Q12543 wrote:Lip, I agree with SJM that there are adjustments a defensive-minded coach can make with existing personnel that can help our defensive efficiency. Another example is simple player minutes and rotations. Did you know that Dante Cunningham has played 500 more minutes than the combined minute total for Turiaf and Dieng? And a ton of those minutes are next to Love. That's two 6"8 players "anchoring" our defense for extensive minutes.
We're not a poor defensive team. We consistently win the battle of possessions due to our ability to turn teams over and protect the defensive glass. Where we suck is in opponent field goal percentage. Now if you break that down further, we really only suck from one area on the floor: 0-5 feet. Here is our opponent field goal ranking by spot on the floor versus the rest of the league:
0-5 feet: 30th (Worst in the NBA)
5-9 feet: 15th
10-14 feet: 22nd
15-19 feet: 12th
20-24 feet: 14th
25-29 feet: 13th
We're average or above average from every distance except 0-5 feet. I don't even count 10-14 feet because this is the range that sees the least amount of shot attempts. It simply doesn't make much of a difference if we defend those well or not. But on mid-range to long jumpers, we're very solid at contesting shots.
If anything, this gives further fuel to the "trade Pekovic for a wing" crowd. I'm open to that idea, but that may create more problems than it solves, depending on who we get in return. What really needs to happen is that nearly 100% of Pek's back-up minutes needs to go to Dieng or Turiaf.
Q can you please email these stats through to Rick.Adelman@timberwolves.org. It seems he is oblivious to this.