View Full Version : Who is the toughest cover in the NBA?
Watching the triple-header today, I am sitting back and wondering who is the toughest cover in the game.
I've been going back and forth over this the past few weeks and I have to say that it has to be Kobe Bryant. He is almost permanently double and triple teamed. Watch when he has the ball or when he is playing off the ball. At least 3 defenders have an eye on him and at least 2 will have a body on him unless there is a miraculous isolation.
I am dumbfounded at the stamina required to play off all these guys and STILL score 30 points a game AND play defense.
Lebron is typically double-team and the lane clogged because apparently people want him to shoot from range. He can get streaky but his jump-shot still looks off-balance. That being said, Reggie Miller had an ugly shot and he did ok :D
The third guy is probably going to be a bit of surprise. Shaq.
Shaq, the last 3 or 4 games I have seen him play (including games with Nash and Amare) is almost constantly double and tripled teamed. I guess seeing him putting up 30 and 40 points a game is what people fear. While Lebron and Kobe's team's both feed off the lanes created by the presence of their star player, somehow the Suns do not know how to use Shaq.
Other than these 3, I don't typically see a triple team that often.
Thoughts? Any other players who belong on this list?
DiscipleDOC
03-02-09, 12:06 AM
LeBron James.
/Thread
bob saget
03-02-09, 03:13 AM
want to say Howard. No one can stop him.
methimpikehoses
03-02-09, 03:17 AM
Lebron and Kobe cannot be covered.
LeBron James.
/Thread
I still think your boys should have traded for Shaq :)
Last night's game should have been a wakeup.
DiscipleDOC
03-02-09, 11:09 AM
I still think your boys should have traded for Shaq :)
Last night's game should have been a wakeup.
:lol: I will admit, they skeered the bejebus out of me allowing the Hawks get that close to winning a game.
And yes, I really do believe that we need some help in the paint.
Zelda_fan
03-02-09, 02:43 PM
Shaq is playing incredible these days. I mean, I'm a BIG BIG fan of PHX, and I didn't expect them to beat the Lakers even with Nash. The fact that they beat them without Nash and Stoudamire is pretty incredible.
Maybe the change of coaches is exactly what they needed. I mean, if they can beat the lakers, they can beat any team in the NBA (especially if they did it without Nash).
Shaq is playing incredible these days. I mean, I'm a BIG BIG fan of PHX, and I didn't expect them to beat the Lakers even with Nash. The fact that they beat them without Nash and Stoudamire is pretty incredible.
Maybe the change of coaches is exactly what they needed. I mean, if they can beat the lakers, they can beat any team in the NBA (especially if they did it without Nash).
Honestly, its entirely the players fault for Porter's firing.
Nash, your dear Stevie Nash, moped around like a 3 yr old who just lost his favorite barbie and Amare was in the same boat. There was no dedication to defense and no energy or purpose. They look good now but I don't see anyone winning without defense. All the top 4 teams play defense (Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, Spurs) and the Magic are not bad overall with a couple of stoppers on the team.
The Lakers have played very flat the last 2 games and their shooting has been well below season average. I wouldn't consider beating them to be a big statement but I do think it's a great confidence booster for the rest of the season. They really need to step up and Amare NEEDS to use Shaq if he comes back this season. He tries to do too much himself.
Shaq also needs to play within himself :) and not get carried away with the last 2 games.
DiscipleDOC
03-02-09, 05:17 PM
Honestly, its entirely the players fault for Porter's firing.
Nash, your dear Stevie Nash, moped around like a 3 yr old who just lost his favorite barbie and Amare was in the same boat. There was no dedication to defense and no energy or purpose. They look good now but I don't see anyone winning without defense. All the top 4 teams play defense (Celtics, Cavs, Lakers, Spurs) and the Magic are not bad overall with a couple of stoppers on the team.
The Lakers have played very flat the last 2 games and their shooting has been well below season average. I wouldn't consider beating them to be a big statement but I do think it's a great confidence booster for the rest of the season. They really need to step up and Amare NEEDS to use Shaq if he comes back this season. He tries to do too much himself.
Shaq also needs to play within himself :) and not get carried away with the last 2 games.
Shaq has really surprised the heck out of me. I didn't know he could still put up 40+ points. Putting up 30+ point against a team like the Lakers is phenomenal also.
