long time guy wrote:
IMU wrote:
I never called Butler a better "shooter." But he is clearly a better scorer than McDermott, and teams will prevent Butler from shooting / driving / isolating over McDermott. It is just a basic fact. The guy guarding Butler isn't going to help on McDermott. Sorry. Just won't happen unless defensive rotations break down terribly.
Why would I like Jamal Crawford if I never liked Ben Gordon, Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith or any other scrub "grab the ball, put up as many shots as possible and play little defense" player? I don't hate Ben Gordon. I hate his style of basketball. It isn't winning basketball.
You never addressed why Jamal Crawford won Sixth Man twice and sucks but Ben Gordon won it once and is awesome.
I was comparing their respective careers as Bulls players. The reason i give Gordon the edge is because the Bulls improved the day he entered the league. There are some other factors but he played a major role in the improvement of the team. They made the playoffs his rookie year. Conversely during Crawford time they never came close to making the playoffs. Neither did the Knicks for that matter. Gordon's arrival coincided with Crawford's departure so it can be argued that the Bulls became better just by subtracting Crawford from the team.
You are contradicting yourself by stating that Paxson is an idiot for allowing Crawford without compensation one hand, then stating that Crawford isn't really good or you don't like Crawford as a player on the other. Choose a lane. That may be the reason why Paxson allowed him to walk without compensation don't you think?
Crawford has been the better player in the latter half of their careers, but Ben Gordon's tenure with the Bulls are better than any 4 years of Crawford's career. That is my point. Gordon was a better playoff performer also. There is a reason that Crawford has been on 6 or 7 teams during his career. the Clippers have had the guy on the block for about the last year and the half and can't find any takers. As far as 6th man goes he has two wins to Gordon's one. Steve Nash has 2 MVPs to Kobe's one does that make him a better player also. Crawford's time with Bulls was awful. Both he and the team were bad. He was a shoot first guy that took bad shots and couldn't defend. His time with the Knicks was similar. Didn't make the playoffs until his 9th year in the league. Didn't even get close.
Lastly you said that teams would rather watch McDermottr shoot than Butler. that implies that teams think Butler is a better shooter than McDermott He isn't.
We're using the terms "shoot" quite differently. Every type of effort for a player to hoist the ball to the net is a "shot." A three pointer...a layup...a dunk...a sky hook....a spot up 15 footer. All shots. That is how I'm using the term.
You're using it in the Steve Kerr type way.
That is why I clarified to say that Butler is a better scorer. Teams would much rather McDermott attempt any type of shot over Jimmy Butler. Teams help on defense against Jimmy Butler. They rotate in the paint to help out when he drives. They collapse.
Teams know McDermott is looking to stay wherever he received the ball if at all possible, and don't need to send help. They don't anticipate him driving. He won't unless he absolutely has to...and results are usually not good.