Comments on: Layups: The Defensive Impact of Thibodeau-to-Chicago http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114 NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:56:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6 By: ManchvegasBob http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114&cpage=1#comment-32714 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:35:52 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114#comment-32714 Jerry - I know it was early and I said as much in the article several times . . . but the discussion has been around in Boston since Thibs signed with Chicago - are they going to miss him? But more than his impact on the team, there was a major hat tip to the defensive superiority of the Celtics during Thibs tenure. That recognition was in fact long over due for the Celtics team from 2007 to present, and Thibs was a big part of it.

]]> By: Scotter http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114&cpage=1#comment-32222 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 23:30:47 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114#comment-32222 The reason the defense isn't excelling yet is fairly obvious from both watching them and the defensive four factors. They're second to last in defensive free throw rate. Thibodeau's defense is foul prone and he has to rely on a number of foul prone players right now. There's Gibson, Asik who's a foul machine as a rookie, Scalabrine has had to play and he kept stop himself from fouling, and James Johnson who fouls as often as any wing player in NBA history has had to play as well.

They're the #2 defensive rebounding team in the league, and that will only get stronger when Boozer returns even if he isn't great in other areas. They're in the top half of the league in eFG% defense and average in turnovers forced. As they get better with the defense rotations and get some guys back to cheer leading on the bench the foul rate will decline some and the defense will improve.

]]> By: Jason J http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114&cpage=1#comment-32175 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 18:02:47 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114#comment-32175 Defensive principals, focus, and effort seem to stick around sometimes when a coach leaves. Houston comes to mind as a team that dropped off very little when Van Gundy left and Addleman took over (though come to think of it, Thibs was the lead assistant of JVG, and I think he was retained by Addleman).

]]> By: Jerry http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114&cpage=1#comment-32169 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:38:18 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=8114#comment-32169 Was it really necessary to post that as a blog post? after 8 or so games...?
I'm guessing that a team that had a good defensive coach for years just doesn't instantly fade in their defensive ability once he leaves

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