Dame is better than ever, but the Blazers are stuck in quicksand As previously stated, he gets the help from Green and Leonard to guard the top point guards. He doesnt try to make great plays, but he tries not to make mistakes, which is maybe what he should be concentrating on. They are available for those who want to know where they fit, and it doesn'thurt anyone to include them. Whatever it was, Holiday was just not bringing effort on the defensive end last year. If youre not interested in that, feel free to skip ahead. Doc Rivers has had a lot of input into how Rondo plays the game. Its hard to notice his effort, though, because of the consistency with which he gets destroyed. Aside from his offensive prowess, Johnson had the ability to hit for power and lead the offense at a high level. The debate over whether it should have been a flagrant is mootclearly that got into James head because he was talking about it after the game. How much a player understands his role in the defense is measured here. 6 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963), Career stats If someone goes past him, hell usually just wave goodbye. Brandon Knight has exceptional speed and quickness. Not only is Damian Lillard one of the most exciting players in the game today, he makes a strong case as one of the best point guards in NBA history. He could create at an elite level while also scoring off the dribble from the midrange. He can be stagnant when his man doesnt have the ball. Defense is one of the more oft-overlooked aspects of basketball because it isnt as pretty as what happens on the offensive end. -- Adande, Possessed incredible court vision and creativity, all while orchestrating the frenetic game pace of his era. For example, there was a play in which he was switched up against the Clippers, and he was put on Chauncey Billups, while Tony Allen was on Chris Paul. Even when picks are set behind his back, he instinctively knows they are there and just steps over them seamlessly. He arguably makes more plays on his feet, both offensively and defensively, than anyone else. So the problem isnt a lack of speed; its a lack of applying it. Honors: 1978-1979 Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 9x All-Defense Selection, 2x All-NBA Team Selection, Hall of Famer. He has no All-Defensive team accolades, because those werent introduced until the 1968-1969 season. He never stops moving. He also knew when he needed to score, as evidenced by his 42-point performance in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals for a Lakers team missing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jason Kidd was the definition of a jack-of-all-trades point guard: he could pass, score and grab rebounds. A lot has been made of how an explosive offense is the way to captivate fans. The list of the best defensive NBA point guards for 2022-23 starts off with two of the elite perimeter defenders overall. Its interesting that when he plays against elite point guards, or when he plays angrily, he plays much more of a physical game. Los Angeles Lakers late legend Kobe Bryant is often considered the greatest Laker ever and with good reason: Bryant is first in many of the Lakers statistical categories. Perhaps next year the Raptors will see better times, and well see less of that kind of behavior, but its a harmful habit to have picked up. That being said, Joakim Noah was frequently required to bail him out of trouble. For the purpose of this study, 82games was used because the net defensive rating was also easily available and it made for consistency. While it does keep the opponent in front of him, it defeats the purpose if the opponent is still getting to the basket. -- Adande, He led the NBA in assists nine straight seasons from 1987 to 1996. He never leaves his man to help a defender that doesnt need help, but he always seems to be there when help is needed. Probably no point guard in the league does a better job of recovering defensively than Rose does. He also defends well against post-up plays, yielding just .54 points per play, although thats on an admittedly small 17-play sample size. On the flip side, Westbrook's 4.13 turnovers per game average is the highest all-time, with Johnson (3. . This is where everything focuses on Westbrook. Players Stats: 18.