NAOS
Well-Known Member
I’ve been closely watching some PHX b-ball the last week or so. I have very little confidence that our defense can stop their offense.... particularly in a close game where every possession counts, and scoring a bucket is equivalent to landing a hard right hook to the head.If that is the case then wouldn't you want a bunch of guys on the outside that have active hands and are gambling for deflections? We are like last in the league in steals and forcing turnovers. Mike has been good at it... everyone else is no bueno.
I just think that is the low hanging fruit we should pursue... if our guys can't do it... then find a guy or two to mix in that can.
Bend but don't break works good as an every night strategy in the regular season... against playoff teams we will need more. Many of those teams are good at making the shots we allow and can make the other ones even when contested.
It also would help if we'd switch a little more... as @FAILED STATE has mentioned... a changeup would have some value... I watch how some teams screw our actions all to hell by switching things and think it might be something we could execute more often but might require more defenders like Shaq.
I’d say the exact same thing even if our perimeter defenders were 20% better across the board.... because we just don’t have enough variety in our defensive schematics. CP3 and Booker are figuring out pretty much everything right now, and if you give them only one or two things to solve, then you are going to lose the close games at a much higher rate than you win them. They’re definitely the team I fear the most right now. Their strengths play straight into our weaknesses... like a key into a lock.
Their perimeter defenders have really bought-in, too. So add that to the fear-mix.