Friday, March 11, 2011
Posted: 10:44 a.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
Wednesday night Kevin Durant complimented the defense of Andre Iguodala after the Thunder defeated the Sixers 110-105 in overtime.
To the untrained eye the fact that Durant, who leads the league in scoring, had 34 points would suggest there was little defense. Instead, the All-Star described how he had to work hard to make his shots and how much respect he has for Iguodalas defensive abilities, which he saw firsthand last summer when the two played for the national team.
The question is: when will Iguodala make his first NBA all-defensive team? In his seventh season, he is definitely knocking on that door.
Iguodala is given the toughest defensive assignment nightly and he relishes in studying the play of the Kobes and Carmelos and figuring a way to slow them down.
I focus on that every night, so it is always there. Playing against those guys you have to play at a high level or you are going to get burnt, Iguodala said. I like to play at a high intensity defensively year in and year out.
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It might look like his defense has improved this season, but Iguodala says it has not. He thinks that because he is part of a better team defense and because the Sixers are winning games, his defense is a more common topic of conversation.
We have more wins so you notice it a little bit more, he said. Otherwise if you dont get wins people look and say, what is wrong?
A lot of right happened for Iguodala when he was named to the national team this past summer. Iguodala took it to heart when USA Basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, told Iguodala he would make the roster if he understood he was needed to guard the oppositions best. He couldnt shoot ill-advised jumpers. He could get out in transition.
The challenge was accepted and delivered upon. Clearly, Coach K understood in Iguodala he had the rare breedthe guy more interested in shutting a guy down then lighting a guy up.
Some guys just dont like playing D. They would rather spend their energy at the offensive end, he said. I have always had the same passion about trying to lock guys down but at the same time it is the NBA and over 82 games somebody is going to have a good night a few times.
Like the night that Kobe Bryant came into the Sixers locker room at the Staples Center pregame and declared he was going to have 50 points.
He had 49 that night and I played good defense, Iguodala said. He was shooting from the Staples Center sign. People are going to have those nights and once you understand what good defense is in this league and how you can play good defense and someone still can score. Knowing that confidence that if you play good defense every night you are going to win most battles.
Iguodala can say that because he knows that the number of guys in the NBA who can declare, I am going to score 50, and deliver within a pointis, at most, two or three.
Kobe can do it. And if Carmelo Anthony is on, he can do it too.
The desire for No. 9 to play good defense started in high school, at least that is as far back as he can remember it mattering to the degree it does today.
If someone was better then you then you had to guard them if you didnt want them to score, he said. It is part of being competitive.
Iguodala is competitive. He is also physically gifted and he knows he has an asset that aids in his defensive prowess. Iguodala has a longer wingspan than most so if he gets beat off the dribble, he uses his quickness, long arms and instincts to recover before he is scored on.
I know I have intangibles and a God-given physique of a guy who can get beat but still recover, he said proudly. I have been beat a lot and still got back to the ball or still contest a shot.
I joke with Jodie Meeks all the time saying just make them take a tough shot and you dont have to jump, Iguodala explained. And he would say back, you have long arms. I have to jump just to contest a shot. I had never taken that into consideration and when he said it. I realized he had a point.
But Iguodala also says a player doesnt have to steal the ball or block shots to be a good defender. In a league that is star driven, guys are going to get their numbers, but the harder a defender makes it for that star, the better.
Especially late in the gamein a close game, he stressed. Everything you do from the first quarter can have an effect some time late in the game as far as defending and making them work, so you just keep that in mind.
Iguodala will tell you it is no big deal he has not been recognized as a member of the all-defensive team, but like most people no matter what the profession, he would be honored if and when the award comes his way. Its been almost a decade since the Sixers have had such an honoree.
The last Sixer named to that team was Eric Snow in the 2002-03 season when he made the second team. The last player to make the first team was Dikembe Mutombo for his efforts in the 2000-01 season.
Bobby Jones was a six-time all-defensive team selection while Maurice Cheeks made it four consecutive seasons and five times total.
Iguodala will be on that list. Its only a matter of time.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com
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