Rank our players by defensive ability

[Rastapopoulos]

Here's my ranking:
Good:
1. RoCo
2. Nurk
3. Rondae H-J
Not bad:
4. Nassir (controversial!)
5. Powell
Below Average:
6. Jones Jr.
7. Elleby (also a stretch)
8. CJ
Definitely bad:
9. Dame
10. Simons
Just God-awful
11. Kanter
12. Melo

Not featured: Giles, Blevins

 

[Minstrel]

Here's my ranking:
Good:
1. RoCo
2. Nurk
3. Rondae H-J
Not bad:
4. Nassir (controversial!)
5. Powell
Below Average:
6. Jones Jr.
7. Elleby (also a stretch)
8. CJ
Definitely bad:
9. Dame
10. Simons
Just God-awful
11. Kanter
12. Melo

Not featured: Giles, Blevins

My list would be almost identical, except I'd swap CJ and Dame.

I also think that Nurkic is an interesting topic in this regard. In a vacuum, he's a very good defender. He's sound, he's good in man defense against other big men and he brings rim protection. In any era until about 6-7 years ago, he'd be an unqualified strong defensive center. But in this era, while he obviously brings useful things, he's arguably a defensive detriment in the many, many pick-and-rolls teams run nowadays. In match-up hunting, getting Nurkic into a pick-and-roll with whomever is defending the other team's best wing or guard is an excellent tactic for the other team. As much as people hate the drop coverage Stotts plays with Nurk (and Kanter), having them press up on a Steph Curry or a Kawhi Leonard or any good/great offensive perimeter player, is also tantamount to disaster.

 

[James lamphear]

Good: Nurk
Roco
Zach ( if was playing)
Not Bad: Jefferson
Powell
Jones
Below ave: Giles
Nas
CJ 2
Bad:. Dame
CJ
Melo
Kanter
Simons

 

[wizenheimer]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):



and DBPM (last highlighted column):



not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

 

[Rastapopoulos]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38152

and DBPM (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38153

not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

Good to know we got rid of our worst defender...

 

[James lamphear]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38152

and DBPM (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38153

not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

A lot things goes into those advance rating because Kanter can't defend what makes his score look so good because of his rebounding.

 

[James lamphear]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38152

and DBPM (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38153

not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

A lot things goes into those advance rating because Kanter can't defend what makes his score look so good because of his rebounding.

 

[James lamphear]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38152

and DBPM (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38153

not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

A lot things goes into those advance rating because Kanter can't defend what makes his score look so good because of his rebounding.

 

[James lamphear]

for what it's worth, individual defensive ratings keeping in mind that the team rating is 116.6 (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38152

and DBPM (last highlighted column):

View attachment 38153

not anything really surprising there. Kanter's rankings in the two categories is in conflict. Jones registers as a better defender than he's being credited for

you really have to look at rotations to gauge those stats with decent context

A lot things goes into those advance rating because Kanter can't defend what makes his score look so good because of his rebounding.

 

[Hoopguru]

Here's my ranking:
Good:
1. RoCo
2. Nurk
3. Rondae H-J
Not bad:
4. Nassir (controversial!)
5. Powell
Below Average:
6. Jones Jr.
7. Elleby (also a stretch)
8. CJ
Definitely bad:
9. Dame
10. Simons
Just God-awful
11. Kanter
12. Melo

Not featured: Giles, Blevins

Good:
RoCo
Powell
Nurk
Not bad:
RHJ
DJ
Nassir
Elleby
Below Average:
CJ
Dame
Simons
Def Bad:
Kanter
JGA:
Melo

 

[tester551]

A lot things goes into those advance rating because Kanter can't defend what makes his score look so good because of his rebounding.

Rebounding is one of (if not the most) important aspects of defense. Kanter defeninately is not a good defender, but he's better than most give him credit for.

 

[Labinot41]

Rebounding is one of (if not the most) important aspects of defense. Kanter defeninately is not a good defender, but he's better than most give him credit for.

Against bad teams*

Against good teams he's unplayable though

 

[B-Roy]

Simons is the worst. He’s probably the worst defensive player in the league, but at least he plays guard. Can’t survive with Melo and Kanter who are barely ahead of him. Everyone else it doesn’t even matter.