Indazone
04-11-2009, 12:32 AM
Team scheme helps these players shine on defense
By John Schuhmann, NBA.com (http://my.nba.com/profile.jspa?userID=400001439)
Posted Apr 10 2009 12:23PM
Selecting a Defensive Player of the Year had never been easier than it was last season. The Boston Celtics were last season's best defensive team by far and Kevin Garnett was unquestionably the heart and soul of that defense. Appropriately, KG was the runaway winner, receiving 90 of the media's 124 first-place votes.
With the Celtics once more at the top of the league when it comes to defensive efficiency, Garnett deserves consideration again. But through Wednesday, he has missed 21 of his team's 78 games, which hurts his case.
The 2006-07 DPOY, Marcus Camby, has missed 20 games for the Clippers. But even had he been healthy this season, Camby's defensive reputation would have taken a hit. The Clippers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, and the Nuggets have improved defensively in his absence.
While piling up blocks, steals and rebounds will get you noticed, there's a lot more to defense than individualism. Players with a lot of steals or blocks can still hurt their teams defensively by not being in proper position. So, teams' defensive ratings (points allowed per 100 possessions) were taken into account when compiling the rankings.
Defensive rating.: Team's points allowed per 100 possessions, with league rank. drpg: Defensive rebounds per game
spg: Steals per game
bpg: Blocks per game
eff. diff.: Difference in defensive efficiency, on floor vs. off floor, according to 82games.com (http://www.82games.com/) (Note: A negative number means the team is better defensively when the player is on the floor.)
5. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Key Stats: 77 games, 3.9 drpg, 2.25 spg, 1.35 bpg, -3.8 eff. diff.
Heat's defensive rating: 109.0, 12th in league
Wade is the only player in the league with at least 100 blocks and 100 steals. And he's the first player 6-foot-4 or shorter to record 100 blocks in a season.
With his quickness, athleticism and cat-like instincts, Wade is a defensive force. There may not be a better off-the-ball defender in the league, and when you don't pay attention to where he is on the floor, you're asking for a turnover.
Just ask the Chicago Bulls, who were victimized when Wade came out of nowhere to steal the ball from John Salmons and hit a running game-winner 3-pointer in a double-overtime classic on March 9.
4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Key Stats: 57 games, 7.1 drpg, 1.11 spg, 1.19 bpg, -6.3 eff. diff.
Celtics' defensive rating: 103.3, 1st in league
Garnett's missed time will probably keep him from winning the award again, but those 21 missed games also make a great case for why he is, when healthy, the best defensive player in the league.
The Celtics have managed to go 15-6 without Garnett by ramping up their offensive output, but that's not how they won the championship. Boston earned banner No. 17 with a suffocating defense, anchored by No. 5. And any chances they have of repeating depend upon Garnett's health. They're just not as dominant, consistent, or intimidating without him.
3. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Key Stats: 75 games, 7.3 drpg, 0.39 spg, 1.95 bpg, -5.2 eff. diff.
Rockets' defensive rating: 105.5, 4th in league
Despite a slew of injuries, including season-ending surgery for Tracy McGrady, the Rockets have remained near the top of both the Western Conference standings and the NBA's defensive rankings.
Houston has two of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Ron Artest and Shane Battier, but Artest and Battier have missed 13 and 22 games, respectively, this season. And the numbers show that their presence isn't as important to the Rockets' defense as that of Yao.
It helps to be big. Yao and Dwight Howard are the only players in the top six in both defensive rebounds and blocked shots per game. When you've got a 7-foot-6 presence in the middle, he's going to make your defense better.
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Stats: 78 games, 6.4 drpg, 1.73 spg, 1.17 bpg, -7.3 eff. diff.
Cavaliers' defensive rating: 103.6, 3rd in league
Gold medals aren't the only things that the U.S. Men's Senior National Team brought back from Beijing this summer. "All of those guys, those high-level players, have really come back with an edge and an understanding of how important defense is," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said recently. He brought the subject up when asked about the MVP candidacy of James before the Nets took on the Cavs in a late-season matchup.
Like Wade, James cannot be ignored on the defensive end of the floor. He's quick, instinctive and long. He'll come from the other side of the floor and block your shot, get a deflection, or take the ball the other way.
