Who is the best defensive guard in the NBA?

[insidehoops]

Who is the best defensive guard in the NBA?

Feel free to name just one guard, or break it down by position and name the best defensive NBA point guard and best defensive NBA shooting guard.

And, as always, explain your answer. Toss some fun descriptive adjectives around about the player(s) you name.

[DuMa]

Tony Allen

[G-train]

Man to man its Tony allen, although IMO he didnt play enough mins to be All D.

Stealing probably Rondo.

Shot blocking is Wade.

Overall when you are looking for a complete defensive player I'd say Wade. Not many guards EVER can play man to man, off the ball, steal and block 7 footers regularly.

[G-train]

Man to man its Tony allen, although IMO he didnt play enough mins to be All D.

Stealing probably Rondo.

Shot blocking is Wade.

Overall when you are looking for a complete defensive player I'd say Wade. Not many guards EVER can play man to man, off the ball, steal and block 7 footers regularly.

I'd add to this that Iguodala is probably second, and Allen third. Iguadala is an elite and versatile all round defender.

[D-Wade316]

Man to man: Tony Allen
Stealing, playing the passing lanes: Rondo, CP3
Blocking: Wade

Overall: Wade

[StroShow4]

TA. Honorable mention to Arron Afflolo.

[EnoughSaid]

If you look at it, you have to take the most versatile guard. I'd actually take Iggy, but Tony Allen and Wade are right up there.

[ballup]

I remember there was a picture circulating during regular season. It showed how poorly the NBA's best wing men shot when defended by Iguodala. None of them were close to 40%.

[Marquis Daniels]

My vote goes to Andre Iguodala.

[DaPerceive]

My vote goes to Andre Iguodala.
He is a small forward.

http://www.backpicks.com/2011/04/11/the-nbas-top-defenders-in-2011/

[quote]Below are the leaders in Defensive EV from the 2011 season, by position. Included for reference are the number of defensive possessions they were involved in for the Defensive EV sample, and courtesy of 82games, their opponent PER, opponent eFG% and opponent Free throw attempts (FTA) at their primary position. Also from 82games is the On/Off difference in their team

[Marquis Daniels]

chicago bulls has one of the best defensive system in the nba, no coincidence that he is one of the best when looking at individual stats like this.

[bdreason]

I'll throw EJ's name in the hat. He may not be the best, but he's a hell of a defender at SG.

(Eric Gordon)

[StroShow4]

I'll throw EJ's name in the hat. He may not be the best, but he's a hell of a defender at SG.

That's Eric Gordon. Just clarifying for the non-Clipper watchers.

[Fiasco]

EJ still gets torched from time to time... I wouldn't put him up there with the best. He's good for his size, but he's no Iguodala.

[32Dayz]

This Man.
http://www.pruetts.com/images/dwade-block.jpg
http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Dwyane+Wade+Dwight+Howard+Orlando+Magic+v+7V9MQBYc ze9l.jpg

[Mr. Bryant]

Kobe easily. 1st team all defense. :bowdown:

[Rnbizzle]

Ronnie Brewer, Tony Allen, Arron Afflalo, Dwyane Wade, Thabo Sefalosha, Rajon Rondo, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Keith Bogans are some of the best.

[32Dayz]

Kobe easily. 1st team all defense. :bowdown:

:facepalm

[alenleomessi]

i dont focus on perimeter defense while i watch a basketball game so i cant tell
stats are meaningless, guys like rose and jennings are highly rated :lol

[PTB Fan]

Tony Allen.

Honorable Mention:Wade

[pauk]

Better question is... who guards guards the best?

Lebron....

[ClutchBucketz]

Better question is... who guards guards the best?

Lebron....

Jason Terry says otherwise..:D

[RRR3]

Jason Terry says otherwise..:D
Derrick Rose agrees with Pauk.

[Legends66NBA7]

Jason Terry says otherwise..:D


Derrick Rose agrees with Pauk.

Both of you are correct.

LeBron does do a fine job defending guards. Just not all the time. I think you have to maintain his minutes on guards, accordingly.

[pegasus]

Both of you are correct.

LeBron does do a fine job defending guards. Just not all the time. I think you have to maintain his minutes on guards, accordingly.

