"I’ve also always been impressed with Davis’ defensive motor, considering how much of an offensive burden he carries — he puts forth the effort of an 18-minute try-hard role player."
Yep -- and sadly, one can't be blamed for thinking that might be a part of why he gets hurt so much. Shame.
I love what Portland has been doing this year and Camara has been a big part of that. But having dudes like him and DFS on this list without a single one of Bostons top 3 defenders is kind of egregious.
Team stats: they are once again top 5 in Def Rtg without a single players being listed. But the 14th, 16th, and 17th worst defenses are comprised of better defenders? Fine, let’s just take a quick peak at individual stats.
Tatum is top 6 in Def WS among qualified players. Literally 7 of the 15 guys on your list aren’t even top FIFTY in Def WS. And if you watch the tape, you’ll see him regularly guarding 1-5 and top 3 most versatile defender in the league.
As you alluded to in reference to your Lu Dort pick: stats aren’t everything. But they’re also not nothing.
Almost half of these dudes should be on a “most improved defenders” list, not All-Defensive teams.
I should've included Jayson Tatum in my list of honorable mentions this season; I've praised him several times for his willingness to guard centers without bitching, unlike other power forwards.
But I watch more Celtics than any other team (I also write for Celtics Blog), and I just don't think any of those guys have been as good this year as they were last year, particularly Holiday.
DWS is not a great stat, there's a reason I never cite it now that better-developed stats are available. The more modern stats pretty much all agree that the Celtics are a bunch of good to really good defenders without having that one elite guy this year (whereas last year, both Holiday and especially White shone like the sun), and that matches what my eyes tell me, too.
I acknowledge the risk of being attracted to the shiny new defenders. I try very hard to think about those biases so as not to incorporate them (that's why I had to give love to Green despite my personal distaste for his antics), but nobody is perfect. If any Celtics deserves to make a team, it would still be White, FWIW.
I think this is a bit of a trap the Magic fell into this year, too, where if everyone's good, it's harder to tell who is great. (The Thunder are an exception, since their defense has been so unworldly this year). I do my best, but there's plenty of room for disagreement, and I'm sure you're not the only one would make a reasonable claim for a Boston player or two!
I think it’s great overall to spotlight the shiny new defenders, especially since perception tends to lag behind reality by a year or two. And there are so many talented defenders in the league right now that it’s a joy to experience, but also means it’s harder to get eyes on or discuss everyone.
Didn’t know you were also a C’s fan (think that means you’ve done well maintaining objectivity), but I get where you’re coming from.
But I’ve watched almost as many Nuggets and Knicks games as I have Celtics this year, and it’s clear they are a top unit so wanted to show some love :)
You could definitely say the same about the Magic and the Thunder to an extent, except OKC is lapping the West with their defense. Which is why I agree Lu Dort is the real DPOY.
This is outstanding. Only one name comes to mind who is not here: Peyton Watson. His block numbers as a guard don't rival Wade or D.White, they zoom past them. But he must have a number of flaws, I guess?
I love Watson, and he, like Siakam, was on my longer list. His highlight reel per minute is up with anyone's. But he's prone to random acts of forgetfulness and can struggle with bigger guys on-ball -- there's a reason why Malone keeps him on a short leash (shorter than I would, but I understand to a degree).
I think Watson would benefit from a more consistent role from a confidence standpoint.
Loved the article! It seems like you put DFS into your unofficial team list while still picking AD. I guess that goes to show how close your choice was!
I still think he's fantastic, but he hasn't been quite as sharp to me this season as he was last year, when it felt like he was a one-man defensive army
I recognize that this probably falls under the "too many honorable mentions" category, but I've thought about Pascal Siakam's case. With him on the floor, they have a very good defensive team, and when he's off the floor (partially because of his replacement in Obi), they are worse than the worst. Cleaning the Glass has it that they go from an 86th percentile defensive rating to a 4th percentile defensive rating.
He and Nembhard are doing some magic there by making that group around them into an average defense this season, especially when they started so poorly (26th ranked defense before December 5, 9th since then).
