RCF's Defensive Player of the Year

[Karma]

Who do you believe was our best defensive player in the 2004/05 season? Different players brought different strengths.

 

[bob2the2nd]

i would personally like to nominate jeff mcinnis

 

[Karma]

Eric Snow to me had the biggest defensive input. He may not have the "numbers", but he showed defensive presense abscent amoungst most of the other Cavalier's. Honourable mention goes to Ira Newble.

 

[CBBI]

Gotta be Snow.

Ira Newble defense is hideously overrated.

 

[Glen Infante]

Eric Snow should get all 103 of our member's votes here. It became clear that his defense was important when he took over as our starting pg. Z's fouls were down, and the opposing PG didn't have career nights. He takes charges, he fights the pick and roll, and challanges shots.

He basically made Jeff McInnis look like a total waste of space. It is amazing when I look back and saw how much we adored JMac and how much he pushed the ball. Insert a defensive minded pg into the lineup and you clearly see that JMac did more than push the ball, he let the opposing pg's push the ball as well.

 

[King]

Eric Snow. His defense isnt what it was a couple years ago, but it is still superior to all of our other players. Even is his shot wasnt falling you could always rely on his defense remaining strong. Being the best defender on the cavs isnt saying much, but Eric was definetly our most intense and consistent defender. The only other player I would consider is Ira.

 

[NarlCavs]

I have to go with Snow too. He's the only Cav who gave complete effort on the defensive end each game all season long.
It was tough to overlook the defensive prowess and hustle of Mcinnis though. Good riddance to "the Matador".

 

[Kypus]

Left Varejao off a defensive player poll? I snubbed AV in the newcomer poll, have to get him in here.

Giving it to AV because his individual defensive energy revamped the whole team's defense when he was on the floor- Traylor, Gooden, Newble, Snow were all more aggressive during the AV Show. Traylor and AV were downright dangerous together.

 

[MarkPrice25]

Snow - and I don't think I even have to explain.

 

[aaronr]

I'd go with Snow, though Varejao would be a fairly close second. Pretty pathetic when a thirty-something, slowing down guard is the best defender on the team, and the second best is a youngster with very little professional experience. I agree that Newble's defense is over-rated, but he, Harris, Welsch and Traylor are at least adequate defenders. Reminds me that beefing up the defense is probably the single most important goal that next year's general manager and coach should focus on.

 

[CleveRocks]

I know I'll get grief for this, but I say Z has the biggest defensive impact when he is in. Snow might be great for a pg, and newble pretty damn good for a 2 or three. But it is Z who changes the game when he is in, if for no other reason than he is 7'3". I am not saying he is the best defensive center in the league (unless he is really PO'd like at Utah last year), I am just saying that when you break it down, when Z is in the game all of the other team players have to consider and adapt to him being there.

The best offensive strategy to counter Z is to get him in foul trouble (by exploiting a weak guard) Otherwise he will swat you silly.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

None of the above?

My vote reluctantly went to Tractor.