Best perimeter defenders in the NBA today?

[Nick]

I love stats but there's one thing that doesn't show up in boxscores - on-ball defense. Who are your top 10 best 1-on-1 perimeter defenders in the NBA right now?

According to the guys over NBA 2k12, the ranking goes something like this...

1. Shane Battier
2. Rajon Rondo
3. Kirk Hinrich
4. Russell Westbrook
5. Dahntay Jones
6. Thabo Sefolosha
7. Matt Barnes
8. Arron Afflalo
9. Ronnie Brewer
10. Raja Bell
11. Tony Allen
12. Tayshaun Prince
13. Kyle Lowry
14. Kobe Bryant
15. Quinton Ross
16. Maurice Evans
17. Metta World Peace
18. Ime Udoka
19. Courtney Lee
20. Chris Duhon

I'd probably move Bryant, Allen, and Prince up the list and bring Hinrich and Jones down.

Who's your top 10 or top 5?

[deihatein]

No love for Shawn Marion?

[benji]

I love stats but there's one thing that doesn't show up in boxscores - on-ball defense.

Good thing we don't have to rely on boxscores anymore!

According to the guys over NBA 2k12

Do you mean the moron who has proven time and time again he can't do his simple job and who I would replace with people on this forum who, hypothetically, I would, theoretically, strangle to death to get over my teenage angst?

To be fair:

Who are your top 10 best 1-on-1 perimeter defenders in the NBA right now?

Who are they guarding?

[JBoom_LALALAND]

My Top 10 would be:
1. Metta World Peace
2. LeBron James
3. TayShaun Prince
4. Russel Westbrook
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Ray Allen
7. Shane Battier
8. Rajon Rondo
9. Landry Fields
10. Matt Barnes\Shawn Marion

These guys are so annoying when they guard you
Especially MWP !

[Kenny]

Kobe for number 1... 9 time All-Defensive first team... can't beat that.

On a more serious note, on my list, Sefolosha probably is in the top 5. And I'm really surprised LeBron isn't in the top 20 on that one.

Although I tend to agree, I'm surprised Ime Udoka is on that list. He really hasn't played much the last few years, has he?

[NovU]

I would give it to Lebron without thinking twice. He's been the only one that's been guarding 1 to 4 consistently in his career and is capable of guarding even 5. Only one since Dennis Rodman. Whenever called upon, Lebron also unlike others always takes on challenges to guard the other team's best players like Derrick Rose. To show for it, his team was always a stellar defensive team all along. Kobe also is a stellar defensive player but stopped playing defense too long ago. But he steps up every now and then and shows off what he can do on defensive end. But it's true Kirk Hinrich has done more on defensive end than Kobe for many years. That's why a lot of people did not agree on Kobe making All-Defensive first team 9 times. As for Rondo, he sorta reminds me of Gary Payton at times. Gritty defensive minded Point Guard.

[Spree#8]

Can't believe Andre Iguodala is yet to be mentioned.

Kobe's All-Defensive team selections are a joke, I thought that's become clear a few years ago.

[airBerlin]

grant hill...

[Andrew]

If I had to pick one player to lock down an opponent on the perimeter, right now I probably would go with LeBron. He's got the size and quickness to handle pretty much any perimeter player and has shown that he's up to the task. He's pretty adept at playing the passing lanes as well. Iguodala, Rondo, Thabo and Battier also come to mind, while Kobe, Pierce, Wade, World Peace and Marion also deserve a mention.

Putting them in order, I'd probably go with:

1. LeBron James
2. Andre Iguodala
3. Rajon Rondo
4. Thabo Sefolosha
5. Shane Battier
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Paul Pierce
9. Metta World Peace
10. Shawn Marion

[air gordon]

avery bradley
ronnie brewer

[Nick]

Yeh Andre Iguodala, Ronnie Brewer, Gerald Wallace and Shawn Marion are big misses in that 2k top 20 list imo.

My list would probably be something like this:
1. Tony Allen
2. Shane Battier
3. Andre Iguodala
4. LeBron James
5. Metta World Peace
6. Thabo Sefolosha
7. Shawn Marion
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Rajon Rondo
10. Ronnie Brewer

But it's pretty subjective so it's hard to say.

And lol @ benji's post. So predictable.

[benji]

Yes, because guarding LeBron, Kobe, Derrick Rose, Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul are all the same thing.

Lists are missing Delonte West especially, but also Paul George, Luc Mbah a Moute, Manu, an asterisked Kirilenko, Jason Kidd.