Which means that he is not the best player guarding guards. Not even close.

Rose was an idiot for trying over and over again to play Lebron one-on-one at the top of the key. He should have cut through some screens, catch the ball and attack immediately. Lebron is one of the worst at shuffling his feet when his opponent gives him a quick fake and puts the ball on the floor. Watch his games against Wallace, Deng, Iguodala, etc. for evidence.

Plus, Miami did a great job helping him out, clogging the lanes. That's why Rose had to try and shoot over Lebron, and that's where Lebron's size played to his advantage.

[pauk]

when Lebron and probably Wade (his defense is better than ever right now) to is allowed to waste that much focus.. energy & intensity defensively for 48 minutes they are easily the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.... but they are also the best offensive players, so thats hard to do and stupid to do...

thats why some players are called strict "defensive players"... like Bruce Bowen and so on.... its not that they are the best defenders, but that they are used mainly as defenders, which means they dont have big intensive roles offensively so they are allowed to put in all the effort on the defensive end without their teams offense taking a hit.....

Lebron... Wade.. Kobe (maybe not right now but yea)... and such are all great defenders who cant afford to give that kindof defensive effort for 48 minutes because of their massive offensive roles.... but if they did... they would be even better one-on-one perimeter defenders than Bowen and so on... they proved it when they do it in stretches and sometimes for entire games when they can afford it....

[pauk]

Jason Terry says otherwise..:D

wtf did Jason Terry do really 1on1? Did you watch the series? Terry was either left open by Lebron because Lebron had to help somewhere else or because he got screened of or because maybe he slipped on a sweaty spot.... if Lebron stayed glued to Terry all the time, he wouldnt be able to contest Dirk who was open or Kidd who was open or Deshawn who was open and so on.... that is the question.... all caused by Bosh or Wade or Anthony or JJ and so on or vice versa..... the defense was exposed by shooters.... left them all scrambling trying to help eachother like headless chickens...

Individually Lebron shut down Terry completely 1on1 with the ball in Terrys hands without his teammates screening Lebron of or without him getting open shots because Lebron had to help somewhere else...... Terry didnt manage to drive past lebron and score a single time without that kindof help or without Lebron running back to him after contesting Dirk/Kidd/Deshawn and so on...... only one time was he able to drive past like that and Lebron caught up to him using his athleticism & size to block his shot but Terry shoved/elbowed Lebron in the face in the process to avoid getting blocked and draw a foul and then flopped down acting like he got shot by a .50 cal sniper.... guess who got the foul? :rolleyes: here it is, most stupid call ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ACv3PlOFQ

[Legends66NBA7]

Which means that he is not the best player guarding guards. Not even close.

Rose was an idiot for trying over and over again to play Lebron one-on-one at the top of the key. He should have cut through some screens, catch the ball and attack immediately. Lebron is one of the worst at shuffling his feet when his opponent gives him a quick fake and puts the ball on the floor. Watch his games against Wallace, Deng, Iguodala, etc. for evidence.

Plus, Miami did a great job helping him out, clogging the lanes. That's why Rose had to try and shoot over Lebron, and that's where Lebron's size played to his advantage.

I never said he was the best player guarding guards or say he was close. He can be more than a capable defender on guards though.

Rose was young too. He didn't exactly have the best way to attack someone like LeBron or Wade for that matter because they do have the wheels to match his speed. I do agree on the LeBron shuffling his feet, I've seen him slip up too many times when certain guards make a quick move on him.

Miami's help defense definitely did a great job on Rose as well, but so was LeBron's help defense. With all that put into play, as you alluded to, Rose played into LeBron's hand on defense (size advantage).

[Fiasco]

smh at those of you mentioning Wade. That guy takes waaaaaaaaaay too many nights off on defense to be considered one of the best defensive guards. Blocking shots =/= great defense, please refer to JaVale McGee for reference.

[pegasus]

smh at those of you mentioning Wade. That guy takes waaaaaaaaaay too many nights off on defense to be considered one of the best defensive guards. Blocking shots =/= great defense, please refer to JaVale McGee for reference.

I agree. He also takes too many risks to get steals & block shots. It's too stat-oriented for my taste.

