Hakeem/Robinson/Ewing defense vs Pippen/MJ/Payton defense

[iamgine]

I've heard that big men are more impactful at defense than perimeter players. But how much more?

Lets say Hakeem/Robinson/Ewing overall defensive impact is around 95/100, how would you rate Pippen/MJ/Payton overall defensive impact? Are they higher than bigs like Rik Smits or Shawn Bradley?

[DarkSephiroth]

There are a lot of aspects to defense, and one all-inclusive defensive impact doesn't really cover it all. For example if you have Jordan/Pippen/Kawhi level perimeter defenders hounding guys all game, then it becomes difficult for the guards to get the ball inside and utilize a potential size advantage. On the other end of the spectrum if you have Hakeem Olajuwon/David Robinson/Wilt/Russell level shot blockers inside stopping everything and also able to help on drives, it makes it that much harder for everyone to score. It really depends on the characteristics of the team you would be facing. Perimeter defense is probably more important if you're facing say.... the Durant Warriors. But overall, having an all-inclusive shot blocker who could also rotate onto the perimeter like Hakeem would probably be best in any situation. It's really hard to quantify such impact.

[3ba11]

David Robinson probably lets the 2023 Heat go off just like the #1 defense of the Celtics did

Holding a team down is more about having a superior brand of ball that causes the opponent to underperform offensively - that's what Jokic, MJ, and Curry did

[Baller234]

They're both equally important.

Look at the early 90's Bulls & Knicks. They were the two best defensive teams in the league. The Bulls had amazing perimeter defense, but were slightly weaker when it came to interior defense. Meanwhile the Knicks had an amazing interior defense, but were slightly weaker with perimeter defense.

Depends on what the other team does on offense. Cartwright hustled on defense but he could never truly contain Ewing by himself. Same with Starks. He tried to give MJ fits but ultimately he was too short.

[Soundwave]

They're both equally important.

Look at the early 90's Bulls & Knicks. They were the two best defensive teams in the league. The Bulls had amazing perimeter defense, but were slightly weaker when it came to interior defense. Meanwhile the Knicks had an amazing interior defense, but were slightly weaker with perimeter defense.

Depends on what the other team does on offense. Cartwright hustled on defense but he could never truly contain Ewing by himself. Same with Starks. He tried to give MJ fits but ultimately he was too short.

It's not like the Knicks didn't try taller defenders on Jordan. Wilkins and Mason got their chances on Mike too, your height just doesn't matter, if anything Jordan could score easier against taller defenders because his first step was more like a 6'0 player like Iverson in a 6'6 frame. That's the "freak" thing about Jordan, he had the speed of an Iverson type player with an explosive vertical and big hands to go with it. He'd just go around those taller dudes, they're just too slow to stay in front of him 1 on 1.

[90sgoat]

The center is easier to see the defensive impact, but if you have a Pippen or Payton, you can put them on the opposing superstar guard and shut them down and thus disrupting the entire offense.