Who is the best defensive SF in the NBA?

[CPT]

Maybe this should be on the General NBA board, but with all the talk about acquiring different SFs (Maggette, Miller, Artest, Kirilenko, Nocioni, etc), as well as the talk about how good of a defender our own Jamario Moon is (or isn't), I decided to take a look at the stats offered by 82games.com, and see what they had to say about it.

I'll list at least one player from each NBA team, in some cases 2, but to qualify, they must play at least 25% of their team's minutes at SF. This threshold is low enough to include most guys that spend time at the position, but disqualifies players like Josh Smith (1%) who don't actually spend as much time at SF as people may think.

It should be noted that all of these stats are per 48 minutes. And, of course, all stats are the stats allowed by the player to his opponent. I'll put the % of minutes at SF in brackets beside their names, and their effect on Team eFG% allowed, and points allowed per 100 possessions in [these] at the end of the line. Positive values here would be bad, by the way.

Here goes...

ATL - Childress (38%) 20.6 PPG on .486eFG% for 17.1 PER [+4.2, +0.1%]
ATL - M. Williams (52%) 20.8 PPG on .482eFG% for 16.5 PER [+1.4, -0.2%]
BOS - Pierce (73%) 18.1 PPG on .443eFG% for 12.0 PER [-2.9, -0.4%]
CHA - J. Richardson (49%) 23.2 PPG on .506eFG% for 18.2 PER [+2.0, +2.3%]
CHA - Wallace (29%) 23.8 PPG on .552eFG% for 21.7 PER [-4.4, +0.3%]
CHI - Deng (43%) 19.3 PPG on .496eFG% for 19.3 PER [+5.5, +2.1%]
CHI - Nocioni (33%) 19.3 PPG on .466eFG% for 12.7 PER [+1, -0.6%]
CLE - L. James (52%) 18.9 PPG on .514eFG% for 15.5 PER [-2.2, -1.9%]
DAL - J. Howard (60%) 17.7 PPG on .466eFG% for 13.8 PER [-4.1, -2.6%]
DEN - Anthony (53%) 22.5 PPG on .546eFG% for 16.6 PER [+3.9, +2.0%]
DEN - Kleiza (32%) 21.2 PPG on .456eFG% for 14.4 PER [+5.3, +2.1%]
DET - Prince (63%) 17.3 PPG on .465eFG% for 13.1 PER [-3.4, +0.7%]
DET - Hayes (29%) 19.6 PPG on .455eFG% for 15.6 PER [+2.8, -0.5%]
GSW - S. Jackson (48%) 20.7 PPG on .469eFG% for 14.7 PER [-4.8, -2.4%]
HOU - Battier (53%) 18.9 PPG on .470eFG% for 14.7 PER [-2.1, -0.5%]
IND - Dunleavy (33%) 20.8 PPG on .508eFG% for 15.5 PER [-3.6, +1.3%]
IND - Granger (43%) 21.8 PPG on .500eFG% for 16.7 PER [+6.4, +2.3%]
LAC - Maggette (50%) 22.7 PPG on .564eFG% for 18.4 PER [-6.4, -0.3%]
LAL - Walton (40%) 23.5 PPG on .494eFG% for 17.6 PER [-0.8, 0.0]
MEM - Gay (43%) 20.8 PPG on .533eFG% for 17.8 PER [+8.0, +3.6%]
MEM - M. Miller (39%) 21.9 PPG on .533eFG% for 16.9 PER [+5.5, +0.3%]
MIA - D.Wright (27%) 22.6 PPG on .517eFG% for 18.7 PER [-0.6, -0.3%]
MIA - R. Davis (46%) 23.5 PPG on .541eFG% for 18.8 PER [+3.9, +1.1%]
MIL - B. Simmons (36%) 22.6 PPG on .530eFG% for 18.9 PER [-0.5, +2.0%]
MIL - D. Mason (30%) 19.2 PPG on .506eFG% for 14.6 PER [-6.3, -3.3%]
MIN - Gomes (40%) 18.0 PPG on .478eFG% for 14.7 PER [+1.4, +1.1%]
MIN - C. Brewer (36%) 21.9 PPG on .477eFG% for 17.8 PER [-4.9, -1.4%]
NJN - R. Jefferson (60%) 21.5 PPG on .533eFG% for 17.0 PER [+7.0, +3.9%]
NWO - Stojakovic (54%) 20.1 PPG on .514eFG% for 16.7 PER [+1.9, +2.5%]
NYK - Q. Richardson (45%) 23.1 PPG on .507eFG% for 19.5 PER [+1.0, +0.8%]
ORL - Turkoglu (67%) 19.8 PPG on .470eFG% for 15.0 PER [+2.6, -1.1%]
PHI - Iguodala (59%) 17.5 PPG on .478eFG% for 14.7 PER [-0.1, -0.6%]
PHX - Marion (25%) 19.2 PPG on .444eFG% for 15.3 PER [-4.6, +0.7%]
PHX - Hill (50%) 19.4 PPG on .490eFG% for 15.4 PER [-4.3, -2.0%]
POR - Webster (56%) 19.8 PPG on .484eFG% for 15.8 PER [+0.9, +2.1%]
SAC - Artest (28%) 20.0 PPG on .486eFG% for 15.7 PER [-5.2, -2.1%]
SAC - Garcia (39%) 24.1 PPG on .555eFG% for 19.8 PER [+2.9, -0.6%]
SAS - Bowen (48%) 20.3 PPG on .567eFG% for 18.9 PER [-1.2, -0.8%]
SEA - Wilkins (43%) 22.1 PPG on .505eFG% for 17.0 PER [+0.9, +2.4%]
TOR - Moon (38%) 16.7 PPG on .411 eFG% for 14.3 PER [-1.0, -1.9%]
TOR - Kapono (34%) 19.8 PPG on .483eFG% for 16.4 PER [+0.2, -0.3%]
UTA - Kirilenko (55%) 20.8 PPG on .556eFG% for 17.4 PER [+4.2, +2.3%]
UTA - Harpring (30%) 21.5 PPG on .529eFG% for 16.5 PER [+1.1, -1.6%]
WAS - Butler (62%) 20.7 PPG on .521eFG% for 18.0 PER [-3.1, -0.8%]

