Cuban Complains About Pistons, Spurs
8th January, 2006 - 6:10 am
Detroit News - Mavericks owner Mark Cuban thinks the league's officials might be giving the Pistons and Spurs too much leeway during games, perhaps in deference to their reputations as tough, defensive teams.

"What I don't understand is how the two most aggressive defensive teams in the league are Detroit and San Antonio," Cuban told the Dallas Morning News, "yet they've had the fewest fouls called against them. How does that happen? I don't understand it."

The Pistons are being whistled for an average of 19.57 fouls a game, the lowest in the league. San Antonio is next at 21. Cuban's team picks up 23.7 fouls per game.

"Yeah, well, the two most aggressive teams have the best records, too," Ben Wallace said. "That's not a coincidence. We play aggressive defense all the time. They (Mavericks) mostly try to outscore teams."


Hmmm....maybe because the Pistons and Spurs actually know how to play defense?

You can't make a terrible defensive team like the Mavs try to play aggressive D without them being a bunch of hacks. Aggressive defense doesn't dictate how many fouls you give, defensive skill does.

Cuban needs to stick to writing checks instead of trying to play officials and the league to his cause.

This has always been a reputation league. We've proven ourselves as a good team, so more often than naught, we'll get the benefit of the doubt non-calls - same with San Antonio. Dallas atarts playing some defense this season and Cuban wants to get the calls we've had to earn over the last four years...

I wish Cuban would buy the Tigs. I'd say the Lions as well, but the NFL wouldn't let such "new money" into the league ownership circles...

I like Mark Cuban.

He's a fantastic businessman, shrewd as fuck, and gives to charitable organization... but that's not why I like him.

He's, sans the championships, the George Steinbrenner and Jerry Jones of the NBA. Every major sports association needs a loudmouthed owner who's rich beyond belief.

I heard him on All Night with Jason Smith (espn radio), and he came off as an alright guy. So he ruffles some feathers. At least you know what you're getting with him.

Unlike Lions execs.

Are we gonna name this LOL@MarkCuban?

:P

This has always been a reputation league. We've proven ourselves as a good team, so more often than naught, we'll get the benefit of the doubt non-calls - same with San Antonio. Dallas atarts playing some defense this season and Cuban wants to get the calls we've had to earn over the last four years...


I disagree with your logic.

It has little to do with reputation.

The real answer was addressed by Flip Saunders in today's paper.

I'll paraphrase: The only thing Cuban knows about the intricacies (sp?) of basketball is how to write a check to buy a team. He doesn't understand how you can take away an opponent's ability to get a good shot early in the shot clock by establishing position, taking people out of their sweet spots, etc. (like the Pistons/Spurs do), as opposed to sliding in late and having to hack to prevent a hoop (like his Mavs do).

One of my main points is Dalls tries to play aggressive D with a bunch of players who have never been and never will be defensive players, so you make them play aggresive D and they hack. You can't take a bunch of guys like that and turn them into defensive studs in one year like that. Even after 4 years of working on defense Dallas wouldn't be on the same level as Det and Sa. We have players who are naturally great defenders and others who have been having it drilled into their heads for the past several years. That what this team's about. Same with the Spurs. You can't expect that type of respect like that because you decide to play "agressive D" all of a sudden.

Cuban complains about Pistons, Spurs

Mavericks owner says the most aggressive teams in the league are also the least penalized.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS -- You hear that noise, kind of shrilly and annoying, coming from the South?

It's another fine whine coming from deep in the heart of Texas.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban thinks the league's officials might be giving the Pistons and Spurs too much leeway during games, perhaps in deference to their reputations as tough, defensive teams.

"What I don't understand is how the two most aggressive defensive teams in the league are Detroit and San Antonio," Cuban told the Dallas Morning News, "yet they've had the fewest fouls called against them. How does that happen? I don't understand it."

The Pistons are being whistled for an average of 19.57 fouls a game, the lowest in the league. San Antonio is next at 21. Cuban's team picks up 23.7 fouls per game.

"Yeah, well, the two most aggressive teams have the best records, too," Ben Wallace said. "That's not a coincidence. We play aggressive defense all the time. They (Mavericks) mostly try to outscore teams."

Pistons coach Flip Saunders said that Cuban wasn't seeing the whole picture.

"He grew up in Indiana," Saunders said. "He grew up watching Bobby Knight's teams. They were the most aggressive teams in the Big Ten and they didn't pick up a lot of fouls."

Saunders' point being, the aggressive team usually gets the benefit of the whistle.

"What good defensive teams do, a lot of times, is do their dirty work early," Saunders said. "You beat people to spots and you are quicker to where you are supposed to be. You create a situation where they are following you rather than you following them."

By looking only at the numbers, Saunders said, Cuban was ignoring how the games are played.

"Both us and San Antonio, although we are aggressive defensive teams, but we're not really high in creating turnovers and making steals," he said. "We might be aggressive on the ball, but everybody else is disciplined. We pack it inside. Teams like Charlotte, who get a lot of steals, they are more aggressive on the perimeter and pick up more fouls. Our aggressiveness is more on the inside, and the same goes for San Antonio.

"To make a blanket statement like that, you aren't looking at the defense the teams are playing."

Cuban made his statement in defense of Dirk Nowitzki, who the Mavericks think is taking a beating from opposing defenses nightly and not getting to the free-throw line nearly enough. His free-throw attempts are down two a game.

great analysis by Flip, thanks Taymelo.

i normally like Cuban, but i think he's grasping for straws here, realizing that strictly offense isn't going to win him jack. he's hoping to establish the Mavs as a defensive team by launching propaganda through the media.

Mark Cuban really doesn't know shit about this game. It amazes me how stupid he can be sometimes.

that was a backwards complaint by cuban. aggressive teams always get the calls. this has been the rule of the nba for decades. he's complaining because his team isnt being rewarded for their lack of aggressiveness.

no one has stated the most obvious response to this.


THE PISTONS ARE NOT PLAYING INTENSE DEFENSE!!! they have a rep from other seasons but this season their offense is winning games, not D. In fact they seem to be the most relaxed team in the league defensively, If they weren't blessed with so many natural defenders they'd be getting torched because they seem to play defense off of instinct alone.

Can someone explain to me what a natural defender is?

Can someone define it?

Because I've played, watched and worked around the game for 20 years and I've yet to see a single player I would describe as a natural defender.

Is Ben a natural defender?

Is Tay?

Oh, btw: Fuck Cuban - 95% of the members here know more about the game than he does.

Can someone explain to me what a natural defender is?

Can someone define it?

Because I've played, watched and worked around the game for 20 years and I've yet to see a single player I would describe as a natural defender.

Is Ben a natural defender?

Is Tay?

Oh, btw: Fuck Cuban - 95% of the members here know more about the game than he does.

A good portion of defense is hard work, but to be a great defender, you need great insticts, footwork, timing, etc. Most things that can't be coached. ben Wallce for example is built for defense. His body size, leaping ability, quick feet for his size, quick hands, timing, and amazing instincts.

That's pretty much how I would define it anyways.

I'll grant you that part of being great at anything is God-given (or natural ability) but defense is more than instincts.

Footwork can be taught to the point it's second nature, just like your shot mechanics.

The amount of time and effort spent on drills, in the weight room and studying tape all come into play.

You play enough, study enough tape and drill enough (the right way) and you'll be a kick ass defender too.

Natural ability helps but it's not everything.