Elson's Defense Improving

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

We've been talking about the importance of Elson's defense for months now. The good news is... he's starting to deliver more consistently on that end of the floor.

His stats from tonight's game won't look impressive in the box score, but he was a big factor in helping the Spurs open up their half-time lead.

I watch all the games on NBA League Pass and tonight they picked up the Seattle broadcast. Several times tonight, the Sonics commentators remarked about how impressed they were with Elson's defense.

In limited minutes, Elson blocked 2 shots (only one shows up in the box score, but I'm not sure how that is because I clearly remember 2) and he altered numerous shots in the paint.

He was one of the first guys back on defense in several occasions, including one that trip where Elson cut Ray Allen off and prevented him from getting a fast break lay-up.

"Sisco" was hustling, banging, and altering shots... and he's looked like that most of the time over the past couple weeks. That is a very encouraging sign.

The Spur's defense seems to be ratcheting up, and Elson is a huge part of that.

[leemajors]

We've been talking about the importance of Elson's defense for months now. The good news is... he's starting to deliver more consistently on that end of the floor.

His stats from tonight's game won't look impressive in the box score, but he was a big factor in helping the Spurs open up their half-time lead.

I watch all the games on NBA League Pass and tonight they picked up the Seattle broadcast. Several times tonight, the Sonics commentators remarked about how impressed they were with Elson's defense.

In limited minutes, Elson blocked 2 shots (only one shows up in the box score, but I'm not sure how that is because I clearly remember 2) and he altered numerous shots in the paint.

He was one of the first guys back on defense in several occasions, including one that trip where Elson cut Ray Allen off and prevented him from getting a fast break lay-up.

"Sisco" was hustling, banging, and altering shots... and he's looked like that most of the time over the past couple weeks. That is a very encouraging sign.

The Spur's defense seems to be ratcheting up, and Elson is a huge part of that.

now he needs to cut down on the silly fouls.

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

now he needs to cut down on the silly fouls.

Agreed. He has to cut down on the fouls. But overall... great strides forward defensively.

He's not the first guy to come here from a non-defensive-minded team, and take a while to catch on to the defensive scheme. The important thing is that the Spurs play their best basketball in the Spring when it counts.

[Cry Havoc]

Agreed. He has to cut down on the fouls. But overall... great strides forward defensively.

He's not the first guy to come here from a non-defensive-minded team, and take a while to catch on to the defensive scheme. The important thing is that the Spurs play their best basketball in the Spring when it counts.

Perhaps the most comforting thing about that is the fact that Elson is athletic, and standing about 3 feet away from one of the most complete defenders the NBA has seen in a long time. Personally I would choose not a single player in the league to be on the floor coaching Elson on smart, lane-clogging defense than Timmy.

And also, it really doesn't matter how Elson performs right now. I feel we picked him up to guard one player - Dirk. He and Bowen could make the difference in the playoffs, but not from the offensive end. Elson matches up MUCH better against Dirk than any player we've had, which leaves Bowen free to cover Howard. Perhaps they'll switch at some point, but we don't need Elson OR Bowen to score to win against the Mavs, as long as Elson boards, Bowen grabs a few steals and cuts off easy passes, and they contain Dirk and Howard.

Even if Dirk has a big game or two, we could still win, considering we "let" Amare score consistently in the high 30s/low 40s and still crushed Phoenix two years back. This isn't to say it would be an EASY feat -- I'm just stating that we can allow a player to score big and still win if the rest of our defense steps up.

I really really really hope Pop sets our defense up to not play off their man. If anyone gets into the lane, just make him hit the shot under pressure rather than bringing another player over to double. This wears out our defense and leaves then openopenopen players to pass to.

[Kent_in_Atlanta]

Perhaps the most comforting thing about that is the fact that Elson is athletic, and standing about 3 feet away from one of the most complete defenders the NBA has seen in a long time. Personally I would choose not a single player in the league to be on the floor coaching Elson on smart, lane-clogging defense than Timmy.

And also, it really doesn't matter how Elson performs right now. I feel we picked him up to guard one player - Dirk. He and Bowen could make the difference in the playoffs, but not from the offensive end. Elson matches up MUCH better against Dirk than any player we've had, which leaves Bowen free to cover Howard. Perhaps they'll switch at some point, but we don't need Elson OR Bowen to score to win against the Mavs, as long as Elson boards, Bowen grabs a few steals and cuts off easy passes, and they contain Dirk and Howard.