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, Honors: 2010-2011 MVP, 3x All-Star, 1x All-NBA Selection, 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year. He falls into his rotations smoothly. His lateral quickness is exceptional, making it hard for people to get around him, and thats a big part of why he is tied with Derrick Rose for the fewest points per play among qualified point guards. He had the best peak for any point guard in NBA history, hands down. If you just look at his measurables, Chris Paul is not impressive. It will be interesting to see if his new coach, Jason Kidd, can help him to work on this, as Kidd was a terrific help defender. In his heyday, Parker could score 25 points a night and seldom made poor choices with the ball. Russell is regarded as one of the best point guard finishers of all time. The average score by point guards was 16.1. Its probably no coincidence that Stephen Currys defense took a giant step forward this season playing alongside Jack, and you might see a similar progression from Kyrie Irving next year. He gets crossed over pretty easily, and not just by the Associations elite point guards. You can look at why things happen and offset the misleading things. Synergy tracks every play of every game of the season and, when possible (as it is not always possible), they assign an initial defender on a play. In the late 1980s, he was the face of the Bad Boys Pistons, who defeated Jordan's Bulls three times in a row in the playoffs. Gary Payton is one of the best ever. All-Time #NBArank continues with a countdown of the best shooting guards in NBA history. Since I always get asked "Where's ___________?" Best Defenders in NBA History: Top 50 Best Defensive Players By Clark Boinis | Jul 12, 2021, 4:05pm 1. 1. He averaged 3.9 win shares per season, totaling 75.1 DWS at the end of his 19-year career - good for 11th all-time. -- Adams, Thomas was as tough as they come, could score with the best of them (such a sweet stroke) and, make no mistake, was the baddest of the Bad Boys. There arent a lot of players that could lock down Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time. Ben Wallace 12. Even when he has to go under the pick, which is most of the time, hes so fast that hes able to close the distance before the ball-handler has time to do something with it. NBA: Ranking top 10 shooting guards ever - ESPN.com The point guard (PG), also called the one or the point, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Archibald was the first player in league history to lead the league in both points scored and assists, making him a one-man offense. However, the other side of the ball cant be overlooked because as the saying goes: defense wins championships.. They work harder, and they get things eventually, but not quite as well. Its frustrating watching Holiday play because when he gets out of position, it doesnt appear that its because hes caught out of position in the sense that he doesnt know where to be. In balance he was a plus, but his deficiencies cant be ignored. But Gary Payton did as a member of the Seattle Supersonics. He uses his feet and body well, steering his man into the help defense when he knows hes not able to keep up. -- Peterson, He's one of only a few players in history who has been deemed too good for the sport's own good. Knight gets almost no help whatsoever from help defense. In essence, hes athletic enough to do a respectable job of what hes asked to do. If youre a fan of the TV show Suits, you might agree that Harvey Specter dresses well. After the opponent scores, it is typically the point guard who brings the ball down the court to begin an offensive play. As Kyrie Irving showed in the decisive Game 7 versus the Warriors when he beat Stephen Curry to the game-winning jumper, Kyrie Irving is also one of the finest guards in NBA history, and he possesses some of the best hands of all time. Rondo likes to do this chest bump thing where he meets the opponent past the half-court line and just bumps his chest into him repeatedly. His 48.8 DWS is 48th all-time and the fourth most by a point guard. Dallas Mavericks (1994-96, 2008-12), Phoenix Suns (1996-2001), New Jersey Nets (2001-08), New York Knicks (2012-13), Honors Back in the 80s and 90s as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, Clyde The Glide Drexler and Michael Jordan constantly battled for the title of best shooting guard. In order to claim that title, both players had to play defense as well. Triple Double and for good reason: hes fourth all-time in triple-doubles with 107. It would be beneficial for Westbrook to even things out and play at a consistent level throughout the game. He does those things; he just doesnt do them very hard. Alex Caruso. Phoenix Suns (1996-98, 2004-12), Dallas Mavericks (1998-2004), Los Angeles Lakers (2012-15), Honors Bledsoe repeatedly got beatenmuch more frequently than Paulyet Odom consistently had his back, blocking or altering shots. NRG VS KOI Highlights. Starter from the VCT lockin. #VCTLOCKIN # The NBA is a point guard's paradise these days, so let's start All-Time #NBArank with our pantheon points. Top 10 Point Guards of All Time Best NBA Point Guards, NBA and other Best Basketball Leagues in the World, Facebook and Twitter takedown hackers targeting Ukraine political figures and military officials via fake accounts, Britney Spears called out Fans that She felt Sick to