We are going to be one of the WORST defensive teams next year......

[jpotter33]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Bradley and Crowder's defense is so overated .. remember how felton tore AB apart in the playoffs? and Lebron toys with Crowder?
If anything Rozier and Tatum will be better defender than those two, just watch

TP

[jpotter33]

It will be interesting to see where the defense falls.  Last year's ranks:

3PT% allowed: 2nd
eFG% allowed: 5th
3PT allowed: 7th
FG% allowed: 8th
Defensive rating: 13th

Turnover percentage forced: 16th

FTs allowed: 26th
Defensive rebound percentage: 28th

So, while our defense was mediocre, we did a good job defending the 3PT line, and contesting shots in general. The issues were giving up too many second chances and too many FTs.

To me this was one of the bigger changes. We were 3rd in the league in 2016 in this regard.

[Darío SpanishFan]

Not worse than IT playing.

[Eja117]

Offense wins games in the NBA so we'll be ok.

Also it's possible we'll be better at rebounding. But maybe not

[GreenWarrior]

we were bad defensively last season with 2 so-called great defenders.

In fact, by every known defensive measure, Bradley was average. He has a reputation for stepping up in certain matchups, but the reality is that he is undersized for SG with overrated defense. Smart is a significantly better defender today.

yup! you don't have to tell me.


I also noticed our comments went unnoticed.

[Tr1boy]

Not worse than IT playing.

Exactly

Everyone else had to guard 1.5 players

[Moranis]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Bradley and Crowder's defense is so overated .. remember how felton tore AB apart in the playoffs? and Lebron toys with Crowder?
If anything Rozier and Tatum will be better defender than those two, just watch

Felton is a PG.  Lebron toys with everyone.  I mean he dominated Leonard in both those finals (including the one the Cavs lost).  He just put up a triple double in the NBA Finals this past season. 

I'm not saying Bradley and Crowder aren't overrated defensively, especially on this blog, but your examples are a pretty poor way to show it.

[GreenWarrior]

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years

another example of people on this board putting way too much stock in these advanced stats.

I personally think KO was a decent team defender and was good at getting good defensive positioning. but that's where it ends, there aren't many players in the league that couldn't blow past KO whenever they choose to.

[OhioGreen]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Not expecting anything from Theis?  You do realize he was DPOY in his league last year, right?

[JBcat]

Morris is essentially replacing Johnson in the starting lineup, and I'm curious how that will look defensively. Morris seems more of a perimeter defender than interior and Johnson the opposite. I could be wrong though.  I read somewhere that Morris is somewhat of a Lebron stopper so that's good. Haha

As much as I liked our backcourt last year I do like the added size we have now.

[Ilikesports17]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Not expecting anything from Theis?  You do realize he was DPOY in his league last year, right?

Forgive me if winning the German league DPOY isnt enough to convince me this dude can contribute at the NBA level.

[Ilikesports17]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Disagree. Felt Smart was clearly the teams best defender last year.

Then Bradley then Crowder then Klynyk(and the gap between these 2 was very small). Everyone else was average to below average. I wasnt at all impressed with Als defense and by the end of the year Amir was garbage.

Now moving to this years squad. I have high hopes for Morris defensively, but I dont think its accurate to say that he has been a good defender.

Marcus will be our best defender and should make an all-defense team. Id say our second best defender is Gordon Hayward. After that we are counting on guys to be better on that end than theyve been in the past. Morris and Brown are both guys who have been negatives on that end in the past who could turn it around and become big positives this year.

If they both do that, Big Al doesnt get any worse and Kyrie tries, then the defense should be fine.

[nickagneta]

Yeah, this just isn't true.

If anything, we'll be better. I like the starting unit's defense (Kyrie, Brown/Smart, Hayward, Morris, and Horford) much more this year than last year, and replacing KO, Green, and Zeller with the likes of Baynes and Theis will help the bench defense, too, though a lot will depend upon whether Smart starts or comes off the bench.

And what's this about Horford? He was easily our second best defender last year behind Smart. His problem was that he was being played out of position at the 4 having to chase guys out on the perimeter.

People have this misconception that we were some great defensive team last year when in reality we were average at best. We won because of our elite offense. Removing the biggest defensive mismatch in the league and adding several more lanky, athletic wing types capable of vast switching will only make us better this year.

KO has been one of the best team defenders on this team for the last 2-3 years.  Combined that with Bradley, Crowder, Amir (three excellent defensive players) and that's a massive loss.  Even Jerebko was a pretty nice defensive player who could impact the game on that end.

Kyrie is a terrible defensive player, Brown is average, Hayward is average.  Horford and Morris are solid, but that only covers the frontcourt.  Looking at the bench, Rozier has potential but has to get more consistent, Tatum is going to probably struggle defensively at the start, Yabusele I'm not expecting much defence from, Theis and Nader I'm expecting zero defence from, Baynes is solid.

Smart, Horford and Morris are pretty much the only consistently above average defenders on this entire roster, and yes that IS a major concern given that we also project to be ever worse on the boards this year then we were last year.  Sucking at defence AND rebounding is very problematic and something to be concerned about.

Horford, our second best defender after Smart?  Umm...no.  Smart was not our best defender (he was at least 3rd, behind Bradley and Crowder) and Horford was merely above average.

Not expecting anything from Theis?  You do realize he was DPOY in his league last year, right?

Forgive me if winning the German league DPOY isnt enough to convince me this dude can contribute at the NBA level.

Feel the same way. Theis was a bench role player in the Budesliga. Those type of players usually don't play in the NBA. They tend just not to be good enough.

[kozlodoev]

Not expecting anything from Theis?  You do realize he was DPOY in his league last year, right?

1. The Bundesliga is, at best, a second-tier European league.
2. The fact that a rotation player who averaged 19 mpg off the bench got their DPOY tells us more about the league than it does about the player.

[OhioGreen]

I know so many on this board are frustrated armchair GM's, and you'll probably be correct about DTheis, but since DA could have signed hundreds of players from the US to guaranteed two year contracts, why did he go all the way to Germany to sign this one, specific, untalented player?