Parker 16th in NBA in defensive rating, but last on Spurs in defensive rating!

[SpursFan86]

GSH nailed it. Far too many people try using individual DRTG as the basis of their argument when it comes to defense. It really just shows who gets the most blocks/steals/rebounds on the best defensive teams. There were years where Parker had a higher DRTG than Bowen since Bowen didn't really rack up box score numbers

Better gauges of defense: opponents' FG% against a player compared to their average FG%, Synergy stats (shows points allowed per possession on several different play types), and DRPM (not perfect by any means but still much better than individual DRTG)

http://stats.nba.com/league/player/d...USMINUS&dir=-1

http://stats.nba.com/playtype/#!/?PT...r&OD=defensive

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM

[Brazil]

As pointed out Drtg taken individually does not make a lot of sense but he plays most of his minutes with Kawhi, Tim, LMA and Green... saying he is the worst defender among those beasts is quite safe

for the rest I agree that he is much more dialed up on defense than previous years for basically the same reason: team asks less from him on offense (usage and shoots are down) which basically save energy on this side of the floor AND he cannot afford anymore to coast on defense... less offensive contribution + no defense would = bench

[GSH]

The one thing you can say for sure from looking at the stats - if Parker really, really sucked on defense (like many say) the Spurs wouldn't have a team DRtg of 93.5. You can't have a great defensive team with one of the five starters playing matador. For the first half of the season, at least, this has been a great defensive team.

[Cry Havoc]

Two things I submit for further consideration:

1) Patty Mills has been fairly terrible on defense this year. He has had trouble staying in front of his man and gets burned a lot even against backup PGs. He somewhat makes up for this by being a 100% hustle and heart player who tends to generate a decent amount of steals, but the fact that he's rated higher than Parker is pretty telling.

2) The amount of absolutely top flight PGs in the NBA right now is perhaps unparalleled in history. Curry, Wall, Cp3, Parker, Teague, Westbrook, Lowry, Lillard, Conley, Rondo... and a pretty solid 2nd tier of very skilled PGs (Walker, Bledsoe, Dragic, Rubio, Hill...). I don't think you'll find a point in NBA history with more top flight PGs who are so skilled at managing possessions while being a scoring threat.

[dabom]

Two things I submit for further consideration:

1) Patty Mills has been fairly terrible on defense this year. He has had trouble staying in front of his man and gets burned a lot even against backup PGs. He somewhat makes up for this by being a 100% hustle and heart player who tends to generate a decent amount of steals, but the fact that he's rated higher than Parker is pretty telling.

2) The amount of absolutely top flight PGs in the NBA right now is perhaps unparalleled in history. Curry, Wall, Cp3, Parker, Teague, Westbrook, Lowry, Lillard, Conley, Rondo... and a pretty solid 2nd tier of very skilled PGs (Walker, Bledsoe, Dragic, Rubio, Hill...). I don't think you'll find a point in NBA history with more top flight PGs who are so skilled at managing possessions while being a scoring threat.

Patty mills has a lower defensive rating...

[dabom]

Patty Mills defense is also better than Parkers...

[Cry Havoc]

Patty mills has a lower defensive rating...

but the fact that he's rated higher than Parker is pretty telling.

rated higher than Parker

higher

high, adj.
higher, highest

exalted in rank, station, eminence, etc.; of exalted character or quality:
a high official; high society.

I know, I know. English is not your strong suit.

[dabom]

high, adj.
higher, highest

exalted in rank, station, eminence, etc.; of exalted character or quality:
a high official; high society.

I know, I know. English is not your strong suit.

There is a rating system. The higher the better for offense. The lower the better for defense got. Say "better" not higher got.

[Cry Havoc]

There is a rating system. The higher the better for offense. The lower the better for defense got. Say "better" not higher got.

Gee. It's almost like there's a thing called "context" that tends to clue you in to the meaning of the words you're reading.

[dabom]

Gee. It's almost like there's a thing called "context" that tends to clue you in to the meaning of the words you're reading.

Shut up got.

[Cry Havoc]

Shut up got.