I happen to think Wade and James could flawlessly handle point guard duties offensively. But defensively there might be problems matching up against elite players such as Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Chicago’s Derrick Rose, Utah’s Deron Williams, Phoenix’s Steve Nash and New Orleans’ Chris Paul, to name a few.
On Sunday, after the All-Star Basketball game for The Summer Groove, Rondo was asked about Wade and James defending elite point guards. Rondo agreed with me for the most part, but not completely, saying it depends on the HEAT’s defensive system.
“It just depends on the style of play,” Rondo said about Wade and James defending elite point guards.
“Guys like Deron and Chris, if they do check those guys, they’ll be in a ton of pick-and-rolls, along with myself They probably run, along with Steve Nash, the most pick-and-rolls in the league.”
When Wade was asked about how the HEAT will decide on point guard duties -- would it be, say, Mario Chalmers, or Wade or James -- he seemed to think the HEAT would go traditional.
“It’s guys like Mario’s job to lose, if you want to say that,” Wade said. “I’m not going to try to take it from him. I think he can have a great year, a great impact on this year if he starts at the one (point guard).”
Wade also praised Chalmers' defense and his increasing offensive repertoire.
“Defensively, he’s good. He’s going to be even better with the guys (forward Chris Bosh and center Joel Anthony) behind him. And hopefully he’s been working on his shot and he can become more of a consistent shooter because he’s going to get a lot of looks.
“I’ve told him I’ve got a lot of point guards paid,” Wade said with a smile. “A lot of shooters have got paid around here. If he’s looking to get paid, he’s alright.”
The bottom line is the HEAT could field a non-traditional lineup with Wade and James handling the ball. As for defensive matchups, let’s just look at the Southeast division, where the HEAT usually faces each opponent four times a season.
The HEAT would have to have Wade or James defend Jameer Nelson from Orlando, maybe Mike Bibby from Atlanta, perhaps D.J. Augustin from Charlotte and rookie John Wall from Washington. That’s not overly imposing.
It could, however, be a taxing defensive task in a best-of-seven playoff series where Wade or James has to defend Rondo or Rose.
"That's probably one of the hardest positions to play," Rondo said. "It's not an easy position. They'll find somebody. Chalmers is a great young point guard coming up."
In reality this might not be a tough decision for HEAT coach Erik Spoelstra. In might be, as Wade said, up to Chalmers.
All Spoelstra has to do is put his best five players on the court. And if Chalmers is among those top five, if he can defend and hit the open jumper, that’s the way you go.
Otherwise, allow Wade and James to handle the ball, put forward Mike Miller or someone else in the starting lineup, play good team defense on opposing point guards, and roll that way.
“Defensively, he’s good. He’s going to be even better with the guys (forward Chris Bosh and center Joel Anthony) behind him. And hopefully he’s been working on his shot and he can become more of a consistent shooter because he’s going to get a lot of looks.
“I’ve told him I’ve got a lot of point guards paid,” Wade said with a smile. “A lot of shooters have got paid around here. If he’s looking to get paid, he’s alright.”
The bottom line is the HEAT could field a non-traditional lineup with Wade and James handling the ball. As for defensive matchups, let’s just look at the Southeast division, where the HEAT usually faces each opponent four times a season.
The HEAT would have to have Wade or James defend Jameer Nelson from Orlando, maybe Mike Bibby from Atlanta, perhaps D.J. Augustin from Charlotte and rookie John Wall from Washington. That’s not overly imposing.
It could, however, be a taxing defensive task in a best-of-seven playoff series where Wade or James has to defend Rondo or Rose.
"That's probably one of the hardest positions to play," Rondo said. "It's not an easy position. They'll find somebody. Chalmers is a great young point guard coming up."
In reality this might not be a tough decision for HEAT coach Erik Spoelstra. In might be, as Wade said, up to Chalmers.
All Spoelstra has to do is put his best five players on the court. And if Chalmers is among those top five, if he can defend and hit the open jumper, that’s the way you go.
Otherwise, allow Wade and James to handle the ball, put forward Mike Miller or someone else in the starting lineup, play good team defense on opposing point guards, and roll that way.
From:http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment