Since their starting perimeter defense consisted of
MWP - old
Kobe - old and dogs it defensively to save energy for bad shots
Fisher - really old
Switching Fisher for Sessions didn't help - replacing really old with bad defender wasn't much of an upgrade.
Getting Nash makes it:
MWP - old
Kobe - old and dogs it defensively to save energy for bad shots
Nash - really old and a bad defender to boot
That is the said part. OKC was successful in shutting down the Spurs penetration in the playoffs, as were the Grizzlies the year before. Imagine how much of a defensive factor Howard would be in shutting down penetrations for the Fakers. This isn't good news for the Spurs.
But their perimeter defense is even worse now with Nash. They always had a great interior defense with two legit 7 footers patrolling the paint
Fakers were a horrible defensive team last year. Look up how well the opposition shot the ball against them, and from behind the arc. Their pick and roll defense, and transition defense, was horrendous all year long.
That was true if you allowed them to get you in half court. They were terrible in transition. That's how the Thunder was successful. They ran the Fakers off the court and forced the Fakers to go smaller because Bynum couldn't keep up.
Bynum was 3rd in the league in shot blocking last year. I still think Howard is an upgrade, but I don't know that he makes that much of a difference on defense given that Bynum was pretty good in his own right.
What will be interesting is to see if Howard and Gasol can play together. Bynum couldn't adjust his game and so when the Lakers went with Bynum, Gasol became a non factor. But if Howard and Gasol (Gasol is a little out of his prime) can play together, it will probably be the best twin tower team given that they still have Kobe at small forward and Nash at point guard. I'm not saying that Howard and Gasol are better than Tim and David, it's just that David's back made them less effective, and the years that both Tim and David were in top shape, the rest of the Spurs line up wasn't as good as the current Laker line up.
One on one that made them Ok, but neither Gasol nor Bynum could deal with a pick and roll, due to lack of mobility and effort respectively. And Bynum is still a work in progress defensively - good post moves and/or an ability to step out and hit the mid-range jumpshot are things he just doesn't deal well with.
The Spurs' window was all but closed last year. They have little choice but to swing for the fences anywhere they can, regardless of what the Lakers do.
Were ed.
Blatche = Dwight-lite = Savior
Blatche could be an all-star if he learned how to play the game and weren't such an immature selfish prick...
But there is a reason he has limited interest in the league.
Would love to see him reach his potential in San Antonio. Gambling is the only option to secure a worthwile bigman at this point and this guy is worth a roll of the dice.
I'm pretty sure Pop and RC are looking to do moves with the Dwight trade. I just hope it isn't something as knee-jerky as trading Leonard for a recognizable name.
Signing Blatche isn't a bad idea.
I think now we must sign blatche. What other choice do we have. Its either a nut case or a pair of two chokers in Bonner and Blair. I'll take the nutcase. Get it done Rc.
Tbh, I don't think Dwight would really abuse Diaw too much. Diaw could sorta guard Gasol too, but Gasol is much better at abusing his height advantage than Dwight.
I also wouldn't sell the idea that Duncan will be put on Dwight instead of Gasol, and try to get away with Diaw and Splitter on Gasol for as long as possible.
Obviously Bonner and Blair have no prayer against either though. . .
How does Pau guard the 3 point line, btw?
Well it really isn't a gamble seeing as he'd be signed with the veterans minimum.
Gasol's a legit 7 footer though, DH's only 6'10. There's a big difference in being 2 inches shorter than the guy you're guarding and 4.
I really don't see what the mass hysteria is?...bynum was leaps and bounds better than. Dwight on the offensive end...defensively Dwight is a bit better maybe even equal to Bynum...i see this as a win for the spurs...dwight Howard is not that good of a player...his name is what has drummed up how good he is...not his play
The reason to sign blatche would to replace Blair and that's it...hr would never replace Bonner because of the current system the spurs play on offense...they need a stretch four
This is how the matchups would go against the Lakers...duncan or splitter guards Dwight, diaw or splitter guards gasol, green/leonard guards kobe/dumb (formally known as metta world peace), and parker guards Nash...doesnt seem like theres that much of a match up difference between the two teams in the starting lineup....our bench will be far superior to the Lakers
U also have to remember the have mike brown as their head coach so that's an advantage we have in every matchup with them
Howard is waaaay better rebounder though.
Bynum had 30 rebounds against us. Im all for him leaving
Yeah Dwight would have got 60.
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