Even if Dirk has a big game or two, we could still win, considering we "let" Amare score consistently in the high 30s/low 40s and still crushed Phoenix two years back. This isn't to say it would be an EASY feat -- I'm just stating that we can allow a player to score big and still win if the rest of our defense steps up.

I really really really hope Pop sets our defense up to not play off their man. If anyone gets into the lane, just make him hit the shot under pressure rather than bringing another player over to double. This wears out our defense and leaves then openopenopen players to pass to.

DITTO! We don't want Duncan on Nowitski where he's going to get into foul touble. And as you pointed out... we need Bowen on guys like Josh Howard. The Spurs defense is predicated on having to shot blocking threats in the post. Without a second big man quick enough to guard Nowitski, we only had Duncan guarding the paint... but that was fine by the Mavs. They wanted to go right at Timmy to get him into foul trouble.

Now, we can have Duncan at the center, Elson on Nowitski, and Bowen on Howard. We are far better equiped to match up with the Mavs this year because of Elson.

[timvp]

Using stats over the last ten games, it looks like Vaughn, Horry, Elson and Bowen have all be playing very good defense lately. It's good to see that Vaughn's defensive energy is turning into results. And yeah, the numbers indicate that perhaps Elson is turning the corner.

Here are points per 48 minutes that opponents have scored against each player over the last ten games:

Vaughn - 78.5
Horry - 79.1
Elson - 83.3
Bowen - 83.8
Duncan - 90.4
Parker - 90.9
Oberto - 93.8
Ginobili - 94.6
Bonner - 95.2
Barry - 96.6
Udrih - 97.1

[SenorSpur]

DITTO! We don't want Duncan on Nowitski where he's going to get into foul touble. And as you pointed out... we need Bowen on guys like Josh Howard. The Spurs defense is predicated on having to shot blocking threats in the post. Without a second big man quick enough to guard Nowitski, we only had Duncan guarding the paint... but that was fine by the Mavs. They wanted to go right at Timmy to get him into foul trouble.

Now, we can have Duncan at the center, Elson on Nowitski, and Bowen on Howard. We are far better equiped to match up with the Mavs this year because of Elson.

Exactly. One of the most frustrating things about last season's WCSF series versus the Mavs (besides the terrible Manu foul - why Manu why?) was having Bowen switch off back and forth between Howard and Dirk from game to game. It seemed that whichever one he wasn't guarding would to go off. There simply wasn't enough of Bowen to go around - defensively anyway. That's one reason why I too am excited to have Elson on the team. He'll be a FAR better matchup for Dirk than anyone we've had since Malik Rose.

[DubMcDub]

Exactly. One of the most frustrating things about last season's WCSF series versus the Mavs (besides the terrible Manu foul - why Manu why?) was having Bowen switch off back and forth between Howard and Dirk from game to game. It seemed that whichever one he wasn't guarding would to go off. There simply wasn't enough of Bowen to go around - defensively anyway. That's one reason why I too am excited to have Elson on the team. He'll be a FAR better matchup for Dirk than anyone we've had since Malik Rose.

Good luck with all that.

[MannyIsGod]

Good luck with what? Elson being a better matchup with Dirk than anyone since Malik? Are you saying someone else was just as good?

Perhaps you should take a moment to realize what your post says, Mav fan.

ing idiot.

[Cry Havoc]

Good luck with all that.

Good luck beating us in 5 as some of your other fans claimed, .

Man... can you imagine the humiliation of these y Mavs fans if/when the Spurs take them in 6 or 7 in the WCF?

We'd probably lose about 15% of the readership here from next-day Mavs-fan suicides. Cuban would become bulimic.

[ploto]

Let's see him cover Bosh first.

[ducks]

he sure as will not have to guard rasho

[1Parker1]

Using stats over the last ten games, it looks like Vaughn, Horry, Elson and Bowen have all be playing very good defense lately. It's good to see that Vaughn's defensive energy is turning into results. And yeah, the numbers indicate that perhaps Elson is turning the corner.

Here are points per 48 minutes that opponents have scored against each player over the last ten games:

Vaughn - 78.5
Horry - 79.1
Elson - 83.3
Bowen - 83.8
Duncan - 90.4
Parker - 90.9
Oberto - 93.8
Ginobili - 94.6
Bonner - 95.2
Barry - 96.6
Udrih - 97.1

That Magic game alone over-inflated Barry's stats.

[GrandeDavid]

Good luck with what? Elson being a better matchup with Dirk than anyone since Malik? Are you saying someone else was just as good?

