Huh? What's with the sarcasm? I've watched 80% or so of the Spurs season on LP, and if you think Rasho is anything but an average to below average defender against good big men you're just not watching objectively. Not only that, but his O is so poor that his man can roam almost completely freely to clog the lane.
And I would think that having to deal with Shaq (and now Malone too) would be well, you know, kind of important. After all, there's no 2004 Spurs title unless you beat the Lakers. Same thing can be said of the Kings in the most likely scenario, and I'll take Miller/Divac/Webber over Rasho anyday.
Yes, guarding Shaq is quite important, but, what indivdual can guard Shaq? Can't name any? Well, Rasho is no different than the rest of the poor helpless centers thrown out to defend Shaq. I say that Rasho can hold his own just as good as any other center in the league on Shaq, because Shaq can't be guarded, you know that, I know that, everyone knows that. I'd be more worried about the help defense on Shaq, rather than the one guy defending him, because no one player can body up to Shaq. There would be no Spurs championship in 2003 without help defense. As far as Rasho's offense, he is not poor, simple as that. He is an above average scorer for a center, and if that is poor, than there must be a lot of terrible offensive centers in the league. The only centers in the league with as much or more range than Rasho are:Brad Miller, Vlade Divac, and Raef LaFrentz.
Why the sarcasm you ask? Well, it was just to counter with the fact that you said Rasho had a new *** teared in by teams with big men who really didn't do that great against him(the exception is Shaq in one game, and Jermaine O'neal in another)
You say you've watched 80% of the Spurs games, and well, I've watched 95% of the games, and I strongly believe that Rasho is at least an average defender. You must be watching the games objectively, because Rasho is not a poor defender. The guy is rebounding well, blocking shots, and playing pretty damn good defense. His offense isn't great, but it is certainly better than average for a center.
You will take Webber/Divac/Miller over Rasho anyday? Hell, I would too. Afterall, Rasho can't do the job of three men. But I would take Duncan/Rasho/Rose anyday over the Kings' big men. Now, about Brad Miller: This is another guy who struggles to hold position against Shaq, but I don't see you saying that Brad Miller is a poor defender. And I
dare any center to roam the lane while Rasho is on the perimeter, because he will hit the jumper, and he has proven he can hit it time and time again. Let Shaq roam the lane, and Rasho will hit jumpers in his face all day. I say that because I have seen it this year against Shaq, and last year on the Timberwolves. He's got a very good outside shot for a center, and if you think otherwise then you haven't seen him or the Spurs play this season 80% of the time.
You might think Rasho is a below average player, but I don't, and unless Rasho decreases his play greatly, I will never agree with your opinion that Rasho is a poor defensive and offensive player. I'm being defensive about Rasho, because it seems that you are blaming Rasho for the Spurs' struggles this season, and that is not the case. Rasho is a solid center, and there are not that many centers I would take above him. So, in theory, if Rasho is a poor center, then there are a tons of poor centers all over the league. The Spurs could have done a helluva lot worse than Rasho Nesterovic at center.
