HT: 6-11 | WT: 225 | AGE: 25 | YR: 4
By Fred Carter
Special to ESPN.com
Marcus Camby has brought a new defensive dimension to the New York Knicks, something they haven't had. When Patrick Ewing came into the league, people thought he might be the next Bill Russell as a defensive player. But in the pros, he proved to be more an offensive force. Now Camby comes along and gives the Knicks a shot blocker they have never had.
What makes Camby a good shot blocker is that he can travel distances quickly. Camby can go from the weak side to the strong side and block shots. He is rangy, athletic, has good footwork and is quick. If you give him a step or step and a half, he can block a ton of shots. It really helps the defense a great deal when you have someone with Camby's quickness in the paint. He is involved in the game, reading offenses and seeing what is going on. He gets there in time to stop the ball.
Camby really emerged late last season and in the playoffs. The maturation process took a little longer for Camby. In Toronto, he had difficulty, but he was a good shot blocker there, leading the NBA in blocked shots his second year in the league. If anything, Camby found his niche, his way to get minutes with the Knicks.
In Jeff Van Gundy's system, he requires players to work hard, be productive and be involved in the game. Camby got himself noticed with his offensive and defensive rebounding and blocked shots. He will fly in from one side or the other, tipping balls in or getting rebounds on the offensive glass.
The Knicks, with Ewing out, desperately need Camby's defensive presence. Plus, with two offensive players like Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell, he can help them on the defensive end. Offensive players will try to wear down Houston and Sprewell on defense and hopefully take away from their offensive ability. With a shot blocker behind them, Houston and Sprewell know that if they get beat Camby is back there to help them.
If Camby keeps developing and playing the way he is playing, he can someday become the league's top defensive player because he is not focused on offense.
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HT: 6-10 | WT: 261 | AGE: 29 | YR: 8
By Dr. Jack Ramsay
Special to ESPN.com
Alonzo Mourning is a very intense, competitive player, almost to a fault. He goes after every shot that is taken in the basket area, involving himself in just about everything that happens for the Miami Heat on the defensive end. That makes him a very strong presence, but it also increases his chances of committing fouls.
He needs to exercise better judgment. He doesn't have to go after every shot. Bill Russell would pick and choose, but the offensive players never knew when he was choosing. They were always conscious of his presence, and I think Mourning can have that same kind of impact.
By comparison, Marcus Camby is a more alive and agile player. Mourning is like a rampaging elephant, and Camby is more like a giraffe. Camby is more active than Mourning on the offensive boards, and is hard to block out because he is in constant motion, and runs the floor better.
But Mourning was the league's Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in blocked shots last year, as he is again this season. He thoroughly enjoys the defensive part of the game and is all about winning. His problem this year has been with fouls, both on offense and defense, getting called for screening fouls or over-the-top fouls from the second position trying to rebound the ball.
As an on-the-ball defender, Mourning moves his feet well and is adept at denying position. In the Heat's defensive structure, everyone fronts the post man, playing between the passer and the man in the post -- and he excels at that. Mourning is also a very good help defender on players driving to the basket. He will always come and block their path.
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