her stomach after Family plans Intervention, Stephen tWitch Boss passed away intestate, wife Allison Holker has filed Estate Control. Rose had it all, including speed, explosiveness, and the ability to score when it mattered most. Top NBA point guards for 2022-23: Ranking all 30 starters After ball-handling, the most important areas of the game for a point guard are passing and scoring. Hinrich always had a high basketball IQ. Our booby prize winner is pictured above. Oscar Robertson 3. Sometimes even when hes being smart, he gets a little dumb. Aware of his predilections, theyll pass the ball out to the perimeter, and simultaneous to the ball-handler catching it, theyll set a pick on Westbrook. Jerry West, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, combines a lethal jump shot, tenacious defence, obsessive perfectionism, unwavering confidence, and an unwavering will to win. 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, .428 3P%, The player Injuries robbed Rose of the opportunity to become one of the games top five point guards. Teams If you dont want to consider them, then dont. But, there is one only shooting guard that leapfrogged over all others. Players Stats: 20.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG. While the Clippers were better when Paul was on the bench, it wasnt because he was on the bench. A lot has been made of how an explosive offense is the way to captivate fans. Mentally subtract them from the rankings if you feel they shouldn'tbe included. The more often he is the primary defender, the more likely he is to be responsible for guarding the player who is getting the most plays offensively. To recap, Jason Kidd was the best defensive point guard, Michael Jordan skied above other shooting guards, John Havlicek paced all small forwards - for the time being - and the "Mailman . All-Time #NBArank: Top 10 point guards ever, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. James is well-known for his incredible skill and ability to score big points, which frequently help his team win crucial games. New Orleans Hornets (2005-11), Los Angeles Clippers, (2011-present), Honors Two-time All-Defensive First Team Four-time All-Star Before having his career derailed by drug use, Micheal Ray Richardson was one of the league's most feared defensive point. Nash's sideways speed and power will be non-existent at some age, allowing for constant dribble. David Robinson 6. If you want the perfect picture of what Hinrich brings to the defensive end of the court, think of him tackling the runaway freight train, otherwise known as LeBron James, in the game which stopped the Miami Heats streak. He sometimes gets tangled up and left hopelessly out of the play. Even the fastest point guards tend to get bottled up. When you combine that with his 40-inch vertical, you have a player that gets higher (139 inches) than any point guard in the leagueeven Russell Westbrook. That has more to do with the second-string frontcourt, led by Lamar Odom, backing him up than it does his team defense. Bob Cousey 8. When we watch basketball, we get general impressions of defense, but the storyline is whats happening with the ball. A point guard should always look out for teammates and be able to pass well. Stockton was the. Hes still learning to apply that tremendous athleticism on the defensive end of the court, though. Can they play bigger than they really are? The NBA is flush with dominant point guards. Jed Jacobsohn/AP Images. Having said that, he does play team defense, too, and he is part of the team. Each touches a different part of the elephant, one an ear, another the torso and so on. In case you missed it, Jason Kidd was tops on the list with 75.1 DWS, good for 11th all-time. He doesnt put a lot of effort into chasing his man through screens. Two NBA titles and a Finals MVP award make him one of the all-time great point guards because of his ability to score from mid-range and his propensity to attack and finish at the rim. And I never saw him go in the wrong direction, not once. Kirk Hinrich wasnt the fastest player in the NBA when he came out of college. Some would argue that just because he went to Harvard, it doesnt mean he has a high basketball IQ, or that book intelligence isnt the same thing. Not Paul. Conley is generously listed at 61 and 180 pounds. You can almost rate Chalmers improving basketball intelligence by how many times per game he gets yelled at by his superstar teammates. Its difficult to have a perfect rating system thats entirely objective, and even more difficult to have a realistic one that is purely subjective. The seven-time All-Star was one of the best two-way guards of his time, and his performance in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA FInals remains one for the ages. He has a real grasp of the game, and he helps convey that to his