It's crazy you bring up Siakam specifically. He was literally last on my honorable mentions to be cut. Truthfully, while I thought about him, I didn't find his case super convincing. mostly because I think he's been pretty not great on the ball this year.
That said, he's still a very good team defender (although, as you astutely note, the on/off stuff is muddied by Toppin, who I think might be the worst non-guard defender in the NBA ha). He's one of several Pacers doing good defensive work: Nembhard, Turner, Nesmith, my guy Sheppard, etc, so it's more of a committee thing in my eyes.
But for whatever reason, he hasn't been quite as sharp this season as last year, when he was a one-man wrecking crew.
Fwiw, all the advanced all-in-one numbers agree with me! That's not the be-all or end-all, but it does provide me a little more confidence in what my eyes have seen, too.
But for whatever reason, he hasn't been quite as sharp this season as last year, when he was a one-man wrecking crew. Fwiw, all the advanced all-in-one numbers agree with me! That's not the be-all or end-all, but it does provide me a little more confidence in what my eyes have seen, too.
He was a tough, late cut for me. Don't take this as Anunoby shade -- he was my Perimeter Defender of the Quarter to start last season (https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/nba-2023-24-first-quarter-awards), and he would've 100% made one of my teams if he had qualified at year's end.
I simply don't think he was as good this season as he was for the Knicks last year, when he was a one-man wall.
I think you accidentally put DFS on the alldefense non-qualifying list instead of AD.
*face smack* thanks, fixed.
I feel like Dyson deserves first team, regardless of what you mentioned about him
I’ll bet almost anything he gets it in real life
"I’ve also always been impressed with Davis’ defensive motor, considering how much of an offensive burden he carries — he puts forth the effort of an 18-minute try-hard role player."
Yep -- and sadly, one can't be blamed for thinking that might be a part of why he gets hurt so much. Shame.
I love what Portland has been doing this year and Camara has been a big part of that. But having dudes like him and DFS on this list without a single one of Bostons top 3 defenders is kind of egregious.
Team stats: they are once again top 5 in Def Rtg without a single players being listed. But the 14th, 16th, and 17th worst defenses are comprised of better defenders? Fine, let’s just take a quick peak at individual stats.
Tatum is top 6 in Def WS among qualified players. Literally 7 of the 15 guys on your list aren’t even top FIFTY in Def WS. And if you watch the tape, you’ll see him regularly guarding 1-5 and top 3 most versatile defender in the league.
As you alluded to in reference to your Lu Dort pick: stats aren’t everything. But they’re also not nothing.
Almost half of these dudes should be on a “most improved defenders” list, not All-Defensive teams.
I hear you. I had Derrick White (2nd) and Jrue Holiday (1st) on my teams last year; nobody is a bigger Holiday fan than me. https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/three-nba-2023-24-all-defensive-teams
I should've included Jayson Tatum in my list of honorable mentions this season; I've praised him several times for his willingness to guard centers without bitching, unlike other power forwards.
But I watch more Celtics than any other team (I also write for Celtics Blog), and I just don't think any of those guys have been as good this year as they were last year, particularly Holiday.
DWS is not a great stat, there's a reason I never cite it now that better-developed stats are available. The more modern stats pretty much all agree that the Celtics are a bunch of good to really good defenders without having that one elite guy this year (whereas last year, both Holiday and especially White shone like the sun), and that matches what my eyes tell me, too.
I acknowledge the risk of being attracted to the shiny new defenders. I try very hard to think about those biases so as not to incorporate them (that's why I had to give love to Green despite my personal distaste for his antics), but nobody is perfect. If any Celtics deserves to make a team, it would still be White, FWIW.
I think this is a bit of a trap the Magic fell into this year, too, where if everyone's good, it's harder to tell who is great. (The Thunder are an exception, since their defense has been so unworldly this year). I do my best, but there's plenty of room for disagreement, and I'm sure you're not the only one would make a reasonable claim for a Boston player or two!