[CheddahCheese]

If I had to pick one player to lock down an opponent on the perimeter, right now I probably would go with LeBron. He's got the size and quickness to handle pretty much any perimeter player and has shown that he's up to the task. He's pretty adept at playing the passing lanes as well. Iguodala, Rondo, Thabo and Battier also come to mind, while Kobe, Pierce, Wade, World Peace and Marion also deserve a mention.

Putting them in order, I'd probably go with:

1. LeBron James
2. Andre Iguodala
3. Rajon Rondo
4. Thabo Sefolosha
5. Shane Battier
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Dwyane Wade
8. Paul Pierce
9. Metta World Peace
10. Shawn Marion

No Tony Allen? Seriously?

[Andrew]

He's right up there, sure. Feel free to post your own list.

[NovU]

No players from the Bulls the best defensive team in the league? Rose or Deng maybe? I don't watch too many Bulls games so I am not too sure. Who brings the biggest impact to the game on defensive end excluding paint players?

[Dan's Brain]

No players from the Bulls the best defensive team in the league?

Ronnie Brewer's had some pos-mens. I don't know if Deng really does his best defensive work on the perimeter either. Rose is getting there though. Probably still on the outside looking in.

[benji]

Here's the thing, you guys.

Ronnie Brewer is solid, Luol Deng is solid. The Bulls are the best defense in the league because of the system. And they will never, NEVER, allow a player to go one-on-one only. It's insanity.

You guys, Bruce Bowen is nowhere near the defensive player that LeBron James is. It's simply not up for negotiation. LeBron is more athletic, larger, just as smart, etc.

But, and here's the key, you guys, the Spurs defensive system was based around the idea that Bowen could overplay, harass, kick in the face, etc. his man, and the team would rotate to cover up any lapses.

The only thing Shane Battier will see of Derrick Rose or Chris Paul is the back of their jersey. Tony Allen can't stop Durant one-on-one once Durant has the ball. Kobe Bryant won't lockdown anyone one-on-one unless we aren't counting one or two plays a game. If that. He can't afford it.

You can't fully isolate because of the zone anymore. One-on-one is basically irrelevant information. You guys.

[NovU]

I guess a lot of Bulls' success on defensive end has to do something with good coaching, mix of great help defenders, keeping the pace slow, and being physical, rather than having great defensive talents individually. Because on the paper, it's hard to predict that they could be the best defensive team in the league, just skimming through the roster. Goes to show how individual defensive ability is hard to measure and quantify I guess. Sorta like people predicted the Mavericks were going to suffer on defensive end greatly when they lost Chandler though they actually improved on D.

You can't fully isolate because of the zone anymore. One-on-one is basically irrelevant information. You guys.

Very true.

[benji]

Because on the paper, it's hard to predict that they could be the best defensive team in the league, just skimming through the roster. Goes to show how individual defensive ability is hard to measure and quantify I guess.

Or, it goes to show that innate offensive ability is vastly more important than defensive ability as with a proper system you can get most any NBA players to play competent defense. But you can't turn Chuck Hayes into Dirk Nowitzki.

[NovU]

Right on the money again benjo.

[CheddahCheese]

1. LeBron James
2. Andre Iguodala
3. Tony Allen
4. Luol Deng
5. Shane Battier
6. Arron Afflalo
7. Shane Battier
8. Dwyane Wade
9. Nicolas Batum
10. Thabo Shefolosha

Metta World Piece doesn't belong on the list. All he has is upper body strength. He's extremely slow.

[air gordon]

Here's the thing, you guys.

Ronnie Brewer is solid, Luol Deng is solid. The Bulls are the best defense in the league because of the system. And they will never, NEVER, allow a player to go one-on-one only. It's insanity.

never say never. Thibbs has let Dwight Howard purposely destroy them. no help defense. Howard got his but the rest of the guys on Orlando couldnt create their own shots/get open looks. Bulls won that game. they did that scheme also with Stoudemire when he used to just embarassing defenders in the post and Toney Douglas use to be a good 3pt shooter.

I guess a lot of Bulls' success on defensive end has to do something with good coaching, mix of great help defenders, keeping the pace slow, and being physical, rather than having great defensive talents individually.

it's good coaching and a good system but a lot of credit has to go to the players understanding when to make the rotations and executing it. Boozer sucks on defense and he still sucks in this scheme. he could be standing help side but he still doesn't protect the paint or slide out fast enough to the open shooter. it's pitiful lol