Sheed is the best low post defender in the game

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I've never seen a better low post defender than Sheed in all my years of watching NBA basketball.

He can guard 4s and 5s equally well.  Should have been first team all-defense.  

He just stays with people and those long arms make life a living hell for whoever's trying to score on him.  Anyone know his wingspan?  It must be 7-5 at least.

He wasn't this good defensively earlier in his career.  He used to be mostly a scorer.  I think he's learned to defend so well from experience and veteran saavy.  He doesn't score like he used to, so now he focuses on defense.  He's a better defender than PJ Brown was.

I agree with everything you have said, however I'd like to point out that I'm quite dissapointed with the tenacity of his fouls this post-season. I mean come on, you're Rasheed Wallace and you're supposed to be a bad mofo, but you're fouling like my Grand-MA-MA and allowing the opposition to get opportunities for "old fashioned" 3-point plays. Sheed needs to be fouling harder, period.

[Mr October]

Sheed is the man against Gasol. I can't wait for game five!

[the_Bird]

For anyone who hasn't seen it, this is an outstanding breakdown of 'Sheed's defense against Pau. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nvtPGwpNoY

When 'Sheed's locked in, his defense is about as good as it gets.  Of course, the issue has always been that he's not always locked in, and when he IS locked in he's usually right on that intense emotional edge where he's getting technicals.  That T he picked up last game, didn't bother me a HUGE amount because he wouldn't have gotten it if he wasn't so locked in.  Just sucks that it was #6.

[fanofgreen]

Sheed has always been one of the best post-defenders in the League....thats why the pistons were so tough all those years, because they not only had Ben Wallace, but Sheed also.

Sheed's post defense has always been this good, and even better when he had young athleticism earlier in his career. The thing is Sheed's low post D doesn't show up like Ben Wallace's did in the Stat books. Ben Wallace was a great defender. Ben's defense would show up more as Blocks & Steals & Rebounds, whereas Sheed's defense is more of (baskeball terms being used here. haha) Shadowing the ball, knocking guys off the block, leading them into traps/or double teams, and meeting the ball for blocks,as opposed to a guy like Ben Wallace who was more of a "swatter" when it came to blocks.

The thing is though, Sheed's defense is just like his offense. When he is motivated and decides to put it to use, then it starts to show that Sheed has Top 50 all-time type of talent. He just doesn't use all of his weapons defensively and offensively for some reason, and he's been like that all throughout his career.

Sheed has never lived up to his talent level, and yet he is in his 3rd NBA Finals. Just imagine if he actually used all of his talent.........If he used all of his talent, I am confident in saying that, we would not be declaring Tim Duncan the greatest Power Forward of all-time. even tim duncan at one point said some years ago, that Rasheed is one of his toughest matchups  defensively and Sheed plays him the best on D.

I'm watching these finals,and Im just thinking to myself,
"two of the most naturally gifted and talented ball players of all-time are both coming off the bench": Rasheed and Lamar Odom.

If Lamar played up to his talent level, throughout his career, we would be hearing less about Kobe vs. Lebron and a lot more of Lamar vs. Lebron.

Coming in to the league, Lebron would have been declared the next "Lamar Odom", had Lamar lived up to his talent level.

But I guess thats how it goes sometimes.

Ok I'm done!

[Prof. Clutch]

I've never seen a better low post defender than Sheed in all my years of watching NBA basketball.

He can guard 4s and 5s equally well.  Should have been first team all-defense.  

He just stays with people and those long arms make life a living hell for whoever's trying to score on him.  Anyone know his wingspan?  It must be 7-5 at least.

He wasn't this good defensively earlier in his career.  He used to be mostly a scorer.  I think he's learned to defend so well from experience and veteran saavy.  He doesn't score like he used to, so now he focuses on defense.  He's a better defender than PJ Brown was.

I agree with everything you have said, however I'd like to point out that I'm quite dissapointed with the tenacity of his fouls this post-season. I mean come on, you're Rasheed Wallace and you're supposed to be a bad mofo, but you're fouling like my Grand-MA-MA and allowing the opposition to get opportunities for "old fashioned" 3-point plays. Sheed needs to be fouling harder, period.

I've been somewhat disappointed with the team as a whole with their lack of hard playoff fouls, but I think of anyone on our team Sheed has been fouling people the hardest during these playoffs.

[satch]

I think several years ago Sheed could have been the MVP of the League if he he wanted to be.....that's the problem. If he had started the season in shape and played hard ever night four games of this series may have been played in Boston. Sheed gives and Sheed takes away. (His technical in game four could have been devastating.) Sometimes the Doc has to trust the patient. Go C's!

[misha]

I think several years ago Sheed could have been the MVP of the League if he he wanted to be.....that's the problem. If he had started the season in shape and played hard ever night four games of this series may have been played in Boston. Sheed gives and Sheed takes away. (His technical in game four could have been devastating.) Sometimes the Doc has to trust the patient. Go C's!

Of course it would be nice to see him is shape from the get go, but even the motivated Sheed is not the difference between HCA or the 4th seed. Like Doc said, it was a calculated decision not to overplay the starters in order to avoid injuries. They knew after the good beginning of the season that the players had it in them, but the most important thing was to be healthy in the playoffs.

[j804]

One of the best low post defenders for sure. Anybody notice how much weight hes dropped? He is way thinner and more mobile, looks like he got that cardio up.

[Celtics18]

One of the best low post defenders for sure. Anybody notice how much weight hes dropped? He is way thinner and more mobile, looks like he got that cardio up.

Yeah, I've noticed that.  I've thought that he looks not just thinner, but that he's actually looking kind of ripped out there these days. 

Hey, he needed to spend six months getting accustomed to his new home in Boston.  He showed up to work when it matters, though.

Heck, he even got a haircut for the playoffs.

[housecall]

The next couple of games will determine to me if he is the best in the business...if we win the championship with his help,i'll give him that alone with 14 other guys on the team.

[mmbaby]

Finally a 'give Sheed some love' post. I don't know all the ins and outs of basketball yet, but Sheed is just a huge force in a lot of ways. And as far as his technicals and his temper, whatever, that's what makes him so intimidating and good.
Great thread!!!!