Don't the NBA Coaches Get Cable?

by Jeremy on May 12, 2008 8:35 PM MDT

The Marcus Camby Myth has carried the Nuggets center to another honor. This time Camby has garnered a spot on the NBA’s all defensive team.

Yes, Camby is a very good shot blocker. Yes, he is a very good great defensive rebounder. But the best defensive center in the league?

Not a chance.

Marcus Camby cannot play man to man defense in the post against any player who weighs more than 225 pounds (other than Pau Gasol). He chooses not to play defense on the pick and roll in order to ensure he does not miss a chance to block a shot. How about his perimeter defense? Do not even ask. Good luck getting him out of the paint.

In fact, there were even games where Camby was on the bench n crunch time because he was a defensive liability!

Is that the resume of a first team all NBA defensive player?

Perhaps the voters, supposedly the 30 NBA coaches, just figured his offense is so bad, there must be some reason Marcus stays on the court.

You may wonder why I get so upset about this. I do not hate Marcus Camby. He is a vital part of this team, but the issue runs deeper than just Marcus Camby.

The stars on this team have big holes in their game, but they keep getting accolades such as all-star starts and first team defense awards so they do not see the need to make changes. They are changes to their games that are necessary for this team to go anywhere in the playoffs.

Next year, and probably forevermore, Camby is not going to step out and jump the ball handler when he comes off of a screen and he is not going to leave the paint to challenge his man. Why should he change anything when the NBA coaches keep voting for him as the best defensive center in the league?

Worst of all, he is going to miraculously gain 25 pounds of muscle so he can actually play man to man defense in the paint, but that is not really his fault.

Anyway, congratulations to Marcus Camby for finishing second in the defensive player of the year balloting and being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. I just wish I could say you deserve it.

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Should Marcus Camby be on the NBA All-Defensive First Team?

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Agreed

I seriously hope that we’ve seen the last game Marcus Camby ever wears the powder blue.

The artist formerly known as Nuggets4.

by JLucas4092 on May 13, 2008 9:00 AM MDT 0 recs

Awards of this nature are popularity contests. Battier probably should have been 1st team D over Bowen this season as well.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 13, 2008 12:57 PM MDT 0 recs

Battier

Battier should have been DPOY. He was phenomenal.

The artist formerly known as Nuggets4.

by JLucas4092 on May 13, 2008 4:24 PM MDT 0 recs

I have to say

I don’t know that Marcus wasn’t deserving. I think the point made in the article is straight on. All-Star, Pro-Bowl, National Team, POY Awards and MVP Honors tend to go to players heads. They need to step back and say “So how do I improve my game so that I can be that much better next year.” as an old Seattle Supersonics fan, I never liked GK’s approach to dealing with superstars. Kemp, Payton both had egos that needed to be kept in check and in the end Karl left because he didn’t know how to do it. Now he has Melo, Martin, AI, JR, Camby I mean he has a team now of superstars and he is not the in your face coach these guys need to keep them progressing in their game. Congrats to Marcus now step up to the plate and EARN it. By the way, love the site.

Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on May 14, 2008 1:19 AM MDT 0 recs