Perhaps you should take a moment to realize what your post says, Mav fan.

ing idiot.

Thank you, Manny! Many of these Mavs fans hang around here simply to agitate and blow ty takes. I actually find it entertaining when they get upset.

[GrandeDavid]

And DubMcDub, you are making it very hard not to flash the 3 rings. Very hard.

[td4mvp21]

Good luck with all that.

I think what he meant was that Elson matches up better...Elson isn't going to stop Dirk but he can at least keep up with him and guard him better than anyone we have.

[Kamnik]

Udrih was my favourite player and all of us laid hopes on him (Slovenians) but this is just sad... being outplayed by Vaughn

i hope he goes back to Europe because it is just frustrating to see this

on the other side.... i am happy that Vaughn and Elson are turning out okay as Spurs are headed toward april

[SenorSpur]

I think what he meant was that Elson matches up better...Elson isn't going to stop Dirk but he can at least keep up with him and guard him better than anyone we have.

That's exactly what I meant.

I'm not suggesting for one minute that Elson will be able to shut Dirk down. However if he uses his quickness and length to make him work harder for his shots and rebounds, that will be better than anything else we've been able to throw at him lately.

One thing is certain, Elson WILL beat Dirk down the court every time. Whether that will spell some success for the Spurs will depend upon whether Elson can consistently get cheap, easy, conversion points for the Spurs in transition. Conversely on the other end, whether he can continously rebound and sprint back to help neutralize the Mavs fast break.

[Fabbs]

21-2 when Elson 20+ minutes.

[RC's Boss]

Agreed. He has to cut down on the fouls. But overall... great strides forward defensively.

He's not the first guy to come here from a non-defensive-minded team, and take a while to catch on to the defensive scheme. The important thing is that the Spurs play their best basketball in the Spring when it counts.

Hey man, dude is what, 230lbs. I think that will continue to be a problem. the thing I like about Elson the most is that in the 1st game we played Dallas, we didn't have to play small ball when he was in the game. He's quick enough to stay w/ Dirk. Dirk is a great player and will still get his, but we shouldn't suffer as much in a seven game series on the boards. Now againt Yao... Be afraid, be VERY afraid!

[RC's Boss]

21-2 when Elson 20+ minutes.

No ????? Damn that's pretty impressive. Wonder if Pop knows of that stat. He's no Admiral, but we didn't have Tim when David was in his prime. I too am excited about Elson in the playoffs against teams w/ quicker bigs

[DubMcDub]

Good luck with what? Elson being a better matchup with Dirk than anyone since Malik? Are you saying someone else was just as good?

Perhaps you should take a moment to realize what your post says, Mav fan.

ing idiot.

No. Im saying that theres a contingent of Spurs fans on here who have been hanging to this "Elson is the key to defending the Mavs" notion since he had a decent (read: decent, not even good) game on opening night, and that such a notion is humorously wishful thinking.

Elson does certainly match up better with Dirk than anyone the Spurs have had in some years. Dirk will still easily score 25+ most games against the Spurs, though, and the idea that Bowen is still capable of doing much to slow Josh Howard is absolutely laughable.

So again, I say, good luck with all that.

[Kobulingam]

Let's see him cover Bosh first.

Bosh can't be covered. He demands a double team within 1 microsecond of touching the ball.

[RC's Boss]

No. Im saying that theres a contingent of Spurs fans on here who have been hanging to this "Elson is the key to defending the Mavs" notion since he had a decent (read: decent, not even good) game on opening night, and that such a notion is humorously wishful thinking.

Elson does certainly match up better with Dirk than anyone the Spurs have had in some years. Dirk will still easily score 25+ most games against the Spurs, though, and the idea that Bowen is still capable of doing much to slow Josh Howard is absolutely laughable.

So again, I say, good luck with all that.

I'll say this... The Mavs are an elite team... OKAY. It doesn't mean you guys will beat us in a 7 game series. We are your biggest threat (not the Suns), as you are ours... Hats off to whoever wins

[DubMcDub]

I'll say this... The Mavs are an elite team... OKAY. It doesn't mean you guys will beat us in a 7 game series. We are your biggest threat (not the Suns), as you are ours... Hats off to whoever wins

I agree with everything you just said. Dont let the absurdly and unnecessarily defensive responses by Spurs fans to some of my posts make you think that I believe otherwise. Mavs have not beaten the Spurs yet and may not--but if they dont, its not going to be because of some scrub like Elson. Its going to be because the Spurs have 3 tremendous superstars on their roster.