And it’s not only about the older players, just look at Brandon Roy or Greg Oden. Those two should be aware of the fact that they have an incredible amount of talent and yet their bodies are not built to survive the nba with so many games per year. Playing here in Europe could help them to get some kind of career. There aren’t that many games to be played, so they could rest more after each game.

The 4th possession is the worst out of the bunch. Rip crashes in, despite the fact that there’s a guy on the ball & Boozer is in the low block. The pass goes to Boozer’s guy, but Boozer is only a step away & in good position to defend a shot. Rip runs out on 3 different players but actually covers none of them. On defense you should be where the ball is going, not chasing after it.

I’m not sure how familiar you are with PnR defense, but Hibbert wasn’t Hamilton’s responsibility, he was Rose’s. Rip switching there meant 3 guys were covering 2. Not good. Rip’s guy was open, Deng had to fly out and got beat because no one can change direction that fast. When Deng got beat, Rip was in position to defend the ball, but he ran out on Deng’s guy instead & left George with an open shot.

If you call that good defense, I’ve got no argument for willful ignorance. 

1st and 2nd possession, Rip covers Noah’s man when Noah slides over to help out.  Rip is SUPPOSED to do that.  3rd possession, Rip slides over to Hansbrough when Noah slides over to help and then he slides back when Noah gets back.  4th possession, yeah, Boozer is there but his back is to Hansbrough.  You’re supposed to stay in between man and the basket.  Hansbrough is behind Boozer when Boozer slides over to help.  If Rip’s not there, Hansbrough has an easy dunk.  5th possession is good defense until the first shot.  Then Rip takes off down court expecting the outlet pass – something you should never do. 6th possession, Rip helps Boozer.  He CAN’T guard two guys at once.

I saw only 1 possession in which Rip played bad D.  The other possessions were good.  He just isnt quick enough to get to bother the shot anymore.

2nd possession – Rip sags in on Noah’s guy, leaving George open for 3 (which he misses)

3rd possession – Again, Rip ball-watching, switches to Noah’s guy

4th possession – Rip’s ball-watching again, which means he’s getting too close to the paint and too far from his guy. He goes to double the ball despite the fact that Boozer’s there, then he follows the pass to Hansbrough, despite the fact that Boozer’s still there, and then he follows the pass again to where he should’ve stayed. Wide open 3.

5th possession – Rip actually switches correctly here, but he runs away from the rebound & leaves Chicago 4 on 5.

6th possession – Rip’s ball watching & sagging in on D again (notice a theme?). Boozer is in position to guard 2 guys until Noah can get back, but Rip leaves his guy wide open again to guard someone Boozer already has covered. And then he runs off before the rebound is secured. 

And I guess we’ll agree to disagree on the video. We see two totally different things. I see Rip rotating to an open man. You see Rip rotating to a covered man.