Defensive Impact Question?

[jlip]

For the majority of the history of the league, dating as far back to Bill Russell's days, the most impactful defenders were essentially big men (power forwards and centers.) While we may have had our favorite perimeter defenders, if we were honest, for the most part, the top five big men defenders were always more impactful defensively than the best perimeter defender, no matter how good he was. That makes sense considering that prior to ~2016, the game was typically played inside out with most shots coming within 15 feet of the basket. Also, historically big men controlled the boards which effectively ended the defensive possession, controlled who scored in the paint, and were typically the last line of defense if a player got past their perimeter defender.

With the three point revolution of the past six seasons, and so much of the game being played on the perimeter, have wing defenders (guards and small forwards) as a whole, become as impactful or possibly more impactful than big men now?

[Baller789]

Nah. I recon bigs are still more impactful as long as they can keep up with the switches. Though not as dominant as before as they are nerfed by the rules now.

[Full Court]

Not that it's the only factor, but if you look at the DPOY for the last 15 years, it's been almost entirely big men. Kawhi Leonard is the only exception I believe, and he got it twice.

20-21 Gobert
19-20 Giannis
18-19 Gobert
17-18- Gobert
16-17 Draymond
15-16 Kawhi
14-15 Kawhi
13-14 Noah
12-13 Gasol
11-12 Tyson Chandler
10-11 Dwight Howard
09-10 Dwight Howard
08-09 Dwight Howard
07-08 KG
06-07 Marcus Camby

[SATAN]

LeBron.

[Baller789]

LeBron.

What about him?

[Kblaze8855]

It’s not big or small position wise now…it’s versatility. Draymond is a “big” but he can do enough to disrupt multiple positions one on one, still defend drives, and direct traffic. Someone like Gobert who ruins half the goal of modern offense(the layup half of layup or three) is of tremendous value long term math wise as a disruption. But in individual matchups? Someone like that who can be forced to defend the 3 for a week of key games can actually be a negative.

The team plays 82 games relying on the big behind them like the 90s Heat and Zo. Get to the playoffs and a team goes small and the giant paint clogging big is either getting shelled from 3 or leaving the paint unprotected for a team used to leaning on him making up for their mistakes.

Being able to go 4-5 deep in shooters all at once has ruined the impact of defensive bigs who don’t move like a Draymond. Hakeem…Russell…those guys could move like forwards so they would still be of use vs a 5 out offense that requires man to man d outside and recovery to the paint. But guys like Rudy, Mutombo(when he got older), Eaton, and so on who rely more on you coming to them?

Those guys aren’t worth what they used to.

Eventually a team just plays a tweener forward at the 5 and makes them defend at 25 feet and if that guy is making his shots that series you damn near have to bench your supposed defensive star when he doesn’t have scoring to make up for it.

Long story short….yes. Bigs have lost their undisputed spot as most effective defenders….even if the on/off suggests otherwise long term. The long term can’t account for the key matchups when it matters. It doesn’t matter how many layups you alter or turn to inefficient pull-ups in December when someone will wait till May and make you leave the paint or give up 14 open 3s and beat you if they make 8 of them.

Shooting makes rim protection that can’t keep up with wings almost irrelevant.

[dankok8]

Bigs have definitely lost some defensive impact with so many shots being out on the 3pt line.

Purely on the defensive side of the ball, perimeter players haven't overtaken bigs though. Bigs are still considerably more impactful. Overall though when combining defensive and offensive impact yea. Perimeter players have overtaken bigs. In fact I read this Ben Taylor post just this morning that shows league-wide dominance shifting from bigs to perimeter players.

[tontoz]

The most efficient shots are at the rim so bigs still have more value than wings on defense. The gap isn't as wide as it used to be though.

The Bucks defensive philosophy is to prioritize rim protection and concede some 3s which has worked pretty well for them.