In the summertime, and preseason, much was made of the Pacers new coaching staff, particularly defensive guru Dick Harter, and his ability to hide our players defensive individual weaknesses in his grander overall team scheme. While we probably discussed the offensive end in more detail overall, we had lots of quality discussion on here about what we expected to see.
I think the prevailing opinions/hopes of most of you about our defense went something like this:
1. "I'm not worried about our defense, I trust Dick Harter and Jim O'Brien's scheme to solve all of that."
2. "The players wouldn't play hard last year, better effort will help our defense."
3. "Danny Granger can be our defensive stopper."
I think we are seeing so far that all of the above statements simply aren't true.
We have clearly improved offensively as a whole. We are clearly getting more offensively out of Tinsley and Dunleavy. And we clearly move the ball better and are more entertaining to watch play, no question.
But it is time to clearly state the following: The Pacers defensively are downright terrible much of the time.
Now, I'm not saying that Coach Harter and Coach O'Brien aren't good defensive coaches, because they are. What I am saying is that the Pacers personnel defensively are awful, and lack any potential of getting better significantly.
I'm telling you all to recognize this "coachspeak" we hear all the time from the staff about missed rotations, inexperience, new system, blah blah blah for what it is: which is a load of B.S.
Let me explain what I mean somewhat better than I have already by examining the phrase "defensive rotations".
Coach O'Brien acts like these are somehow set in stone, with ironclad rules and concepts, with everyone supposed to be acting in concert. This all sounds like good, intelligent, well planned defensive coaching.
Except it isn't close to being true, and Jim knows it deep down. It's something to say without having to call out particular individuals you don't want to criticize for whatever reason.
Let me tell you all something about coaching basketball: You may decide as a coach which one your players will guard my players, but I decide where on the floor my players will be, and how I will attack you based on that. A team's great defensive rules and concepts are wasted if I attack you in ways that your INDIVIDUAL defenders cannot handle, in positions or situations in which they struggle.
This is even more true when the opponent I'm playing is very PREDICTABLE defensively, along with having WEAK INDIVIDUAL defenders.
The Pacers are known to have the following traits defensively:
1. Help and sag alot.
2. Fail to recover and closeout to shooters due to their need/desire to overhelp.
3. Foul often.
4. Our best defenders are easily faked out by ball fakes.
5. We play one one above average defender significant minutes (JO, and he is average on the ball, above average away from it).
6. We play several below average defenders significant minutes (Tinsley, Murphy, Dunleavy)
7. We lead the league in defensive three second calls, giving our opponent a couple of free points per game.
So teams put us in situations to drive the ball, cause us to help, and then pitch it to wide open guys for easy shots. THE PACERS ARE SOFT...thats what their scouting reports say.
You guys all need to realize that no defensive scheme by any coach can solve any of this. It's not going to be the X's and O's, it's the Jimmy's and Joe's. If you are all waiting for the "Dick Harter effect" to kick in, I don't think it is going to.
This system needs better individual defenders on the ball, so we aren't forced to help and recover so much. We also need a committment from the staff to value putting as many good defenders on the floor as possible.
TEAM DEFENSE IS ONE OF THE MOST OVERRATED THINGS IN BASKETBALL.
It cannot be played successfully without really good defense from individuals. I know someone will bring up the Spurs, who do play a well organized, team defensive concept well.....but remember they have 2 elite defenders in Duncan and Bowen, and Parker is great at pressuring the opposing ballhandler. Their individual talent makes the scheme work, not the other way around.
In truth, I think the Pacers front office and coaching staff fell victim to their own hubris and hype when evaluating the roster defensively. No coach can take this roster and make it a good defensive team overall.
I do not think our weaknesses are fixable with more time or experience, and I doubt Jim O'Brien does either. So what can we expect to see him do as the Calendar turns to 2008?
There will be lots of disagreement and griping about this prediction if it comes true, but I think Coach O'Brien may slow our pace down on offense, to protect our worsening defense.....which is the same conclusion Carlisle came to in his tenure.
That is unless we somehow obtain better personnel defensively thru a trade of some sort, which won't be easy. Most teams know that what I just have written is true, and are reluctant to deal for guys who are porous as individual defenders.
You used to be able to hide slower guys by being physical and rough on the perimeter....those days are over.
Larry Brown was a great defensive coach, in that he really valued guys who could guard people. But he was a lot smarter when he had Derrick McKey and Haywoode Workman playing for him than when he had those awful Knicks teams.
In some ways I'm spoiled I guess, having coached some great high school defenders, and having watched some elite defenders play in my lifetime for my favorite team, the 2 mentioned above, Travis Best, and Ron Artest.
I guess I'm in a bad mood tonight about our team's roster, but what really worries me more than anything is that I sometimes wonder if our front office is seeing the same things I am. I wonder if any of you are too.