teammates. Greg Monroe has talent on the offensive side of the ball but not a whole lot on the defensive side. From there, hes playing catch up. Closing out on shooters, hell go sailing past them. He yields a whopping 41.5 three-point percentage on the spot-up, which is just not good. He is tremendous at using that muscle to his advantage, too. Whenever anyone imagines a point guard, chances are theyre thinking of Utah Jazz legend John Stockton. Went from dominating games strictly with his passing to making the fifth-most 3-pointers in NBA history. -- J.A. Top 16 Point Guards Of All-Time: Where Steph Curry Ranks? - ClutchPoints Defensively, Stockton had 3,265 steals the most all time during his 19-year. The classic definition of a point guard, orchestrating offense and shooting when necessary. He has decent size for a point guard, at 63 but he doesnt have much of a vertical: 28.5.. For his career, Jordan averaged 2.3 steals (third all-time) and 4.2 DWS per year. The explosiveness and rim-running ability of Damian Lillard extend beyond his ability to shoot the ball from a distance. 20 greatest point guards ever: The HoopsHype list | HoopsHype He does an air-tight job of keeping players out of the perimeter. He has a high basketball IQ, and he has that veteran savvy thing going for him, too. These were calculated using the raw stats available on any site carrying basic stats. That Paul was able to keep the Clippers on track through much of the season with the ever-changing defensive schemes the team had is pretty miraculous. -- Adams, An early ballhandling wizard, he was a point guard who was a focal point at a time when the game was dominated by big men. But hes just not very strong. In other words, giving up 15 points to Russell Westbrook is much more impressive than giving up 14 to Derek Fisher, but the raw stats dont tell you who was guarding whom. It is startling to see the regularity with which opponents blow past Deron Williams. -- Haberstroh, Teams His net defensive rating of minus-7.7, combined with his lack of a defensively-solid backup big, is a strong indication of his value as a help defender. -- Adande, Nash is the only player in history to go 50-40-90 while averaging 10 assists per game. Williams tends to play defense, but he only seems to do the minimum. For each player, I watched between one and two hours of footage of defense, taking account of specific things and grading them in five different areas. Congratulations, Brian Roberts! Chris Paul 13. Although Drexler never made an All-Defensive Team in his career, he did average two steals per game for his 15-year career. However, he doesnt appear to have the same strength they do. Averaging 1.5 steals per game, Wade could block transition shots as well with the best of them. Cousy, in many respects, was the Celtics spirit at the moment. He also uses his quick hands to steal the dribble, and he does so without taking risks. The former professional basketball player was born on March 26, 1962, and is regarded as one of the best passing point guards. His record and effect on the game, particularly offensively, are legendary, and its easy to see why. You probably cant say right away, because you watched the storyline, not how Harvey dressed. After the All-Star break, when Rose hardly played, that number fell to 17.8 and the Bulls dropped to ninth. It also helps him to have the second-most defensive plays per 36 minutes of any of the point guards on this list. A defensive point guard will also pressure opponents in passing lanes in an attempt to generate steals and scoring opportunities for their own team. The only time hell go under a pick is when hes supposed to. He uses quickness to capably guard the perimeter, but thats in large part because hes not always defending the elite point guards. -- Rob Peterson, One can only imagine how impressive his career totals might have been if not for the HIV virus. 11. Once he had the ball on the fastbreak, The Flash was gone. In his 16-year career, Wade averaged 2.961 DWS per year and his 47.38 DWS is good for 55th overall. 1987 Lakers are often seen as one of the greatest teams ever. Always free! He just doesnt have the physical tools to play at an elite level. Normally this would be a list of FAQs, but no one has ever asked any questions (since no one has ever seen it). Best Defenders in NBA History: Top 50 Best Defensive Players Stockton is one of the greatest assist players in NBA history, if not the greatest. If he tends to be the helped, he gets a worse score. He might not be the fastest guy in the world, but that doesnt keep him from trying to be. He had unusual strength for his size, quick feet, elite hands, and timing to help him hold down opponents one-on-one and rack up steals. He actually plays his best games against his best opponents. The players are ranked according to their WAMS. -- Pelton, If he had played with The Mailman or a defense as stout as the Pistons, he might have made a couple of Finals by now. Rondos lack of a need for help defense allows Garnett to help more elsewhere. It is akin to the blind men and the elephant in the Indian fable adapted to a poem by John Godfrey Saxe. Allen Iverson 11. (As an aside, in the slides, you will only see the original metric value, not the weighted number to determine the WAM. Lets say a perimeter defender gets beaten and then his center blocks the shot. -- Peterson. 