[StroShow4]

Ronnie Brewer, Tony Allen, Arron Afflalo, Dwyane Wade, Thabo Sefalosha, Rajon Rondo, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Keith Bogans are some of the best.

Allen Iverson also got a lot of steals. Was he a good defender?


I agree with the rest of your list.

[32Dayz]

smh at those of you mentioning Wade. That guy takes waaaaaaaaaay too many nights off on defense to be considered one of the best defensive guards.

Proof? :confusedshrug:

[D-Wade316]

Proof? :confusedshrug:
He doesn't have. In fact, he had Kobe's face as his first avy.

[Fiasco]

Proof? :confusedshrug:

There isn't a stat for being lazy. I caught a ton of Heat games last year. They played my team twice. Really, it doesn't take more than twenty minutes to determine whether or not Wade is going to play defense in a game.

If Wade doesn't make a basket/get a foul call, he's not going to hustle back on defense. Though his man-on-man defense is good when he wants to play, those moments are so far and few in between that I can't honestly say Wade is a premier defensive guard.

Unless you want to change the question to "Who can play the best defense when they try?", then you can list Wade down every time.


He doesn't have. In fact, he had Kobe's face as his first avy.

What does that have to do with me being a Clippers fan?

[rodman91]

smh at those of you mentioning Wade. That guy takes waaaaaaaaaay too many nights off on defense to be considered one of the best defensive guards. Blocking shots =/= great defense, please refer to JaVale McGee for reference.

I agree. He seems out of focus in many games. Gets couple of highlight blocks, good defensive moves...and then let his guy score easily on other positions.

But in a league where best perimeter defender might be only 20 minutes guy, Wade deserves to be mentioned.

[ClutchBucketz]

wtf did Jason Terry do really 1on1? Did you watch the series? Terry was either left open by Lebron because Lebron had to help somewhere else or because he got screened of or because maybe he slipped on a sweaty spot.... if Lebron stayed glued to Terry all the time, he wouldnt be able to contest Dirk who was open or Kidd who was open or Deshawn who was open and so on.... that is the question.... all caused by Bosh or Wade or Anthony or JJ and so on or vice versa..... the defense was exposed by shooters.... left them all scrambling trying to help eachother like headless chickens...

Individually Lebron shut down Terry completely 1on1 with the ball in Terrys hands without his teammates screening Lebron of or without him getting open shots because Lebron had to help somewhere else...... Terry didnt manage to drive past lebron and score a single time without that kindof help or without Lebron running back to him after contesting Dirk/Kidd/Deshawn and so on...... only one time was he able to drive past like that and Lebron caught up to him using his athleticism & size to block his shot but Terry shoved/elbowed Lebron in the face in the process to avoid getting blocked and draw a foul and then flopped down acting like he got shot by a .50 cal sniper.... guess who got the foul? :rolleyes: here it is, most stupid call ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5ACv3PlOFQ

So when Derek Fisher gets destroyed by screens he gets called the worst defensive guard in the L but LeBron gets a pass?

[Theoo]

probably someone

[brisbaneman]

Russell Westbrook

[kingofhandles]

THE FLASH, serous intimidation

[D-Wade316]

There isn't a stat for being lazy. I caught a ton of Heat games last year. They played my team twice. Really, it doesn't take more than twenty minutes to determine whether or not Wade is going to play defense in a game.

If Wade doesn't make a basket/get a foul call, he's not going to hustle back on defense. Though his man-on-man defense is good when he wants to play, those moments are so far and few in between that I can't honestly say Wade is a premier defensive guard.

Unless you want to change the question to "Who can play the best defense when they try?", then you can list Wade down every time.



What does that have to do with me being a Clippers fan?
:facepalm Wade is heavily depended upon in defense. For the regular season, he had a defensive usage of 21.2%. That means that every 1 out of 5 opponent field goals, he was in the act of guarding the shot. That is 5.6% greater than the average defensive usage of SGs, 15.6%. We also have to include the fact that he carries a lot of offensive load.
http://www.backpicks.com/2011/04/11/the-nbas-top-defenders-in-2011/
http://www.backpicks.com/2011/01/22/defensive-usage/

[Fiasco]

:facepalm Wade is heavily depended upon in defense. For the regular season, he had a defensive usage of 21.2%. That means that every 1 out of 5 opponent field goals, he was in the act of guarding the shot. That is 5.6% greater than the average defensive usage of SGs, 15.6%. We also have to include the fact that he carries a lot of offensive load.
http://www.backpicks.com/2011/04/11/the-nbas-top-defenders-in-2011/
http://www.backpicks.com/2011/01/22/defensive-usage/

................ what?