I see our team scheme as easy to figure out and predictable for our opponents, with below average personnel trying to execute it. I hate it, but I see a big tailspin coming our way soon......
As always, all the above is just my opinion.
Tbird
I think the prevailing opinions/hopes of most of you about our defense went something like this:
1. "I'm not worried about our defense, I trust Dick Harter and Jim O'Brien's scheme to solve all of that."
2. "The players wouldn't play hard last year, better effort will help our defense."
3. "Danny Granger can be our defensive stopper."
I think we are seeing so far that all of the above statements simply aren't true.
We have clearly improved offensively as a whole. We are clearly getting more offensively out of Tinsley and Dunleavy. And we clearly move the ball better and are more entertaining to watch play, no question.
But it is time to clearly state the following: The Pacers defensively are downright terrible much of the time.
Now, I'm not saying that Coach Harter and Coach O'Brien aren't good defensive coaches, because they are. What I am saying is that the Pacers personnel defensively are awful, and lack any potential of getting better significantly.
I'm telling you all to recognize this "coachspeak" we hear all the time from the staff about missed rotations, inexperience, new system, blah blah blah for what it is: which is a load of B.S.
Let me explain what I mean somewhat better than I have already by examining the phrase "defensive rotations".
Coach O'Brien acts like these are somehow set in stone, with ironclad rules and concepts, with everyone supposed to be acting in concert. This all sounds like good, intelligent, well planned defensive coaching.
Except it isn't close to being true, and Jim knows it deep down. It's something to say without having to call out particular individuals you don't want to criticize for whatever reason.
Let me tell you all something about coaching basketball: You may decide as a coach which one your players will guard my players, but I decide where on the floor my players will be, and how I will attack you based on that. A team's great defensive rules and concepts are wasted if I attack you in ways that your INDIVIDUAL defenders cannot handle, in positions or situations in which they struggle.
This is even more true when the opponent I'm playing is very PREDICTABLE defensively, along with having WEAK INDIVIDUAL defenders.
The Pacers are known to have the following traits defensively:
1. Help and sag alot.
2. Fail to recover and closeout to shooters due to their need/desire to overhelp.
3. Foul often.
4. Our best defenders are easily faked out by ball fakes.
5. We play one one above average defender significant minutes (JO, and he is average on the ball, above average away from it).
6. We play several below average defenders significant minutes (Tinsley, Murphy, Dunleavy)
7. We lead the league in defensive three second calls, giving our opponent a couple of free points per game.
So teams put us in situations to drive the ball, cause us to help, and then pitch it to wide open guys for easy shots. THE PACERS ARE SOFT...thats what their scouting reports say.
You guys all need to realize that no defensive scheme by any coach can solve any of this. It's not going to be the X's and O's, it's the Jimmy's and Joe's. If you are all waiting for the "Dick Harter effect" to kick in, I don't think it is going to.
This system needs better individual defenders on the ball, so we aren't forced to help and recover so much. We also need a committment from the staff to value putting as many good defenders on the floor as possible.
TEAM DEFENSE IS ONE OF THE MOST OVERRATED THINGS IN BASKETBALL.
It cannot be played successfully without really good defense from individuals. I know someone will bring up the Spurs, who do play a well organized, team defensive concept well.....but remember they have 2 elite defenders in Duncan and Bowen, and Parker is great at pressuring the opposing ballhandler. Their individual talent makes the scheme work, not the other way around.
In truth, I think the Pacers front office and coaching staff fell victim to their own hubris and hype when evaluating the roster defensively. No coach can take this roster and make it a good defensive team overall.
I do not think our weaknesses are fixable with more time or experience, and I doubt Jim O'Brien does either. So what can we expect to see him do as the Calendar turns to 2008?
There will be lots of disagreement and griping about this prediction if it comes true, but I think Coach O'Brien may slow our pace down on offense, to protect our worsening defense.....which is the same conclusion Carlisle came to in his tenure.
That is unless we somehow obtain better personnel defensively thru a trade of some sort, which won't be easy. Most teams know that what I just have written is true, and are reluctant to deal for guys who are porous as individual defenders.
You used to be able to hide slower guys by being physical and rough on the perimeter....those days are over.
Larry Brown was a great defensive coach, in that he really valued guys who could guard people. But he was a lot smarter when he had Derrick McKey and Haywoode Workman playing for him than when he had those awful Knicks teams.
In some ways I'm spoiled I guess, having coached some great high school defenders, and having watched some elite defenders play in my lifetime for my favorite team, the 2 mentioned above, Travis Best, and Ron Artest.
I guess I'm in a bad mood tonight about our team's roster, but what really worries me more than anything is that I sometimes wonder if our front office is seeing the same things I am. I wonder if any of you are too.
I see our team scheme as easy to figure out and predictable for our opponents, with below average personnel trying to execute it. I hate it, but I see a big tailspin coming our way soon......
As always, all the above is just my opinion.
Tbird
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