76ers vs. It looked like teams designed plays counting on him being lazy. Hes able to use that size advantage by being physical, playing close and aggressive, often forcing shooters into shots they arent comfortable taking. One of the most famous point guards of all time, Jason Kidd, could make a dazzling pass or a simple play with the finest in the game while also adoring to hightail it in transition to wear opponents down. Jumping ability, body control and agility were all considered as well. The result is our all-time NBA Top 100. No question hell be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and hes one of the greatest rim-attacking players in NBA history. This is a necessity because of the point guard's many leadership obligations. On the other hand, he was frequently bailing out whoever was playing shooting guard on numerous occasions. He lacks the strength to effectively go over screens consistently, so he has to go under them. At 63, with a wingspan of almost 68, he has decent size. Players Stats: 14.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 8.5 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG, Honors: 2x MVP, 8x All-Stars, 7x All-NBA Selection, Hall of Famer. Did they get pushed around easily? Point guards must be able to maintain possession of the ball in crowded spaces and in traffic and be able to advance the ball quickly. Only two NBA championships would make him the second-best player in NBA history. The same applies to any decent basketball argument (or any other kind, for that matter). The five best defensive point guards of all time - Sportsnaut Ranking the Best Defensive Point Guards in the NBA At 61 and 171 pounds, Rondo is pretty small by NBA standards, but he plays much tougher than his size. See the criteria for scouting on the next slide. The reason teams run so much pick-and-roll is that it works. Why not a normal scale of one to 10? He also plays through to the end of the play when his man doesnt have the ball, which is not something you see all point guards do. By my count, about 70 percent of the time, the ball-handler will get past him and get a shot off. Jason Kidd 9. Some of this is hard to know whether to ascribe to Bledsoe or to his former coach, Vinny Del Negro, who hones his X's and O's skills by playing tic-tac-toe online. Holiday wouldnt just go under the pick; he would go too far under the pick. Big O is widely regarded as one of the best offensive point guards of all time. Perhaps the most unstoppable offensive player in NBA history, Jordan decimated and demoralized his foes on the defensive end. Average players struggled, though. The facts need to come first. As a rookie, Bill Russell relied on Cousy to lead the league in assists, and he won the MVP Award for his efforts. Eventually, that learning has to become instinct, though. Ranked: Top 25 male fitness influencers to follow in 2023, Howe dodges row over Newcastle's Saudi ownership, Former Chelsea boss spotted in Munich with his new lover, Bam Adebayo makes bold claim about the last two DPOY awards, Gary Neville ignites debate after stating ideal price for holding midfielder, Huge Ballon dOr scandal as player claims his votes were changed to Lionel Messi. Archibald, who was just 61 tall, was able to consistently sink the ball despite his diminutive stature. All you have to do is watch him on offense to know he has all kinds of speed. He has been improving in that regard, but its taken a while, and there are still some maddening things. Adande, Brad Doolittle, Tom Haberstroh and Kevin Pelton are NBA writers for ESPN.com. The other metrics help alleviate the extremes because they also indicate what a players personal defense does. He wont even try and fight over a pick if he gets caught in one, but just quits on the play. He merits a high score here. If he didnt retire at 34, its interesting to see where Cousy could have landed all-time as he averaged 3.8 DWS per season. Sounds great, right? As a result, hes been a member of the All-Defensive First Team four times and a member of the All-Defensive Second Team five times. When the team is winning or the game is close, he puts in real effort, but if they are down, he shows noticeably less energy. An All-Star in every full season that he played for the Boston Celtics, six-time NBA champion Bob Cousy was an all-around player. Each fails to realize that they are all right, and that the real answer is in the combination of what they all experienced. Penny, a taller point guard, was an excellent dribbler and a great passer. Those are the questions I was looking to answer. Championships: 3. You cant build a house first, and then pour the foundation underneath it. Furthermore, he is a legend for the Phoenix Suns and one of the teams finest players. Overall, he is more of a gives-help defender than a needs-help defender. 