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On the season the Suns, Celtics and Warriors have nearly identical defensive ratings. (105.4)

Since December Boston has the best defense by a full point (105.6)
Since January Boston has the best defense by 4 points (102.7)
Since February Boston has the best defense by 4 points (102.5)

It is currently pretty widely acknowledged that the Celtics are hanging their hat on defense and are doing all they can to keep that up slowing, recently, some of the leagues best offenses.

But looking at the names of individual defenders being discussed, you don't usually see any Celtics players mentioned.
(Allen, Bridges, Giannis, Green, Mobley, Jackson, Murray, Jrue, Butler, Mobley, Gobert, Thybulle, Caruso, Ball)

Should the rest of the season continue with Celtics playing the type of defense they have been, will any of their players get a nod onto one of the teams?

If so, who do you have on it?

It’ll probably be Marcus but I’d say Tatum and rob have a solid case.

NOPE - AND THEY DON'T DESERVE IT!!!! (my reverse Jinx answer)

Honestly, really nice to see Defense back in the NBA.

For the bigmmen spots I think you HAVE to have
Giannis, Gobert, Green, then I guess you can have WIlliams in the discussion with Allen, Mobley, Jackson Jr. and Bam

For the wing spots
Butler, Thybulle Bridges, Giannis can be here, Dort, Tucker, Tatum, Smart

For the points
Ball, Jrue, FVV, Murray, Smart


It is entirely impossible that the Celtics could have the best defense in the league but not have a single player on the all defense teams

How are other posters defensive teams shaping up? I think Smart is a lock and probably on the first team. Tatum might get a 2nd team nod, and I think Rob just missed out.

Al Horford won't make it near the team but I feel like he's our best defensive player

they should but no one rlly stands out on their team as "the guy" for their defense.

i mean realistically it would have to go to either Robert Williams or Horford or Marcus Smart. I could see Smart getting another 2nd team nod. Williams and Horford just have too much competition at the C position

First: G: Smart, G: Bridges, F:Draymond, F:Giannis, C: Gobert
Second: G: Jrue, G: CP3 F: RW III F: JJJ, C: Bam


Really tough this year. All the best defensive players have been bigs and wings but you have to include 4 guards in the top 10 spots.

I’d have all of these guys ahead of any guards which sucks because some are going to miss out for inferior defenders.

Gobert, Giannis, Draymond, Bridges, RW III, JJJ, Bam, JaFro, Butler, Embiid, Tatum, Mobley.

Interesting thread. Makes me think of last year where the Lakers had the best defense in the league but apparently no award-winning defenders under the theory that you could anyone around LeBron & AD and have an elite defense. In the defense of the voters, this seems to be what the Laker decision makers thought too.

I do think that if the Celtics keep up their momentum and keep rising on the back of their defense, voters need to find a way to give their players some All-D love.

Is this a question about "should" or "will"?

Maybe Smart lands on the second team, but that's about it.. Robert Williams III, who is one of the top 2-3 defensive players in the league, will probably be shut out.

Smart should get 2nd team. I think Ball and AC being hurt for the Bulls definitely gave him a clearer path too... Williams should but I don't think he makes the cut. Going to names first yet.... he and the celts are peaking at the right time IMHO

Smart will make it for sure and maybe Timelord but that's probably it. Tatum doesn't have a rep for defense yet-even tho he's playing well this year.

Let's dispense with the "they're all good and no one stands out" rationale. This guy stands out night after night. He's a beast: blocks, closeouts, help defense, you name it.

They have 3 guys that are good enough to make an all defense team. Not sure how many out of the 3 get it though.

The Celtics with the biggest current defensive rep nationally are Smart and Timelord. They're the ones who could make it.

There's an easy path that gets one almost all the way to selecting Horford, in that he used to be on the team, seems to have visited the Fountain of Youth, and is an obviously impactful player on a great defensive unit. But he's not likely to get picked over Timelord.

Derrick White and the Jays don't stand a chance. Maybe they'll be on the list as having gotten a vote or two each, but that's it.

Is there a particular stat that dictates who generally gets a nod?

Defensive box plus minus? Defensive Win Shares?'

If it's defensive win shares then Tatum leads the NBA in that stat.

If it's defensive box plus minus then both Timelord and Horford are top 5 in the NBA in that stat (Jokic leads the league here)

If you go defensive rating then Timelord leads the NBA in that stat.

You'd think being the best in the NBA in a defensive stat would give you a good chance at a defensive team nod. So I'd guess if things keep going how they have been, and the Celtics can finish somewhere in the top 3 or so of the East than both Tatum and TimeLord would get the nods. TimeLord probably as second or third or something because he doesn't have the name brand.

I thought the Celtics were the all-defensive team.

Tatum has arguably been more impactful on defense than offense

JimmyPlopper wrote:