To help you sort through this, I've also made a top 10 for each category. I was thinking about assigning some kind of value for a player's ranking in each category, but that would assume all categories should be considered equal (and if not, I'd have to figure out how to weight the categories), and I don't really want to get into that.

PPG Allowed
1. Moon 16.7
2. Prince 17.3
3. Iguodala 17.5
4. J. Howard 17.7
5. Gomes 18.0
6. Pierce 18.1
7. L. James 18.9
7. Battier 18.9
9. D. Mason 19.2
9. Marion 19.2

eFG% Allowed
1. Moon .411
2. Pierce .443
3. Hayes .455
4. Kleiza .456
5. Prince .465
6. J. Howard .466
6. Nocioni .466
8. S. Jackson .469
9. Battier .470
9. Turkoglu

PER Allowed
1. Pierce 12.0
2. Nocioni 12.7
3. Prince 13.1
4. J. Howard 13.8
5. Moon 14.3
6. Kleiza 14.4
7. Iguodala 14.7
7. Gomes 14.7
7. Battier 14.7
7. S. Jackson 14.7

Team Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions (Difference On vs. Off Court)
1. Maggette -6.4
2. D. Mason -6.3
3. Artest -5.2
4. C. Brewer -4.9
5. S. Jackson -4.8
6. Marion - 4.6
7. G. Wallace -4.4
8. Hill - 4.3
9. J. Howard -4.1
10. Dunleavy -3.6
*11 Prince -3.4 (thought I'd include that)

Team eFG% Allowed (Difference On vs. Off Court)
1. D. Mason -3.3%
2. J. Howard -2.6%
3. S. Jackson -2.4%
4. Artest -2.1%
5. Hill -2.0%
6. Moon -1.9%
6. L. James -1.9%
8. Harpring -1.6%
9. C. Brewer -1.4%
10. Turkoglu -1.1%

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Taking all of that into consideration, I'd say Josh Howard is the best defender at SF in the NBA, followed by Tayshaun Prince.