3. Dubs' Curry (leg) could return as soon as Sun. Yet somehow he manages to compensate and do a reasonably fair job of defending, even in isolation. Young players who are relatively short are now developing the scoring aspects of their skill-sets, whereas previously these players would find it difficult to enter the NBA without true point guard skills. That helps him to dominate games defensively without having to leave the ground. Bledsoe is not a great help defender, in spite of boasting a -4.9 net defensive rating. On those, there is no link available. He leaves talented shooters alone to go double-team bad shooters. The five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection has averaged more than 24 points per game since being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012. The 10 Best Tall Point Guards in NBA History - Plus 2 Clothing If Westbrook could channel his energy in a consistent way, he would be an elite defender, but for now, hes just a solid defender whos kind of spazzy. He could play any spot on the court as well. As a result of his hurling himself around the court with utter abandon, he was generally a positive when it came to help defense. This typically involves setting up plays on the court, getting the ball to the teammate in the best position to score, and controlling the tempo of the game. On the other hand, hes not tremendously athletic. Great size made him impossible for most. He bulls through picks well and is not afraid to go over them. During each of his five NBA championship rings, he was one of the finest players in the league. Watching a thing, and watching for a thing, are different. A defensive point guard will try to accomplish this with constant pressure on the ball, making it difficult to maintain possession. Point guards are expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time. He has a barrel chest, broad shoulders and 20 pounds on most point guards, so he gives the appearance of dwarfing players that are technically as tall as he is. Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena denies outrageous Egypt claims, Brooklyn Nets comeback from 28 down to stun Boston Celtics, Alex Iwobi: Nigerian star set for possible exit at English Premier League club Everton, Premier League player caught inhaling laughing gas after a night out, Real Madrid identify Premier League star as 'Plan B' if Bellingham deal fails, Top 15 most handsome football players in the world in 2023. In his first season, he specialized in defense and could stop almost every point guard in the league on a regular basis. He thinks hes the biggest man on the court. You cant say that Westbrook doesnt try on defense, but you can say he doesnt show consistent effort on defense. But will he listen enough to a player he was just playing against to make that shift? Even his athletic scores dont indicate greatness. Players have a difficult time getting past him. Williams needs to have a bit of a paradigm shift in the direction of team defense. The number in the parentheses indicates where they ranked in that category. Opponents dont have much success getting around him. Their primary job is to facilitate scoring opportunities for their team, or sometimes for themselves. He and Chris Paul are the contenders for smartest defensive point guard in the game today. This is also from the various sources we have used. He applies his energy smartly. To create All-Time #NBArank, we put together a ballot with the 150 greatest players ever. While Rose is slightly faster, Westbrook is slightly bigger. Jack gets beat and bailed out frequently by his teammates. If he didnt retire at 34, its interesting to see where Cousy could have landed all-time as he averaged 3.8 DWS per season. He was born on March 23, 1973. He is so athletic and so strong for his size that hes been able to get away without learning lessons he should have. His quickness and slim frame allow him to slip through gaps in the defence and create more opportunities for himself. But he jogs when he should run, is lackadaisical closing out shooters and goes through the motions when running through his rotations. Right now, Westbrook's 11.2 assists and 47.5% assist rate leads the league this season. It only looks at the data. Hell get to the corners to challenge threes; hell pick off passes; hell get rebounds; hell get some chase-down blocks.