LeBron is also more disciplined defensively, and the Cavs have benefited. In the regular season last year, Cleveland was ranked 11th defensively, with a rating of 107.9. This year, they've been in the top three all season, helping them contend for the best record in the NBA.
Of the players on this list, James has the lowest efficiency differential, meaning his presence on the floor has the greatest impact on his team's defensive performance. He's thinking championship and he knows that starts with defense.
1. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Key Stats: 76 games, 9.7 drpg, 1.00 spg, 2.92 bpg, -1.5 eff. diff.
Magic's defensive rating: 103.4, 2nd in league
Team USA's defense was suffocating. Their relentless pressure forced 19.3 turnovers per game and allowed teams to shoot just 40 percent from the field against them. Some pundits and team personnel may worry about players getting injured in international competition, but there's no question that many teams have benefited from having their stars take part in the Olympics.
No member of Team USA has had a more renewed focus defense than Howard. He's always been big and athletic, but now he's making the most of his gifts.
Howard has become more of a defensive presence, leading the league in both total rebounds and blocks per game ... and he affects a lot more shots than he blocks. Yao has seven inches on Howard, but he can't get from one side of the lane to the other nearly as quickly.
The Magic made just minor changes to their roster last summer, but they've become an elite defensive team. That has shown its effect on the standings, and Orlando's All-Star center is reason No. 1 for its improvement.
"He's really focused on the defensive end, blocking shots and really controlling the paint," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy earlier this season.
All-Defensive Team Selections
First Team
Guards: Chris Paul (Hornets), Dwyane Wade (Heat)
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Celtics), LeBron James (Cavs)
Center: Dwight Howard (Magic)
Second Team
Gs: Chauncey Billups (Nuggets), Rajon Rondo (Celtics)
Fs: Ron Artest (Rockets), Tim Duncan (Spurs)
C: Yao Ming (Rockets)
Honorable Mention: Shane Battier (Rockets), Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Andre Iguodala (Sixers), Nenê (Nuggets), Tayshaun Prince (Pistons)
By John Schuhmann, NBA.com (http://my.nba.com/profile.jspa?userID=400001439)
Posted Apr 10 2009 12:23PM
Selecting a Defensive Player of the Year had never been easier than it was last season. The Boston Celtics were last season's best defensive team by far and Kevin Garnett was unquestionably the heart and soul of that defense. Appropriately, KG was the runaway winner, receiving 90 of the media's 124 first-place votes.
With the Celtics once more at the top of the league when it comes to defensive efficiency, Garnett deserves consideration again. But through Wednesday, he has missed 21 of his team's 78 games, which hurts his case.
The 2006-07 DPOY, Marcus Camby, has missed 20 games for the Clippers. But even had he been healthy this season, Camby's defensive reputation would have taken a hit. The Clippers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, and the Nuggets have improved defensively in his absence.
While piling up blocks, steals and rebounds will get you noticed, there's a lot more to defense than individualism. Players with a lot of steals or blocks can still hurt their teams defensively by not being in proper position. So, teams' defensive ratings (points allowed per 100 possessions) were taken into account when compiling the rankings.
Defensive rating.: Team's points allowed per 100 possessions, with league rank. drpg: Defensive rebounds per game
spg: Steals per game
bpg: Blocks per game
eff. diff.: Difference in defensive efficiency, on floor vs. off floor, according to 82games.com (http://www.82games.com/) (Note: A negative number means the team is better defensively when the player is on the floor.)
5. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Key Stats: 77 games, 3.9 drpg, 2.25 spg, 1.35 bpg, -3.8 eff. diff.
Heat's defensive rating: 109.0, 12th in league
Wade is the only player in the league with at least 100 blocks and 100 steals. And he's the first player 6-foot-4 or shorter to record 100 blocks in a season.
With his quickness, athleticism and cat-like instincts, Wade is a defensive force. There may not be a better off-the-ball defender in the league, and when you don't pay attention to where he is on the floor, you're asking for a turnover.
Just ask the Chicago Bulls, who were victimized when Wade came out of nowhere to steal the ball from John Salmons and hit a running game-winner 3-pointer in a double-overtime classic on March 9.
