Defensive Player Ladder: Rudy Gobert, Ben Simmons lead new weekly ranking
This season, Rudy Gobert is ranking 2nd in the NBA with an average of 2.8 blocks.
When the NBA released the second fan returns of All-Star Voting 2021 presented by AT&T last week, two players were conspicuously absent from the Top 10 at their respective positions.
Both are part of leading teams. Both possess All-Star credentials, hence neither should be seen as a reach or an afterthought. Both are experiencing seasons that are as good as, if not better than, their previous ones.
Despite their significant performances, Rudy Gobert and Ben Simmons were not listed among the top 10 players in their respective positions – frontcourt in the Western Conference for Gobert and backcourt in the Eastern Conference for Simmons – after votes were counted for two weeks. Interestingly, Simmons’ position declined, moving from No. 10 in the first week to a lower position in the updated totals.
This serves as a powerful reminder: offense is popular, but defense is not as appealing.
Gobert and Simmons are celebrated as some of the NBA’s top defenders, known for their effectiveness in the crucial defensive end of the court, a fact acknowledged by basketball coaches at all levels. They are also key contributors to their respective teams’ offensive game, with Gobert playing for the Utah Jazz and Simmons for the Philadelphia 76ers.
However, their true strength lies in defense, yet they still can’t receive more All-Star voting affection compared to players like Andrew Wiggins, Christian Wood, Collin Sexton, Russell Westbrook (2020-21 edition), or at least 16 others in their positions.
It’s almost like an updated version of the old baseball saying from 60 or 70 years ago, “Home run hitters drive Cadillacs, singles hitters drive Fords.” Or MLB’s 1999 variation (now considered embarrassing, in the wake of steroids scandals), “Chicks dig the long ball” bit.
In the current NBA scene, fans are enthralled by the abundance of 3-pointers from all players. Unlike the automotive world where NBA players can drive any car they fancy, there is no equivalent in basketball. However, one thing is certain: The more scoring there is, the higher the ratings and clicks.
Think about this: Last week, the 10 leading players in their positions were considered starters – three in each frontcourt, two in each backcourt, five in each conference. Of these, eight were ranked among the Top 10 in terms of points per game. Every one of them was ranked in the Top 16, with LeBron James, who received the most votes, ranking at No. 16 with an average of 25.5 points per game.
The second returns for #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T!
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— NBA (@NBA) February 11, 2021
From a certain perspective, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. All-Star Games prioritize scoring and in this league, scoring is the most reliable route to stardom. Moreover, the people’s preferences always prevail when they vote.
Many people consider All-Star invitations as accolades for outstanding half-season performances, victorious games, or a growing track record of basketball success. Gobert and Simmons definitely fit these criteria – yet, they can’t seem to break into the Top 10s.
They probably need more than just Simmons’ single 3-point field goal between them.
And given how much they share, maybe Simmons shouldn’t have gotten so, er, offensive about Gobert’s defense Monday night after scoring a career-high 42 against Utah (“I loved it when I saw Rudy was guarding me. … I felt like it was a little bit of a disrespect putting him on me.”). The Jazz, who went with that matchup when Sixers center Joel Embiid did not play, still won the game, after all.
Here are some statistical categories in which the two defensive virtuosos excel:
Simmons, a two-time All-Star as well as an All-Defensive Team selection and steals champ in 2019-20, ranked fourth in steals per game (1.7) through weekend action. He was first in deflections per game (4.1) and second in total deflections (98). The 6-foot-11 point guard also was second in loose balls recovered per game (1.5) and overall (36).
Then there’s Gobert, the NBA’s Kia Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 and, finally, a 2020 All-Star. He ranked first in defensive rebounds per game (9.8) and third overall (13.4). Second in blocks at 2.8 per game. His defensive rating (98.7) topped all NBA regulars and he ranked fourth in net rating (14.2).
The “Stifle Tower” was second in contested 2-point shots per game (11.6), per NBA.com stats, and third in contested shots overall (14.5 twos and threes). And among centers or forward/centers defending at least 10 shots per game, Gobert ranked first (18.1) and third in defended field-goal percentage, with opponents shooting 41.9% with the Jazz big man focused on them.
All of which helps to explain what we’re doing here. We already have the Kia Race To The MVP Ladder here, as well as the Kia Rookie Ladder to track the season-long jockeying for recognition among the league’s most valuable players and top newcomers. It seems appropriate that if we truly value the other half of the game, as we’re instructed constantly by coaches and many players, we have a regular round-up of some of the NBA’s best at thwarting all that marvelous scoring.
