elevated for a 17-footer over Jamal Crawford, top key left.

    While the ball was in midair, Crawford floated out towards the 3-point line on the Rockets’ left wing (presumably in anticipation of an outlet pass) and Corey Maggette, who was responsible for Shane Battier, drifted all the way in from the 3-point line on the right side (where Battier was stationed) and got to within 8 feet of the hoop.

    Neither of them gave a thought to boxing out Rockets center Yao Ming, who stood unmarked at the free-throw line, in perfect position to collect the (unsurprisingly) long rebound and feed it to Battier for a 3-pointer that Maggette couldn’t be bothered to contest.

    The, in the final minute of the period, the Rockets set up a simple screen-roll on the right wing, with Ron Artest setting a pick on the inside of Crawford. From the broadcast, it didn’t look like there was much contact, if any, between Crawford and Artest. But it was enough of separation to allow Von Wafer to roll unimpeded to a 10-foot floater over Andris Biedrins, with Crawford trailing ineffectually behind.

    It wasn’t so much the fact that the Warriors were out of position, or unable to counter what the Rockets wanted to do offensively. What was disturbing was the fact that, in both instances, neither player seemed to care enough to make a noticeable effort.

    We’ll see if that changes in San Antonio tonight.

    – Geoff

5 Responses to “Pre-game snack: Defense?! We don’t need no stinkin’ defense!”

  1. Jon December 6th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    This is also unsurprising, since neither Maggette nor Crawford have ever expressed any previous inclination to commit to defense.

  2. Jon December 6th, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    MY GOD.

    I have sat through many blowouts, but I cannot sit through tonight’s impotence.

    Brandan Wright is still rotting on the bench, Randolph barely gets any burn (And when he does get in, he’s asked to guard Manu Ginobili?).

    The defense is completely unaware of what’s going on, and we stand around and watch as Maggette clanks away.

    Despite how well our big lineup played last night, we started the game . . . with a four guard lineup.

    Please.

    Strap Nelson to a moped, send it off a cliff.

  3. David E December 8th, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Citing a Kawakami analysis is a little like a master surgeon modelling his surgery on Dexter. I mean that piece sludge about Nellie betraying friendship, yah, yah, yah, which has not one ounce of evidence in it–not even an anonymous source–has been up on the Mercury News web page for days. Tim gets my vote for the “Pete Vescey” of the West Coast.”

    I have appreciated the way you have found an angle to bring some real analysis to the game, however. The commentary around the Warriors is so shrill and full of crossfire spit that it grosses me out.

    I teach journalism, or as I like to say, what’s left of it. And in the last few years, I have changed my approach to focus “reasoning” because there is so little of it in our public discourse today. I can understand the wrought-up fan making an angry post, but Kawakami’s character assination of Nellie is just beyond the pale.

    And as far as I am concerned those of you who buddy up with him are as well.

    David E

  4. David E December 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am

    Corrected

    Citing a Kawakami analysis is a little like a master surgeon modelling his surgery on Dexter. I mean that piece of sludge about Nellie betraying friendship, yah, yah, yah, which has not one piece of evidence in it–not even an anonymous source–has been up on the Mercury News web page for days. Tim gets my vote for the “Pete Vesceyof the West Coast.”

    I have appreciated the way you have found an angle to bring some real analysis to the game.The commentary around the Warriors is so shrill and full of crossfire spit that it grosses me out.

    I teach journalism, or as I like to say, what’s left of it. And in the last few years, I have changed my approach to focus on “reasoning” because there is so little of it in our public discourse today. I can understand the wrought-up fan making an angry post, but Kawakami’s character assasination of Nellie is just beyond the pale.

    And as far as I am concerned those of you who buddy up with him are as well.

    David E

  5. Geoff Lepper December 8th, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    David: I cited the piece because I thought the numbers had validity, made a compelling case and were of interest, given how badly the team is doing defensively.

    There is, from what I can read, no character assassination of Nelson anywhere in that piece. Are you talking about something else Tim has written?

    Thank you for the compliment regarding my analysis. I appreciate it.

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