ESPN's Real Plus-Minis Is Out. Duncan and Kawhi are 7th and 8th in the League

[apalisoc_9]

It's not all by design. Pop doesn't tell Kawhi to get 15 feet from his man like he did repeatedly against Dallas. On the double-hammer play, Kawhi was just out of position. Kawhi gave up the transition three because he wanted to double the paint instead.

Ha? Basketball 101 tells you to watch the easy drive . Manu was way out of position to have a chance.

[Mr Bones]

it just means that the stat is not as pure and perfect as, say normal +-.

Not necessarily... I think it's fair to say that a great 6'7" defender is more disruptive than a great 6'2" defender.... Especially in today's nba where switching on D is more common...

[Raven]

Not necessarily... I think it's fair to say that a great 6'7" defender is more disruptive than a great 6'2" defender.... Especially in today's nba where switching on D is more common...

Nah, it just means that the stat is not adjusted properly.

[YGWHI]

Kawhi can be guilty of gambling a few times but who can blame him with those hands and his instincts...

About leaving his man, he has not been caught overhelping a lot this season.

He was trying to prevent a transition layup. Kawhi was the only one in position to help Manu who wouldn't have stopped Felton on his own. Not sure why you would consider that a bad defensive play. Rewatch it. Kawhi did what you're supposed to do in transition defense (stop the easy shot even if it means allowing an open jump shot).

Good observation.

[KL2]

Don't get me wrong, I think Leonard is a generational talent on defense, which is why I've long been an advocate of him carrying less of an offensive load so he can devote more energy to defense/rebounding (I think his load is sustainable at his current usage. Don't like all the minutes, though), but the best perimeter defender of all-time is probably only as a good as the 30th best big of all-time. Like I said, a wing can only bother one player. A big patrolling the paint can bother the entire opposing team, taking penetration away, the low-post away, controlling the boards, etc.

I'm talking about the DRPM stat though, Leonard had a big man like effect on his defense last year with a DRPM of 4.59, but this year his rating of 1.6 or whatever it is pales in comparison. I know he wasn't holding opposing SF's to 12ppg on 35% shooting last year like he is this year, and even if he were giving away more points gambling the rating shouldn't drop off so significantly. DRPM also doesn't take a player's defensive role into account, who they're guarding, it's blind in that regard.

Also somewhat related, Cousins ranked 4th overall in DRPM last year above of even Duncan, according to the stats on paper he's an elite defensive player, possibly even best in the league which I never would've guessed watching the Spurs play his teams. I've seen Leonard consistently give Cousins whether it's on rebounds or he's penetrating against him, Leonard seems to get the better of him when matched against him.

You'd think their defense would be way better with Cauley-Stein & Cousins in the paint, I don't know when the last time they were an elite defensive squad.

[HarlemHeat37]

The impact of individual ORAPM and DRAPM has been discussed for years, and most knowledgeable people believe the numbers for the individual facets are mostly irrelevant, tbh..the total RAPM/RPM number is the important attribute, while the individual O and D numbers have too much noise and need more context..

Separating the numbers is pointless and meaningless..

[tholdren]

Not necessarily... I think it's fair to say that a great 6'7" defender is more disruptive than a great 6'2" defender.... Especially in today's nba where switching on D is more common...

Never able to be proven.

[Mr Bones]

Not necessarily... I think it's fair to say that a great 6'7" defender is more disruptive than a great 6'2" defender.... Especially in today's nba where switching on D is more common...

Never able to be proven.

But don't you think a guy like Kawhi, switching from a PG to a PF is going to have a better chance defensively than someone like Ricky Rubio, George Hill, or Kyle Lowry?

[Mr Bones]

Dean Oliver-- the guy who invented the original version of DRtg-- has himself said that it is the stat most easily influenced by the teammates around the individual player...