We’ll allow the conference coaches to decide whether or not to acknowledge top defenders like Gobert and Simmons as All-Stars when they vote for All-Star reserves. Although the most passionate advocates of analytics admit their limitations in extracting figures that completely illustrate the defensive influence of individuals in a team-oriented activity, we will refer to, but not wholly rely on, statistics.
We aim to measure the performance of both interior and perimeter players, a task that NBA Defensive Player of the Year voters face. We’ll explore a range of parameters, from individual defensive prowess to win-loss records, incorporating numerous elements such as standout plays or statistical data.
We’ll aim to focus less on reputation and more on current productivity, but not exclusively or without fail. We’ll also review nominees from our readers every week, who might have been astounded by an impressive display of defensive frugality that we missed.
There probably will be tweaks to the process and the product as we go, the way a pilot episode roughs out rather than immediately nails the eventual sitcom (remember “The Seinfeld Chronicles?”).
Temporarily setting aside apologies to Giannis Antetokounmpo (current Kia Defensive Player of the Year), Kawhi Leonard (2-time Defensive Player of the Year), Draymond Green (2017 Defensive Player of the Year), as well as Bam Adebayo, Patrick Beverley, Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday and several others who may be mentioned in the following weeks, we present the Top 5 for the 2020-21 Defensive Player Ladder debut:
(All stats through Monday, Feb. 15)
1. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Understanding the defensive impact of Gobert is quite difficult. Quite frankly, he is superior at wrapping his arms around virtually anything. The statistics mentioned earlier attest to this. His presence on the court instills a sense of defensive confidence in the other four Utah players, knowing that he will rectify their errors. There are numerous shots not attempted and drives not completed once opponents recall who is standing between them, the ball, and the hoop. Notably, Gobert is the current season’s leader in dunks, punishing others in ways he seldom permits.
when you think you have rudy beat: no you don't#NBAAllStar | @rudygoberty27 pic.twitter.com/BoyWSgeQ4o
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 3, 2021
2. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
It wasn’t just Monday that Simmons dissed Gobert as a defensive frat brother. Early in the NBA shutdown last March, he took a drive-by swipe at the Jazz center while immersed in some video gaming. Hey, just like people bring different definitions to the word “valuable” when casting votes or forming opinions about MVP candidates, “defender” can be just as nebulous. The 6-foot-10 Simmons has the skills, height and inclination to tackle any defensive assignment, making nights miserable for individual scorers compared to Gobert making them long for entire teams.
Defense ⟶ Offense@BenSimmons25 x #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/6PtYyVwkln
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 13, 2021
3. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Indiana’s center led the league two seasons ago in blocked shots and blocks per game, and he’s right back there at the top this season with 90 total and a career-best 3.46 per game. That’s the third-highest average in the past 13 seasons, trailing only Hassan Whiteside’s 3.68 in 2015-16 and Serge Ibaka’s 3.65 in 2011-12. Turner and fellow Pacers big Domantas Sabonis have learned to play in tandem, proving naysayers wrong and enabling Sabonis to put up All-Star worthy numbers while Turner handles dirtier work.
️️
MYLES
SHOULD
BE
DPOY@Original_Turner | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/tenuS8PmbT— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 16, 2021
4. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
He might slip off this list for a bit as he nurses his calf/Achilles back to health. So think of this as planting a flag before he goes for Davis, based on his body of work so far in 2020-21 and for the Lakers’ rank as the top team overall in defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions). There’s as big a gap in that category between them and No. 2 Utah (107.4) as there is from Utah to No. 9 San Antonio (109.7). Davis’ ability to guard all five spots if needed, while protecting the rim most nights, explains his second-place finish in DPOY voting last season — as well as why the Lakers will miss him so much as he recuperates for a few weeks from his calf injury/Achilles scare.
That Anthony Davis swat. That LeBron James finish. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/XlzrHAVOhI
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) February 5, 2021
5. Lugentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder
Dort is here in the inaugural Ladder as a rep for all those players who have made and can make defense their calling card, as they work on the rest of their games. On the night last month when Dort stole the ball six times from Chicago, he also scored 21 points with eight rebounds. On Valentine’s Day against the Bucks, Dort had 19 points, seven boards and two steals. And as a 3-and-D guy, he has hit at least one from the arc in 21 of his 25 appearances. OKC has contested the most shots per game (64.7), grabbed the second-most clutch time steals (12) and rank eighth in recovering 3.4 loose ball defensively. This guy sets the tone for that.
ALWAYS BATTLING
ALWAYS ONWARD@ThunderUp | @luthebeast pic.twitter.com/0ETJjjllaV— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 11, 2021
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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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