Our own Jamario Moon is doing just fine, topping the list in two categories and placing in the top 10 in two others. So maybe we don't need a defensive SF after all, given that, at least statistically, he is performing better than anyone we could realistically acquire.

I was also surprised at how well Paul Pierce is doing defensively according to these stats.

So, you can argue about the validity of these stats, but not too many guys who were in the top 10 of any category are regarded as poor defenders. On the flip side, a lot of guys who are regarded by many as very good defenders (Artest, Bowen, AK-47, Gerald Wallace, etc) came out relatively poorly when looking at these stats.
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So, what do you guys think?

[chuckerz]

best defender would have to be bruce bowen. He was able to shut down lebron in the playoffs last year. But the spurs with all their veteran players are built for the playoffs and regular season don't really mean anything.

[lmaonade]

The annoying thing in San Antonio with number 12

[bstein14]

Just curious on your PPG allowed stat.... is that what they allow while on the floor?

Or is that what the opposing starting SF gets while playing their team?

Or is that combined for all points scored from the SF position while that player is playing?

[bstein14]

Pierce is on what is the best defensive team in the NBA this year, that's why he's so high.

He's never been up there defensively like this before...

He's always had the tools to be a good defender but I don't think he's ever put in the effort until this year.

[bigtime105]

Andrea Bargnani

[I_Like_Dirt]

Pierce is on what is the best defensive team in the NBA this year, that's why he's so high.

He's never been up there defensively like this before...

He's always had the tools to be a good defender but I don't think he's ever put in the effort until this year.

He used to be an excellent defender when the Celtics were going to the playoffs with Walker, a bunch of veteran role players and coach O'Brien. He had clearly lost some passion for playing defense while losing year after year with an inexperience team of overhyped and overrated young players who wouldn't know the plays or would just break them and do their own thing. Pierce on that list is no surprise whatsoever.

[Rasheeed!!!]

the thing that makes these rankings difficult is that some guys like Battier & Bowen face the toughest player the opposition has to offer, whereas guys like Pierce & LeBron pick and choose their spots because of there value on offence and hence get to guard average players.

Anyways, as for a ranking, my top 3 would be Artest, Stephen Jackson and Bowen

after, no praticular order......Battier, Brewer, G Hill, T Prince, G Wallace, A Iguodala, D Mason, C Butler, Harpring

Haven't seen enough of Moon to make a suggestion, but it appears as though he would rank among the best.

[TheMainEvent]

Hands down, Bruce Bowen.

I'd put Josh Howard third, also behind Ron Artest.

Gerald Wallace and Shane Battier are both good defenders... maybe they round out my top 5.


Tayshaun is a good defender, but mainly because he's on a good defensive team. This also applies to Paul Pierce - he has certainly improved his defence this year, but mostly because of the team.

I think Hedo Turkoglu, Andre Iguodala, and Stephen Jackson are decent defenders. Kirilenko has his good days and bad - he gets the blocks and steals, but he's not that great of a man-man guy.

[5DOM]

kobe, josh smith, artest, bowen

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

^ kobe is an underrated defender.

[big_baller_shot_caller23]

ron artest and bruce bowen, i rember artest use to shut down carter all the time, even when carter use to try lol

[Hendrix]

kobe, josh smith, artest, bowen

Kobe, and Josh smith arn't really SF's though.

For man to man I'de say Bowen, then Artest. For help defense I'de say Gerald Wallace. Overall I'de say 1.Bowen 2. Artest.

[bananaman]

^ kobe is an underrated defender.

Not really, he's been on tons of All Defensive teams over the years.

[CPT]

Just curious on your PPG allowed stat.... is that what they allow while on the floor?

Or is that what the opposing starting SF gets while playing their team?

Or is that combined for all points scored from the SF position while that player is playing?

I believe it's the points allowed from the SF position while that player is playing, per 48 minutes. I'm not 100% sure how they define who is playing SF at any given time, though. For starters its probably easy, but then it would come down to who you are defending I guess.

And yes, it's hard to account for the fact that the guys who are considered the best defenders (Bowen, Artest, etc) always have to check the other team's best wing, but to be fair, I think that would apply to guys like Howard and Prince as well.