So what about Nenad Krstic?

[fairweatherfan]

Shaq is a better post defender, but Krstic is a better overall defender.

Actually I'm surprised with Krstic's defensive numbers, especially on post-ups. Truly stellar. He has less than 100 plays in the database but he ranks top-10 league wide. I haven't seen the film yet, but now I'm curious. Probably a mix of randomness, over-help, favourable matchups and maybe more defensive talent to defend the post than I thought.

Yeah, I think the "balding Euro" look contributes to the impression that he sucks on D.  The numbers don't seem to bear it out, although I think situational factors like you mention are probably inflating them a bit.  But bad defenders don't really put up numbers like Krstic has, regardless of circumstance.

[Cman]

Krstic is a decent offensive player with a good jumpshot. He will open things up for Rondo to penetrate when he is in there.

Unfortunately, he's a very stiff, slow defender who doesn't block shots. He's also one of the poorest rebounding centers in the NBA. (51st out of 60 centers in rebounding percentage). In a lot of ways, he's similar to the Mikki Moore we were supposed to be getting, minus the energy.

He should be a competent backup or very good third stringer.

Don't see the Mikki Moore similarities, beyond subpar rebounding.

Krstic is bigger, slower -- more of a traditional 5. Krstic can shoot. Krstic can shoot FTs. So his position in the rotation is different, and his ability to provide a little scoring on the 2nd unit is as well.

He could also finish a game in a pinch -- something Doc has been hesitant to allow Perk to do, and will be hesitant to allow Shaq to do -- because they can't shoot FTs.

Mikki was supposed to be a guy who could spread the floor by hitting mid-range jumpshots.  He was brought in for offense, but his defense and rebounding were largely considered poor to very poor.

Take out the name "Mikki" and replace it with "Krstic", and it's equally apt.  They have the same strengths and weaknesses.  Mikki is poor on defense because he gets pushed around, fouls too much, and doesn't seem very cerebral, while Krstic is poor because he's too slow, isn't physical enough, and doesn't seem very cerebral.  At the end of the day, though, they're both offensively-oriented centers who aren't all that good at offense.

So, if Krstic doesn't show a propensity for dumb fouls he is Moore's superior?

Haha.  Yep.  (Also, he's better offensively.  Mikki could shoot, but he passed up a lot of open looks that Krstic will drain.)

That was one thing that just drove me nuts.

[MaxAMillion]

Excellent third string center. Weak rotation player.

Hopefully, Jermaine and Shaq will be healthy enough to keep Krstic pinned to the bench for most of the playoffs.

Yup, don't know if anybody heard Danny on the Planet Mikey show last night, but he said that he anticipates Shaq and JO being effective for us for the rest of the season, gave me some hope.

JO being healthy? 

[Chris]

Shaq is a better post defender, but Krstic is a better overall defender.

Actually I'm surprised with Krstic's defensive numbers, especially on post-ups. Truly stellar. He has less than 100 plays in the database but he ranks top-10 league wide. I haven't seen the film yet, but now I'm curious. Probably a mix of randomness, over-help, favourable matchups and maybe more defensive talent to defend the post than I thought.

Where are those stats from?

[Eddie20]

I compare Krstic to Big Z. Albeit a slightly smaller, but more mobile Big Z. He'll be good in pick and pop situations and will create good spacing for us.

[vinnie]

I continue to laugh at the notion of a healthy JO.

[Eddie20]

I continue to laugh at the notion of a healthy JO.

Ainge said he is doing well expects him to return sooner than the 8 week prognosis.

[vinnie]

I continue to laugh at the notion of a healthy JO.

Ainge said he is doing well expects him to return sooner than the 8 week prognosis.

He has played 9 games this year

[Chris]

I continue to laugh at the notion of a healthy JO.

Ainge said he is doing well expects him to return sooner than the 8 week prognosis.

He has played 9 games this year

Which is reason enough to be concerned, but is certainly not a reason why he wouldn't come back.  I personally believe they have been taking it easy with him, and have him on track to be back for the stretch run and playoffs. 

[droponov]

Shaq is a better post defender, but Krstic is a better overall defender.

Actually I'm surprised with Krstic's defensive numbers, especially on post-ups. Truly stellar. He has less than 100 plays in the database but he ranks top-10 league wide. I haven't seen the film yet, but now I'm curious. Probably a mix of randomness, over-help, favourable matchups and maybe more defensive talent to defend the post than I thought.

Where are those stats from?

A stats service called Synergy.

Looking at a full season of plays (last season), Krstic ranked 19th in the league amongst centers (including pfs who played the position) for post-up plays (minimum 150 plays). That's a more accurate measure of his talent than his rank this season. In this type of plays he allowed 0.87 points per play (with a 44.4FG% allowed, 9.5% shooting fouls committed and 8.6% turnovers forced). Exact same efficiency of guys like Noah, Gasol and Dalembert. For good measure, Perkins ranked 5th with 0.75 ppp allowed and Jermaine O'Neal 7th with 0.75 ppg. This season his numbers improved, but I don't think he did.

So yeah, watching him I think he's an above average but not excellent post defender. The type of defender that will contest shots by raising both his arms and staying on the ground, has enough footwork to not be thrown away of the spot in most situations and isn't easy to back down. He isn't very physical, doesn't bump people before the ball arrives, something that the Celtics do very well when defending Howard, for example. And doesn't really contest the shots, it's more like he bothers. That's generally enough to make one competent, even if excellent gets out of touch.

Anyway, it's the pick'n'roll defense and the help defense at the rim that are more shaky.

[Edgar]

third string center behing Shaq and Murphy
and Jo playing big PFs duriong finals

really this team is now better deep and sick

[Jon]

TP to the OP. 

This is a good thread.  While Krstic is hardly an All Star, he was the starting center on the number 4 seed in the West and he's averaged as high as 16 ppg (granted, only playing in 26 games that year). 

He won't make us forget about Perk, but he's a legit big man in this league who will be better than Mikki Moore, who was certainly not starting for a team as good as the Thunder when he came here. 

[More Banners]

TP to the OP. 

This is a good thread.  While Krstic is hardly an All Star, he was the starting center on the number 4 seed in the West and he's averaged as high as 16 ppg (granted, only playing in 26 games that year). 

He won't make us forget about Perk, but he's a legit big man in this league who will be better than Mikki Moore, who was certainly not starting for a team as good as the Thunder when he came here. 

Thanks for making this point, while so many are writing him off as a 3rd string guy.  Jeez... 

And we're 6-1 with Semih starting for Pete's sake!  If this team's stars do their jobs, the role players will look pretty good, likely better than they are...leading them to want more than they're worth, i.e. Posey, TA, et. al.