Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V9 #191

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

"And good lord, if you think Pierce is a better defender, I have to wonder 
what you were watching. Paul tries to play the Larry Bird 'rover' position on 
defense and it WAY too often was his man that was the one left open with a 
too late recovery, while he got too many fouls diving too late at someone. 
Maybe it's the blocked shots that make you think that? I'll grant you those, 
but he's still FAR too often out of position/rubbed off too easily by picks, 
etc."- Kim
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  I think you're confusing team defense with individual defense.  The Celtics 
team defense is predicated on keeping the opposition out of the paint.  They 
would much rather give up the outside shot than let opponents get to the rim. 
 Why?  Because they have no interior defense and they know it.
  For that reason the perimeter players are supposed to play off their man 
and sag in so they can be ready to help stop penetration and be ready to 
rotate.
Also, many times the coaching staff will identify a player they want to cheat 
off of in order to pay extra attention to the opponents strength position.  
For instance, Pierce was asked to cheat off of Snow in order to help on 
Iverson during the Philly series.
They cheated off Fisher to help with Shaq against LA. etc.
    So, you can't look at open three pointers or players lunging at three 
point shooters and say that's poor defense.  In actuality the players are 
doing what they've been told.  The better test would be how many times that 
player was beat off the dribble or allowed the player they were guarding to 
get into the paint. 
In that regard Pierce comes out extremely well.  Add the blocks and the 
steals and the drawn charges and the excellent one-on-one defense he showed 
in late game situations when he was allowed to concentrate on guarding one 
player, and it could be argued he was our best perimeter defender. 

   All of this may not be your idea of good defense, but it's hard to argue 
against the Celtics defensive game plan this season.  It worked more often 
than not, covered up a weakness in the interior, and it helped get them to 
the Eastern Conference finals.