Top from L to R: Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers, Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics. Bottom from L to R: Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks, Eric Bledsoe of the Milwaukee Bucks, Patrick Beverley of the Los Angeles Clippers, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat. /VCG
The NBA on Tuesday announced the squads of the All-Defensive Teams this season.
First Team: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), and Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics).
Second Team: Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Eric Bledsoe (Milwaukee Bucks), Patrick Beverley (Los Angeles Clippers), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), and Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks).
One thing the five guys in the First Team shared in common was their size. Both Antetokounmpo and Davis have the size and power to play as centers, and they actually played as centers in their teams' small-ball squads. Gobert has one of the best combinations of height (2.18 meters) and wingspan (2.38 meters). Ben Simmons shares the size of a power forward, but he plays as a point guard. Smart has been an oversize-guard since he joined the league.
Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz denies a shot by Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs at the AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida, August 19, 2020. /VCG
Gobert of the five is the only remain-under-the-rim defender. Though he will suffer facing small guards like Chris Paul or Damian Lillard after the switch, the French giant is still the best rim protector in the league. His defensive win shares (DWS) ad defensive box plus/minus (DBPM) were 6.5 and 1.9 this season.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a shot by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference first-round playoffs at the AdventHealth Arena, August 20, 2020. /VCG
Davis is probably the best defender to exploit the spacing flaw of the opponents. He always knew when to let his guy go, either to join his teammate to trap the opponents' ace or provide help defense. Moreover, Davis' speed, quickness, and long arms made it extremely hard to find a mismatch against him. His DWS and DBPM were 4.4 and 2.6.
Simmons and Marcus shared more in common as their biggest trait is that both can defend plays of different positions. Smart is strong enough to wrestle with power forwards down in the paint without being walked over. Simmons can do that too, and he's fast enough to follow almost every guard in the league. Of course, so far, Simmons has not learned Smart's flopping skill, but seriously, who has? Their DWS and DBPM were: Simmons 3.1, 2.3; Smart 2.8, 1.4.
Giannis Antetokounmpo denies a shot by LeBron James #2 in the NBA All-Star Game at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, February 16, 2020. /VCG
Antetokounmpo was put at last because he could do a bit of everything. His size and power are good enough to stop anyone in the low block; he's also fast enough to cover every floor from the 3-point line; he could even deliver one block and one steal per game. Both his DWS (5.0) and DBPM (5.1) were career highs. Meanwhile, please remember that he also averaged 29.5 points and 5.6 assists playing 30.4 minutes per game.
Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks blocks a shot in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoffs against the Orlando Magic at the Field House, August 18, 2020. /VCG
In the Second-Team, Lopez is the traditional big-man defender who won't and can't step out of the free-throw line. That explains why he was so uncomfortable facing big guys who can fire from downtown (just like himself). Nonetheless, when Lopez stayed under the rim, he made the best barrier between the opponents and the bucket. Lopez's DWS and DBPM this season were 4.1 and 2.5.
Bledsoe, Beverley, and Leonard are all great options for one-on-one defense but different reasons. Bledsoe was good at pressuring his target with his size, power, and athleticism. When he was on the court, the opponents would have to work harder for offense-launching. Beverley is the standard underdog player of the three. He remedies his small size with various unorthodox moves, which would make him look "dirty." As a defender, Leonard loves tussling, plus his long arms and big hands enabled him to steal the ball by force. Of course, today's Leonard must invest more effort in the offense, but his defensive power is still there when it's needed.
The three's DWS and DBPM were: Bledsoe 3.0, 1.1; Beverley 2.0, 2.5; Leonard, 3.3, 2.4.
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat defends Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks in the game at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 26, 2019. /VCG
Adebayo is more special compared with the other four in the Second Team. His one-on-one defense was a bit overestimated thanks to his work with Antetokounmpo. Meanwhile, he was no liability in the Miami Heat's switch defensive system – Adebayo could cover small back-court players. He has first-class athleticism, but Adebayo relies more on his brain defensively as he always knew how to lure the target into Miami's defensive trap. His DWS and DBPM were 3.9 and 2.0.