West: Lakers too old to play defense well

[The Regime]

Count Jerry West among those who are tired of hearing about the Lakers’ porous defense.

 

The Lakers legend told a group of automobile dealers in Irvine the reason the team can’t seem to hang onto leads because they are “getting long in the tooth.”

 

“If there’s a loose ball now, how often do they get it?” West said.

 

The Lakers have 10 players 30 years old or older — Theo Ratliff (37), Derek Fisher (36), Joe Smith (35), Kobe Bryant (32), Ron Artest (31, Lamar Odom (31), Matt Barnes (30), Steve Blake (30), Pau Gasol (30) and Luke Walton (30).

 

He added that “the reason you ‘can’t play defense’ is because you can’t!”

 

West said Thursday that he doesn’t expect the current lineup to be “good for much longer. … You can keep a car running for a long time by changing the tires, etc. You can’t change a player’s tires.”

 

Does West think the Lakers will pick up their third consecutive NBA title this season?

 

“I think Boston is a very dangerous team,” he said. “I would not want to play them every other night.”

 

http://lakers.ocregister.com/2011/01/21/west-lakers-too-old-to-play-defense-well/47296/

[Real Deal]

At 33 years old, Gary Payton was a top five defender in the NBA.

 

Same with Dennis Rodman, at 34 years old.

 

Same with Scottie Pippen, 34 years old.

 

Out of the list, everyone over 32 is either far too old to even play basketball (Ratliff and Smith) or never played defense to begin with (Fisher).

 

Kobe's knee is the excuse for him, although he doesn't close out on shooters as much as he should.

 

Artest's defensive rating is as low as Luke Walton's, and Ron has absolutely no excuse for it.

 

Gasol's defensive problems are due to physicality (lack of). He's 30, not 38...and it's something he has had a problem with since the days he looked like a 14-year old boy in Memphis.

 

Odom doesn't know how to contest a shot. Half of the time, he puts his hand up a little, then brings it down and turns to watch the rim before the shot is even released.

 

Defense isn't just about a player's knees (athleticism). Our players' defensive IQ's, the lack of help, the lack of focus, the missing physicality...being 30-32 years old shouldn't change all of that.