If that stat means anything, it's that teams are more comfortable attacking Dwyane Wade on defense than any other average guard by 5%.

Wade's OPP eFG% is 49 percent........ and according to your links, a bad defender allows 50%. Wade is also the only guard listed with a positive On/Off category (which is bad).

So, what?

[JGXEN]

Wade is rather lazy at times. I observed this while watching previous Celtics-Heat games where Wade would not put in serious efforts chasing Ray Allen around screens and more often than not, Allen's torching the Heat due to his negligence. But like i said, this is only a small sample size :confusedshrug: but Wade is probably the best blocking G in the league right now

[D-Wade316]

................ what?

If that stat means anything, it's that teams are more comfortable attacking Dwyane Wade on defense than any other average guard by 5%.

Wade's OPP eFG% is 49 percent........ and according to your links, a bad defender allows 50%. Wade is also the only guard listed with a positive On/Off category (which is bad).

So, what?
:facepalm

The reason why Wade's defensive usage percentage is high is that the team uses him as one of the teams's defensive anchor, not because Wade is a "bad" man-to-man defender.

OPP fg%, etc. is not the only stat that measures defensive impact. For overall defensive impact, just refer to Defensive EV.

[D-Wade316]

Wade is rather lazy at times. I observed this while watching previous Celtics-Heat games where Wade would not put in serious efforts chasing Ray Allen around screens and more often than not, Allen's torching the Heat due to his negligence. But like i said, this is only a small sample size :confusedshrug: but Wade is probably the best blocking G in the league right now
Well, yeah. There's no doubting about that. Everyone gets lazy. Who doesn't? Especially if you consider the offensive load he carries.

[Borat_Sagdyev]

Eric Bledsoe? :rolleyes:

[Fiasco]

:facepalm

The reason why Wade's defensive usage percentage is high is that the team uses him as one of the teams's defensive anchor, not because Wade is a "bad" man-to-man defender.

:lol at Wade being a defensive anchor, let alone any SG guard.

And your links give Mike Miller a better DEF EV than Wade. So Wade's not even the best defender on his team. :roll:

[MichaelCheazley]

:lol at Wade being a defensive anchor, let alone any SG guard.

And your links give Mike Miller a better DEF EV than Wade. So Wade's not even the best defender on his team. :roll:

Hey man we didnt have anything better in previous years. Zo retired, Joel was joel and jo was broken down and constantly in foul trouble. He had to be our anchor lol.

[D-Wade316]

:lol at Wade being a defensive anchor, let alone any SG guard.

And your links give Mike Miller a better DEF EV than Wade. So Wade's not even the best defender on his team. :roll:
Miller's was a small sample. You came here trying to argue, but you only twisted facts to suit your agenda.

Lousy.

[Lebron23]

http://www.straightouttavancouver.com/2011/10/12/2486019/kobe-bryant-calls-tony-allen-the-toughest-defender-in-the-game

Tony "Kobe Stopper" Allen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6ubdFY-Wwc

[donald_trump]

Wade is also the only guard listed with a positive On/Off category (which is bad).

So, what?


umm that stat doesnt mean anything close to that.

it means his team is good enough defensively that they are still doing positively even with him off the court. then he adds to it further when he comes on.

it just means he has a good team.

[Inception28]

http://www.straightouttavancouver.com/2011/10/12/2486019/kobe-bryant-calls-tony-allen-the-toughest-defender-in-the-game

Tony "Kobe Stopper" Allen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6ubdFY-Wwc
If he is a Kobe stopper then what is he to LeBron?

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/z%20Funny%20NBA%20Photos/0%20Players/Lebron%20James/71792eda.gif

[Lebron23]

If he is a Kobe stopper then what is he to LeBron?

