How would you guard specific players?

[Boge]

I see players do certain things and I can't help but yell at my TV. "You have to do this...!!!" They never do it, and I can't figure out why. It seems that when you've gotten burned by a player 2, 3, 4 times, you'd learn that he likes to do that and I'm not going to let him.

So, name specific players and what you perceive to be their "weakness". I'm using that word a bit loosely because with some players it's not a weakness, just not the biggest strength.

Ty Lawson - He CANNOT go left. He will not shoot with his left hand. No matter what he's doing or faking, he'll go back to his right every time. Make him go left every time.

James Harden - He WILL NOT shoot with his right hand. It's always a left hand shot. Make him go right, it's a tougher shot for him on the right side of the rim.

Lebron James - Make him go baseline. When he goes baseline, he pulls up for a jump shot 90% of the time. It's better than him getting a layup.

Dwayne Wade - Make him go across the middle. 90% of the time he pulls up for a jump shot. It's better than a layup.

Russel Westbrook - make him shoot outside. He's a good shot, but he's not consistent. If he beats you, that's a shame. Do NOT let him get to the basket to get himself fired up. He feeds off that.

[JazzMan]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

How would I guard Royce White? I wouldn't do anything.

[cavsfan2]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

If I was covering Lebron I would probably curl up in a fetal position and pray.

[OkayC]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

If i guarded lebron, I would pack the paint with 3 of my biggest defenders and have the smallest of the 3 defenders make him have to shoot off the dribble, i would try my best to harrass him with the ball, and if he blows by me, pack the paint with another defender, then have the player that got burned pick up one of the players on the perimeter to try and curb a 3pt attempt, i would pray to God that i have a big center whos a great shot blocker down low as well. this aint the greatest plan, but its something LOL. Melo, i would just hard foul him a few times throughout the game to throw him off, not much you can do there as far as guarding him. And for KD, i would literally play tight on every other player, and make durant drop 90. He might do it too, but its alot better than getting into foul trouble, and looking strait up embarrased trying to guard him.

[return.specialist]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

When I read the title of this thread, I thought it was inquiring into how one would gaurd a player 1-on-1 LOL! My thought then was..***n!...leave the gym, etc. However, strategy wise, my aim would be similar to an above poster: I would attempt to keep Lebron, Wade, KD, Rose, Westbrook, etc., from getting into the lane. For one, shooting percentages are inherently lower from mid- and 3pt-range. Secondly, it decreases the opportunity for kick-outs to open shooter. For KD, i'd actually attempt to keep the ball in his hands and keep the ball away from Westbrook; think Play-offs this year.

[ThatKidNamedTae]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

Lebron
Rose
Wade
Westbrook
Iggy
Rondo
Ellis
Parker
Wall
Evans

Make them shoot.

[702]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

I would attempt to not let any player cross half court and force them into heaves from 40 feet.

Seriously though, of course you try to force these guys into jumpshots. Its just not easy to do.

[VDusen04]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

Seriously though, of course you try to force these guys into jumpshots. Its just not easy to do.

That was my first thought as well. This is all kind of an oversimplifcation of things. As you said, yeah, if it were as easy as recognizing a weakness and not letting a player do what he wants... well... that'd be something. I don't think it's just NBA defenders not realizing Ty Lawson doesn't like going left. It's just he's good at avoiding it, regardless of an opponent's efforts.

It kind of reminds me of a friend I knew in high school who went through a boxing phase his senior year. At one point, a boxing match with a classmate came to fruition. We said, "Dude, he's going to beat your face in!" to which he responded, "Well I'll just put my hands up here". We then said, "Then he's just going to batter you with body blows". His response? "Then I'll just put my hands down here."

And that was it. He solved boxing.

[DamnYanks2]

Re: How would you guard specific players?

That was my first thought as well. This is all kind of an oversimplifcation of things. As you said, yeah, if it were as easy as recognizing a weakness and not letting a player do what he wants... well... that'd be something. I don't think it's just NBA defenders not realizing Ty Lawson doesn't like going left. It's just he's good at avoiding it, regardless of an opponent's efforts.

It kind of reminds me of a friend I knew in high school who went through a boxing phase his senior year. At one point, a boxing match with a classmate came to fruition. We said, "Dude, he's going to beat your face in!" to which he responded, "Well I'll just put my hands up here". We then said, "Then he's just going to batter you with body blows". His response? "Then I'll just put my hands down here."

And that was it. He solved boxing.

LMAO and how did that work for him. Yea, trust me thread starter, if their were ways to stop some of these guys, NBA coaches and players would have figured it out by now. It's just not that simple.