I think it’s great overall to spotlight the shiny new defenders, especially since perception tends to lag behind reality by a year or two. And there are so many talented defenders in the league right now that it’s a joy to experience, but also means it’s harder to get eyes on or discuss everyone.
Didn’t know you were also a C’s fan (think that means you’ve done well maintaining objectivity), but I get where you’re coming from.
But I’ve watched almost as many Nuggets and Knicks games as I have Celtics this year, and it’s clear they are a top unit so wanted to show some love :)
You could definitely say the same about the Magic and the Thunder to an extent, except OKC is lapping the West with their defense. Which is why I agree Lu Dort is the real DPOY.
This is outstanding. Only one name comes to mind who is not here: Peyton Watson. His block numbers as a guard don't rival Wade or D.White, they zoom past them. But he must have a number of flaws, I guess?
I love Watson, and he, like Siakam, was on my longer list. His highlight reel per minute is up with anyone's. But he's prone to random acts of forgetfulness and can struggle with bigger guys on-ball -- there's a reason why Malone keeps him on a short leash (shorter than I would, but I understand to a degree).
I think Watson would benefit from a more consistent role from a confidence standpoint.
Loved the article! It seems like you put DFS into your unofficial team list while still picking AD. I guess that goes to show how close your choice was!
Whoops, I didn't understand what you meant, but I fixed it now. Thanks for pointing it out.
Thanks! And yeah, I actually had DFS on there for the entire rough draft before I eventually let my head take the steering wheel from my heart ha
I'm surprised OG didn't make the list or maybe I missed it t. He's often tasked with stopping super stars at multiple positions
He was one of my top honorable mentions. He made one of my teams last year: https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/three-nba-2023-24-all-defensive-teams
I still think he's fantastic, but he hasn't been quite as sharp to me this season as he was last year, when it felt like he was a one-man defensive army
I recognize that this probably falls under the "too many honorable mentions" category, but I've thought about Pascal Siakam's case. With him on the floor, they have a very good defensive team, and when he's off the floor (partially because of his replacement in Obi), they are worse than the worst. Cleaning the Glass has it that they go from an 86th percentile defensive rating to a 4th percentile defensive rating.
He and Nembhard are doing some magic there by making that group around them into an average defense this season, especially when they started so poorly (26th ranked defense before December 5, 9th since then).
It's crazy you bring up Siakam specifically. He was literally last on my honorable mentions to be cut. Truthfully, while I thought about him, I didn't find his case super convincing. mostly because I think he's been pretty not great on the ball this year.
That said, he's still a very good team defender (although, as you astutely note, the on/off stuff is muddied by Toppin, who I think might be the worst non-guard defender in the NBA ha). He's one of several Pacers doing good defensive work: Nembhard, Turner, Nesmith, my guy Sheppard, etc, so it's more of a committee thing in my eyes.
Where is OG Anunoby?
As I've told a few others, I had OG as my Perimeter Defender of the Quarter (https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/nba-2023-24-first-quarter-awards) and on an All-Defensive team last season.
But for whatever reason, he hasn't been quite as sharp this season as last year, when he was a one-man wrecking crew.
Fwiw, all the advanced all-in-one numbers agree with me! That's not the be-all or end-all, but it does provide me a little more confidence in what my eyes have seen, too.
How is OG not here
As I've told a few others, I had OG as my Perimeter Defender of the Quarter (https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/nba-2023-24-first-quarter-awards) and on an All-Defensive team last season.
But for whatever reason, he hasn't been quite as sharp this season as last year, when he was a one-man wrecking crew. Fwiw, all the advanced all-in-one numbers agree with me! That's not the be-all or end-all, but it does provide me a little more confidence in what my eyes have seen, too.
I stopped reading when I didn't see OG Anunoby.
He was a tough, late cut for me. Don't take this as Anunoby shade -- he was my Perimeter Defender of the Quarter to start last season (https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/nba-2023-24-first-quarter-awards), and he would've 100% made one of my teams if he had qualified at year's end.
I simply don't think he was as good this season as he was for the Knicks last year, when he was a one-man wall.