Derek Bodner’s Blog

(Originally posted at PhillyArena.net).

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the blocked shots. You see 15 block games like the previous one against Denver. Samuel Dalembert averages 3.1 blocks per game, Steven Hunter 1.2 in only 21 minutes. You then see Dwyane Wade pour in 32 points on 16 shots, or LeBron James drop 37 points. Carmelo Anthony with a career high 45 points. All against the supposed 76er stopper, Andre Iguodala.

It sometimes gets easy to lose sight of where the problems of this team are defensively. Make no mistake about it, they do not start at Andre Iguodala, or even on the perimeter (although dribble penetration from the guards is certainly a concern).

The truth of the matter is, when the 76ers play teams with guards who are great penetrators, there isn’t a wing defender in the league who could effectively guard them. Not Bruce Bowen, not even Ron Artest. And that’s because the 76ers frontline does a terrible job in two key spots, on the pick and roll and on rotations.

Samuel Dalembert can respond quickly based on athleticism, but he does not react quickly mentally. There is no recognition in Dalembert’s game. Webber understands the game, but he has no lateral mobility left in his legs, and very little defensive desire left in his heart. If Steven Hunter would pay attention on the defensive glass with the same dedication he does on the offensive glass, he might be a viable solution.

Which brings us to the one player above 6′10” on the team that does a good job on the pick and roll and with their defensive rotations, who goes out night in and night out and plays with desire. Shavlik Randolph. Unfortunately, Randolph is also the least physically gifted of the foursome. But it is then not shocking that Shavlik Randolph, despite modest stats, is leading the team in on-court/off-court +/- through 29 games this season, that opponents shoot 2% better with him out of the game despite not being able to block a shot, and that the 76ers are both a better offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding team with Randolph in the game.

One day you hope that Dalembert and Hunter will learn the game like Shavlik Randolph, which is odd to say because Dalembert and Hunter have a combined 8 years of experience to Randolph’s 0. One day you hope that Webber’s knees will recuperate. You pray that Maurice Cheeks (and you know he is trying) will get through to these guys.

But don’t count on it. There’s a reason Larry Brown tends to mold teams through his defensive image, changing personnel immediately upon taking control of the team. At some point the saying that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks rings true. And until those tricks are either learned or acquired, Andre Iguodala (or whatever perimeter defender we acquire) will be left stranded out on the perimeter, giving his best effort but looking lost because of the lack of help from the men in the middle.