![]() ![]() “ Kessler isn?t Gobert, but for as a late-round flyer I think he has a lot of the same attributes and could develop into a similar type of defensive stalwart. Golden State registered a defensive rating of 105.5 in the five games Green recently missed, a full three-point increase from its overall mark this season.This is what was said about Walker Kessler before the season…. Like Utah, the Warriors looked like a different team without their top defender. ![]() ![]() So if you aren't talking, being the eyes for that entire defense, it doesn't work." Sometimes you have a guard on the ball who can't see anything behind him, doesn't have a clue. "You can see everything that's taking place. "Because more often than not, you're the backline of the defense. So it's extremely important, especially for your big man," Green told NBA.com's Steve Aschburner. His vocal leadership is a major reason Golden State owns the NBA's top-ranked defense. Green acts like a middle linebacker, calling out the opposing team's plays and ensuring his teammates are in the best possible position to combat those actions. He could be holding his ground in the paint on one possession and blowing up a pick-and-roll at the top of the key on the next. The three-time All-Star is the ultimate Swiss Army knife. Green's averaging 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks, but those numbers don't illustrate his full defensive impact. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty Additionally, the club went 1-4 and gave up an average of 118.6 points during the center's recent five-game absence. The Jazz are allowing 8.3 more points per 100 possessions when Gobert isn't on the floor. Utah's defense collapses without Gobert manning the middle. While the mark is inferior to Antetokounmpo, the four-time All-NBA selection has contested 102 more field goals from the same range. He's limiting his counterparts to 52% shooting on attempts within six feet of the rim. Gobert sits atop the Association's leaderboard in defensive rebounds per game (11.6), defensive win shares (2.7), and total contested shots (520). The Frenchman is on pace for his sixth top-three finish in blocks and has covered for the Jazz's leaky perimeter defense. Gobert's performance midway through the campaign is more than worthy of an NBA record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz Chris Gardner / Getty Images Sport / Getty He's got a chance to repeat the feat in 2022. ![]() Two years ago, Antetokounmpo joined Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to capture both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season. Only Immanuel Quickley has posted a better mark among players who have defended at least 100 field goals. He's holding opposing players to a 46% clip on shooting attempts within six feet of the basket. The Greek Freak is averaging 9.4 defensive rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and a team-high 6.3 contested two-point shots per game. The Bucks rank fifth in opponent points in the paint primarily due to Antetokounmpo's efforts. However, Milwaukee's defense has held up with the reigning Finals MVP functioning as the club's primary rim-protector. With Brook Lopez sidelined indefinitely, Antetokounmpo is playing substantially more minutes at the five. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks Jared C. Opponents are shooting only 33.5% from deep against Bridges, the 14th-best mark among players who have contested at least 180 triples. James Harden didn't sink a single basket when guarded by the pesky Suns forward during their lone encounter last November. Over three matchups this season, Stephen Curry managed just four points on 2-of-12 shooting with Bridges as his primary defender. The Villanova product's seven-foot wingspan, superb instincts, and quick feet give even the best players fits. He's tasked with guarding the opposition's top perimeter players on a nightly basis, and there aren't many better than him at the job. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Gettyīridges sets the tone for the Suns' second-ranked defense. In just months, Mobley helped transform a porous Cavs defense into one of the league's stingiest squads. Mobley is also the only NBA player ranked in the top 10 in both contested twos and threes per contest. His 2.5 block percentage places him in the 73rd percentile among big men, per Cleaning the Glass. Mobley is seventh in the Association this season in both blocks per game (1.7) and total swats (63). The USC product is already an outstanding rim-protector and seamlessly switches between guards and big men. Not many rookies are in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation, but Mobley isn't your typical first-year player. ![]()
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