Debate: NBA's best wing defenders

Posted it on the Random NBA Questions thread, but then Axel told me it was more of a debate. Who would you put in your Top 5 of the league's best wing defenders?

(not in a particular order)

Battier
Mbah a Moute
T. Prince
Sefolosha
Matt Barnes

Gerald Wallace?

Does Ron Artest count?

Come on Thierry you left off the best two!

Its pretty subjective but Wallace leads all wing players in Defensive Rating and Defensive Win Shares by a decent margin.

You didn't leave Battier out!

My list:
Shane Battier
G. Wallace
Ron Artest
Tayshaun Prince
Josh Smith

Come on Thierry you left off the best two!

Who? Those were off the top of my head, but certainly, there are some more.

You didn't leave Battier out!

I don't like Yao, but I like Shane

Some other quality perimeter defenders not listed:
LeBron James
Dywane Wade
Tony Allen
Delonte West (when sane)
Jamario Moon
Andrei Kirilenko
Ronnie Brewer
Trevor Ariza (when not wasting his efforts taking 20 shots a game)

Trevor Ariza (when not wasting his efforts taking 20 shots a game)

Don't forget to add when not gambling for steals.

Also, Courtney Lee wasn't mentioned.

Trevor Ariza (when not wasting his efforts taking 20 shots a game)

This.


Shane Battier FTW. He has intangiblez.

Gerald Wallace
Ron Artest
Shane Battier
Ronnie Brewer
Luc Mbah a Moute

You didn't leave Battier out!

My list:
Shane Battier
G. Wallace
Ron Artest
Tayshaun Prince
Josh Smith

I prefer this one.
You guys forget to say Nate Robinson for blocking guys like Shaq and Yao!

Does Shawn Marion count in the best wing defenders category?

Ron Artest
Shane Battier
Kobe Bryant
Ronnie Brewer
Thabo Sefolosha
Shawn Marion
Gerald Wallace
Tony Allen
Andrei Kirilenko
Trevor Ariza
Matt Barnes
Mickael Pietrus

Does Shawn Marion count in the best wing defenders category?

I think so. He plays SF as well doesn't he?

How bout Marvin Williams?

Marvin Williams plays D?

Tayshaun Prince is severely overrated as a perimeter defender.

Out of all people, a Pistons fan says that?

Out of all people, a Pistons fan says that?

He could be the only one still watching Pistons games, so his opinion could prove to be a pretty solid estimation.

Yeah, that's true. Only time I watch a Pistons game is if they're playing against the Rockets.

Probably wasn't so much Prince's D as it was Ariza being one of the worst offensive players in the league.

Surprised Lamrock hasn't offered Nic Batum yet. Though I'm not sure he could be called one the league's best yet, I think he's on his way.

I actually think Batum's a little overrated defensively. I think he'll be an elite defender in a couple years, but the reason he kicked so much ass last year was because of his phenomenal shooting. He is the third best defensive player on the team though, and I'd sooner trade Oden or Roy than him.

Another Blazer potentially worth mentioning is Wesley Matthews. Not a huge fan of the signing, but I could see him becoming a better Raja Bell.

I think Luc Mbah a Moute is a bit overrated defensively too to be honest. I know Durant came out and said he was the toughest defender he came up against all season, but I watched close to 80 Bucks games last season and for me his D didn't completely make up for his offensive deficiencies. I haven't looked at any stats, maybe he's got a great opponent PER or something. Judging by eye sucks.