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/nbacardDOTnet/zz%20NBA%20Photo%20Gallery/z%20Funny%20NBA%20Photos/0%20Players/Lebron%20James/71792eda.gif


At least they are not going to meet again in the playoffs unless the Grizzlies beat OKC in the WCF. That's why the Lakers would no longer advance in the 2nd round in the post Phil Jackson Era. These younger teams are going to prove that Lakers don't belong in this decade.

[blablabla]

kyle lowry is an underrated defensive player

[KingBeasley08]

At least they are not going to meet again in the playoffs unless the Grizzlies beat OKC in the WCF. That's why the Lakers would no longer advance in the 2nd round in the post Phil Jackson Era. These younger teams are going to prove that Lakers don't belong in this decade.
Lebron23 doin work

[FatComputerNerd]

Didn't read thread but best defensive guard in NBA is Jrue Holiday.

[G-train]

Wade's demeanour makes him look lazier than he is.

[Nick Young]

Manu Ginobili
Highest rated defensive PER of any perimeter player over the last decade

[ballup]

Manu Ginobili
Highest rated defensive PER of any perimeter player over the last decade
Good pick, but using defensive PER as the end all criterion? :no:

[Nick Young]

Good pick, but using defensive PER as the end all criterion? :no:
What about huge blocks over guys 6 inches taller than him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyi4cM2_18c

or last minute game saving blocks over 6'11 guys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm9Y-vqZsEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCbcdPmc4Bg

[ballup]

What about huge blocks over guys 6 inches taller than him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyi4cM2_18c

or last minute game saving blocks over 6'11 guys?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm9Y-vqZsEo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCbcdPmc4Bg
Nate Robinson blocked Yao before. Does that make him a good defender?

I think people are forgetting one important aspect on defense. To put it in better terms, which guard plays good 1v1 D AND rarely miss defensive rotations?

[Nick Young]

Nate Robinson blocked Yao before. Does that make him a good defender?

I think people are forgetting one important aspect on defense. To put it in better terms, which guard plays good 1v1 D AND rarely miss defensive rotations?
Manu.

Plus he has a history of clutch defensive game saving plays. Clutchness should count also in terms of defense like it does in offense. For example Lebron is known as a great defender by some, but has a history of getting game winning shots hit in his face, so IMO shouldn't be considered an elite defender.

Manu gets steals + draws a ton of offensive fouls which cause turnovers PLUS is a great blocker for a shooting guard PLUS has the greatest defensive PER of any perimeter player the past decade.

[RRR3]

Manu.

Plus he has a history of clutch defensive game saving plays. Clutchness should count also in terms of defense like it does in offense. For example Lebron is known as a great defender by some, but has a history of getting game winning shots hit in his face, so IMO shouldn't be considered an elite defender.

Manu gets steals + draws a ton of offensive fouls which cause turnovers PLUS is a great blocker for a shooting guard PLUS has the greatest defensive PER of any perimeter player the past decade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFfrFmBRgCw:oldlol:

[Nick Young]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFfrFmBRgCw:oldlol:
how does this count as a game winner when Cavs are already up one? Lebron fans so desperate to make him appear clutch:facepalm

Actual gamewinners hit in Lebron's face in recent times:
Melo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_MY0qUt5CM

Rudy Gay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8yTXOi9LHk


Kobe with an ACTUAL game winner over Lebron, complete with Lebron bricking the game tying freethrow and then the game tying shot in the short span of 5 seconds XD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phxbMdmZ6ko

[32Dayz]

Cool stuff but Lebron has still outplayed Kobe in their H2H matchups by a pretty sizable margin and his team has won more so.... :(

[Nelson14]

damn kobe was drainin them in lebrons grill

[Arroyo8]

how does this count as a game winner when Cavs are already up one? Lebron fans so desperate to make him appear clutch:facepalm

Actual gamewinners hit in Lebron's face in recent times:
Melo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_MY0qUt5CM

Rudy Gay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8yTXOi9LHk


Kobe with an ACTUAL game winner over Lebron, complete with Lebron bricking the game tying freethrow and then the game tying shot in the short span of 5 seconds XD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phxbMdmZ6ko


beast mode

[FatComputerNerd]

Jrue, T. Allen, and Rondo.