Zelda_fan
03-02-09, 05:22 PM
Honestly, its entirely the players fault for Porter's firing.
Look, when you go from averaging 100 points per game, you fire your coach, and all of a sudden you drop 140 the next three games straight,beat the lakers, etc... something was wrong in the coaching department.
Nash is a hall of fame point guard BUT ONLY in the fast break offense. In the half-court offense he's just a very good point guard. Every player on that team (except for Shaq) is at their best game when they run and gun. And Shaq has proven that he can adapt to it very well.
Again, if they can beat the lakers without Nash and Amare, they could make a serious playoff contender.
Look, when you go from averaging 100 points per game, you fire your coach, and all of a sudden you drop 140 the next three games straight,beat the lakers, etc... something was wrong in the coaching department.
Nash is a hall of fame point guard BUT ONLY in the fast break offense. In the half-court offense he's just a very good point guard. Every player on that team (except for Shaq) is at their best game when they run and gun. And Shaq has proven that he can adapt to it very well.
Again, if they can beat the lakers without Nash and Amare, they could make a serious playoff contender.
The team doesn't play defense.
This has been their limitation all through these years, the unfortunate incidents in the playoffs not withstanding.
Dropping 140 on crap teams doesn't say anything. The lakers win was the only bright spot but they have still dropped 3 of 4 this season to them and were humiliated on Thursday night.
The whole reason Porter was brought in was because the Suns players, to a man, said they wanted a better defensive identity. And then they quit on Porter instead of doing the right thing.
I hear what you are saying but Porter was brought in specifically because of the players and he was fired specifically because of the players. It is not his fault.
Also, Gentry has changed the game from D'Antoni's where he will have the 7 second play clock and then if it doesn't work, drop it down deep to Shaq. I am rooting for the Suns to make the playoffs but the players need to commit to the team.
Retrolock
03-04-09, 04:26 AM
Shaq has really surprised the heck out of me. I didn't know he could still put up 40+ points. Putting up 30+ point against a team like the Lakers is phenomenal also.
Yeah shaq is a beast. Also, the Lakers don't play good defense. They just outscore teams IMO.
Why isn't Dwayne Wade here? Dwade has the ability to just knife through defense and dunk the ball after that.
Yeah shaq is a beast. Also, the Lakers don't play good defense. They just outscore teams IMO.
Why isn't Dwayne Wade here? Dwade has the ability to just knife through defense and dunk the ball after that.
Wade is awesome too. If the Heat had a few more wins, he would be MVP in my opinion. He's just been a beast this season.
methimpikehoses
03-05-09, 01:23 AM
Brandon Roy cannot be stopped in crunch time. If you all watched Portland games every night like I do you would understand how clutch the guy is. :afro:
Zelda_fan
03-05-09, 02:46 AM
Brandon Roy cannot be stopped in crunch time. If you all watched Portland games every night like I do you would understand how clutch the guy is. :afro:
I will say that Roy is very underrated, but he's not on the level of Kobe or LeBron.
methimpikehoses
03-05-09, 02:50 AM
I will say that Roy is very underrated, but he's not on the level of Kobe or LeBron.
He's not the total player that they are, but he's just as good in the final quarter in a tight game.
He won the game for them again tonight... all in the 4th, made every drive and shot in the last 5 minutes or so.
bob saget
03-05-09, 03:20 AM
Robinson has impressed me lately, as has DD's pen0s :bleh:
methimpikehoses
03-05-09, 03:23 AM
:eek2:
Brandon Roy cannot be stopped in crunch time. If you all watched Portland games every night like I do you would understand how clutch the guy is. :afro:
Chris Paul is better than Roy.
Chris Paul is better than Roy.
Tough to compare a 1 to a 2.
methimpikehoses
03-05-09, 04:07 PM
Chris Paul is better than Roy.
Roy is a better clutch player. :)
That said, Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league.
Tough to compare a 1 to a 2.
He's talking about clutch :)
Chris Paul has won several games either with shots or assists in his short NBA career.
Roy is also very good and unfortunately does not get a lot of media attention, but Chris Paul's vision is 2nd to none.
When you watch him play, the way he sets up his team mates is amazing. He is making passes before the other player is even in position to receive, Paul is forcing them to move into a good position to receive the ball and they are able to take the shot and score. Magic used to do that back in the day but I haven't seen anyone else do it.
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