By The Numbers: Lighting Up Aaron Brooks
by Tom Martin on Sep 2, 2010 1:01 PM CDT
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PrintToday's Number: 334
Aaron Brooks ranked 334th in spot-up defense last season according to Synergy Sports. Opponents shot 47% against him in spot-up situations. They also shot 40% from three-point range. That's not good.
What's interesting here is that poor spot-up defense (if you can truly categorize it) is usually a result of poor hustle or a simple lack of awareness, i.e. the act of allowing one's man to sneak behind him for an open jumper. Brooks hustles. He's generally aware of both himself and the man he is guarding. So what gives? Did players simply get lucky when Brooks got a hand in their face?
I think there are two reasonable explanations for this.
For one, Brooks spent a good amount of time in the paint last year trying to help our undersized bigs. Every one of our perimeter defenders was forced to do the same, and it allowed for more open shots from range. If Brooks took one step too deep into the paint to try to pry the ball from a post player, his man would have plenty of time and space to get off a shot upon receiving a pass. This isn't necessarily Brooks' fault, rather the fault of the Rockets' inferior post defense.
Secondly, I think Brooks' height limits his ability to effectively close out. Many of the players he is asked to guard are taller than him. And we can't forget the times that Brooks is forced to close out on a player in a rotation, which likely leaves Brooks to close out on a 6'6 shooting guard/small forward. That's not a good match up, because the taller player can likely get an effective, smooth shot off despite Brooks' best attempts to get a hand in his face.
So, in this case, perhaps Brooks' height doesn't only limit him against bigger guards in the post or on the drive (Chauncey Billups and Deron Williams), but also on the perimeter. Yao's return should help things, but only slightly.
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Height
I like the first argument, but I’m not sure I buy that Brooks’ height is the determinate factor here. DraftExpress lists his wingspan at 6’4" and his standing reach at 7’10". Essentially, he has really long arms, and that makes up for much of his height disadvantage as compared to other point guards.
As Morey is fond of saying, it’s not where your head’s at that counts, it’s where your hands are at.
I have the subjective impression that point guards are typically better at shooting threes than other positions. Is there anything to this? What is the average 3P% and FG% for the PG position?
You know what
You’re absolutely right. In further checking the numbers, I discovered that plenty of point guards suffer the same problem.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Though Aaron is slightly worse than the others, outside of one Chris Paul.
Russ Westbrook, Deron Williams, Billups, Rondo are all better, just for reference.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Strength?
off the top of my head, you just mentioned 3 of the more physically strong point guards in the league with wide bodies(Rondo has other strength like his ridiculous wingspan)
I think Brooks has plenty of of quickness to and good enough length to play better defense than we saw last , I also heard he’s working on bulking up this summer. so maybe being out muscled contribute to this as well
by NVP on Sep 2, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Interesting to know
I’d have thought they liked keeping Brooks thin to slip through defenders easily, but I guess they want to ensure durability.
More than likely Hill, Martin, Bud, and as you just mentioned Brooks are on notice to add some muscle.
On the other end, Hayes will probably trim down, Yao has already trimmed down, and I think everybody else was asked to maintain their weight from last season. Although, there’s a chance Lowry might be shaving about 10 to 15 pounds, I think in an effort to alleviate any chance of unnecessary weight on his ankles which were a little bit of a problem for him last year.
If they can make those adjustments, and remain stallions up and down the court, it will be an exciting season. Especially when they play a team like OKC. With the addition of Ish Smith, the Rockets obviously will still pursue opportunities to run and gun even while ABZ and Lowry chill on the bench, so everybody’s got to keep their cardio on point while bulking up. That’s going to be an intense off-season in the gym. I’d start screaming like a runaway schoolgirl at a Katy Perry concert if Brooks came out bulked up like Rondo or Rose; teary eyed and everything, haha.
by Nobody is Better Than Jordan on Sep 2, 2010 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Got to strike a balance
I agree Brooks should bulk up a bit, but you take it too far and he’s going to lose too much speed.
Hi Tom
I’m curious – what is lowry’s ranking?
Also – how variable is this stat year to year?
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by Xiane on Sep 2, 2010 2:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Hey
Lowry is ranked 239, a good number for PGs.
No idea how variable it is – I only have the stats from this past season.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
Thanks.
Just wondering if this is a stat that stays pretty consistent over a career, or fluctuates on the basis of like 4 extra made threes or something. If there’s only a year of data it’s hard to tell.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
I do wish Brooks had more of a defensive presence.
Almost all guards know how to physically exploit Brooks’ lack of defensive presence, but I’m hoping Brooks has done his homework and sharpens up on how to pin down perimeter shooters and pick their pockets before they even take a shot.
