Breaking down Speights performance
Following up on the post of Hugmenot I have to say that there has been too little evidence presented for the arguments made. I'm not going to state that Bargnani isn't a bad defender, but I think that the argumentation could be improved upon. There have been statements about the play of opponents and I've decided to break down one of those, the 23-point performance of Speights (10 of 12) on january 26th. That performance has been ascribed to Bargnani in this thread, but the evidence will show that this certainly is not the complete story.
From the evidence presented below we can conclude that Bargnani wasn't the one defending Speights all the time. Furthermore, many of his points came off missed rotations and a weakness on defending the P&R. In the examples below from this game Bargnani was right in rotating to defend the P&R ballhandler.
So, from this moment on I suggest the performance of Speights on jan 26th of 2011 will no longer be used in posts trying to prove how bad Bargnani is in relation to the other (frontcourt) defenders on our team:).
I've given quarters and time (+/-) so it can be verified.
quarter: 2
time left:10.50
what?: post up
result: made basket
description: defender Ed Davis
quarter: 2
time left: 10.20
what?: transition lay-up
result: made basket
description: There was nobody back...
quarter: 2
time left: 9.40
what?: offensive rebound
result: free throws
description: Calderon is beat on a screen. Bargnani comes over to prevent a free shot. Davis is defending Young. Calderon goes with Speights, but is just too small to challenge him for the rebound.
quarter: 2
time left: 9.14
what?: cut > layup
result: made basket
description: Iguodala goes bye Weems pretty easily. Davis is behind him and should step in to help on the penetration, but is too late. Bargnani leaves Speights to prevent a layup but like Davis doesn't really commit enough. Iguodal throws the ball up to Speights who has a free layup.
quarter: 2
time left: 8.55
what?: Layup
result: made basket
description: Iguodala gets the ball from Young close to the basket. Young walks to the weakside under the basket. Amir Johnson, who was defending Young, decides not to follow him but to help on Iguodala trying to tie him up. A the moment Young comes over, Speights, who was guarded by Bargnani, goes to just below the free throw line. Bargnani decides to stay with Young. Iguodala uses his body to create passing space and gets the ball to Speights who has an easy lay-up
quarter: 2
time left: 8.10
what?: P&R > layup
result: made basket
description: Speights sets a pick for Holiday. Calderon loses him and Bargnani picks up him. Calderon tries to recover on Holiday, Young creates space by getting out of the paint, Speights rolls to the basket. There is no help or rotation and Speights gets the easy 2.
quarter: 2
time left: 6.04
what?: offensive rebound
result: extra possession
description: Bargnani defendes Young, Johnson is on Speights who is also fronted by DeRozan. Johnson doesn't box out and Speights gets the offensive rebound.
quarter: 2
time left: 4.45
what?: P&R
result: free throws
description: Exactly the same play as at 8.10. Again no rotation or help on Speights after Bargnani has to pick up the guard. Johnson frooze but tries to grab him as he blows by.
quarter: 3
time left: 1.20
what?: Spot-up Jumper
result: made basket
description: defended by Ed Davis
quarter: 3
time left: 0.48
what?: something
result: turnover
description: Speights is defended by Davis. He tries to make a move (or something) and loses the ball.
quarter: 4
time left: 10.40
what?: dunk
result: made basket
description: Bargnani leaves Young to try to trap Lou Williams with Bayless. Young is completely open at the free throw line; Williams passes to Turner. Davis leaves Speights to defend Young and Speights gets the ball for an easy dunk.