4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Key Stats: 57 games, 7.1 drpg, 1.11 spg, 1.19 bpg, -6.3 eff. diff.
Celtics' defensive rating: 103.3, 1st in league
Garnett's missed time will probably keep him from winning the award again, but those 21 missed games also make a great case for why he is, when healthy, the best defensive player in the league.
The Celtics have managed to go 15-6 without Garnett by ramping up their offensive output, but that's not how they won the championship. Boston earned banner No. 17 with a suffocating defense, anchored by No. 5. And any chances they have of repeating depend upon Garnett's health. They're just not as dominant, consistent, or intimidating without him.
3. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Key Stats: 75 games, 7.3 drpg, 0.39 spg, 1.95 bpg, -5.2 eff. diff.
Rockets' defensive rating: 105.5, 4th in league
Despite a slew of injuries, including season-ending surgery for Tracy McGrady, the Rockets have remained near the top of both the Western Conference standings and the NBA's defensive rankings.
Houston has two of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Ron Artest and Shane Battier, but Artest and Battier have missed 13 and 22 games, respectively, this season. And the numbers show that their presence isn't as important to the Rockets' defense as that of Yao.
It helps to be big. Yao and Dwight Howard are the only players in the top six in both defensive rebounds and blocked shots per game. When you've got a 7-foot-6 presence in the middle, he's going to make your defense better.
2. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Stats: 78 games, 6.4 drpg, 1.73 spg, 1.17 bpg, -7.3 eff. diff.
Cavaliers' defensive rating: 103.6, 3rd in league
Gold medals aren't the only things that the U.S. Men's Senior National Team brought back from Beijing this summer. "All of those guys, those high-level players, have really come back with an edge and an understanding of how important defense is," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said recently. He brought the subject up when asked about the MVP candidacy of James before the Nets took on the Cavs in a late-season matchup.
Like Wade, James cannot be ignored on the defensive end of the floor. He's quick, instinctive and long. He'll come from the other side of the floor and block your shot, get a deflection, or take the ball the other way.
LeBron is also more disciplined defensively, and the Cavs have benefited. In the regular season last year, Cleveland was ranked 11th defensively, with a rating of 107.9. This year, they've been in the top three all season, helping them contend for the best record in the NBA.
Of the players on this list, James has the lowest efficiency differential, meaning his presence on the floor has the greatest impact on his team's defensive performance. He's thinking championship and he knows that starts with defense.
1. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Key Stats: 76 games, 9.7 drpg, 1.00 spg, 2.92 bpg, -1.5 eff. diff.
Magic's defensive rating: 103.4, 2nd in league
Team USA's defense was suffocating. Their relentless pressure forced 19.3 turnovers per game and allowed teams to shoot just 40 percent from the field against them. Some pundits and team personnel may worry about players getting injured in international competition, but there's no question that many teams have benefited from having their stars take part in the Olympics.
No member of Team USA has had a more renewed focus defense than Howard. He's always been big and athletic, but now he's making the most of his gifts.
Howard has become more of a defensive presence, leading the league in both total rebounds and blocks per game ... and he affects a lot more shots than he blocks. Yao has seven inches on Howard, but he can't get from one side of the lane to the other nearly as quickly.
The Magic made just minor changes to their roster last summer, but they've become an elite defensive team. That has shown its effect on the standings, and Orlando's All-Star center is reason No. 1 for its improvement.
"He's really focused on the defensive end, blocking shots and really controlling the paint," said Magic coach Stan Van Gundy earlier this season.
All-Defensive Team Selections
First Team
Guards: Chris Paul (Hornets), Dwyane Wade (Heat)
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Celtics), LeBron James (Cavs)
Center: Dwight Howard (Magic)
Second Team
Gs: Chauncey Billups (Nuggets), Rajon Rondo (Celtics)
Fs: Ron Artest (Rockets), Tim Duncan (Spurs)
C: Yao Ming (Rockets)
Honorable Mention: Shane Battier (Rockets), Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Andre Iguodala (Sixers), Nenê (Nuggets), Tayshaun Prince (Pistons)