Even though we saw Brooks tested last season with more playing time, this season will be the true test for him both offensively and defensively, where he’ll have to earn that next contract; to be made more difficult considering he’ll probably see fewer minutes.
by Nobody is Better Than Jordan on Sep 2, 2010 3:27 PM CDT reply actions
He would have gone 1-3?
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
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or he'd be a half-step slower
and wouldn’t have such a quickness advantage…
Don't worry, if we play the Jazz or any team with a big guard...
Lee will probably get more p/t and guarding those guys.
Doesn't use his speed on D
Brooks does not use his speed to beat his man to where his man wants to go and then draw a charge.(Something Shane and Lowry do fairly routinely). Combine that w/some un-quick hands. Brooks has not shown any ability to strip a dribbling PG. W/out being able to put any pressure on his man Brooks is in a reactive posture which offensive players take advantage of. And Brooks often gave quite a cushion which prevented him from making aggressive closeouts.
Brooks started going under screens later in season,giving up open Js,because he was unable to fight thru them(and somehow managed to get called for fouls at a high rate when he tried to do so).
agreed
I saw this a lot last year. He would get lazy fighting through screens and that’s why he would get torched. I remember getting torched by players like Jarret Jack and Jared Collison because of things like this. He’s obviously a better point guard, but there were many times last year where we got torched by the opposing PG. I’m wondering Tom, I’d like to compare AB to Tony Parker. He’s in the same class I feel, how were the stats against each other? Not against per sa)n but you know what I mean.
by basketball is cool on Sep 3, 2010 12:18 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
i know i said torched a lot
But I’m too drunk to think of a better synonym.
by basketball is cool on Sep 3, 2010 12:19 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I would be fine if
He could rack up more steals to start a break. That should be his defensive contribution since his size seems to be his main fault on that end.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
Brooks is awesome...
but until he can make up for his size/overall defensive issues he will remain a second tier PG.
But giving some credit to Brooks, he did have to do a lot of the heavy lifting last year, being our best offensive threat etc… I am sure after taking a ton of focus on the offensive end it was then tough to go all out on defense as well. As someone put above, lack of backup with Yao out also meant he had to follow penetration inside to help Chuck etc…
This should all get better with taller bigs, Yao Miller, Hill etc… backing him up.
Still, until he can either up his offense to the point where he is as risky as Nash is with this shooting plus his assists, Brooks will remain second tier. Sad but true.
I feel like
when we have a great team defense individual match ups will be irrelevant. If we hold teams to under 90 points then who cares if one guy goes off for 30 or 40 and we still win?
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
agreed...
I think every team, even if they have 2 or three allstars, has to win as a team…it is really the only way.
Now LA may win with two team members carrying more of the load, but we are a more balance team and can spread the O and D responsibilities over a larger number of players.
But with respect to Brooks, I think last year he did more than his share of the heavy lifting to make him one of our two MVPs for the season (Scola being the other).
Yea
Besides, people forget that players also have to guard Brooks as well so it evens out at the least. People talk about how pg’s had too many good games against us but don’t want to talk about how many great games Brooks and even Lowry had too.
GO ROCKETS, GO TEXANS, GO ASTROS (EVEN THOUGH THEY SUCK)!!!
This is ABs major deficit
Any player who can set up an offense and shoot effectively will always have a job in this league, and AB has proven to be the man in both those characteristics.
I agree that what he gives up on defense is a major issue standing between him and being a top 10 PG in this league. As someone alluded to earlier (and as Adelman himself has stated, I believe), if AB can create more turnovers on defense without selling out his man too often, he can offset a lot of his deficiencies on that side of the court. Its much easier said than done, and, unfortunately, AB isn’t a ‘natural’ in judging those opportunities. Here’s to improvement though.
"The French Army: Better defender than David Lee" - JE Skeets, in response to David Lee getting a vote for Defensive Player of the Year.
Not good
Whoever is at PG needs to be able to stay with his man, or else Yao will get into foul trouble.
Then again, Yao getting in foul trouble shouldn’t be a big deal anyways assuming we limit his minutes. He could actually go all out for 25 minutes and not worry about fouling out.
by goingforthecorner on Sep 4, 2010 1:30 AM CDT reply actions
Maybe that's why
What counts is what the Rockets think.
Considering every time Morey mentions Lee,Morey stresses Lee can guard bigger PGs,I’d guess the Rockets consider PG defense a problem that needs to be addressed.
Last years defense is not the norm
I would not be too concerned with last years defensive stats. When you have no shot blocker in the paint it makes defense less of a premium. Do to the fact that we had to try to outscore teams and push the ball at a greater pace. We had a much great chance of allowing dribble penetration and transition 3’s last year.
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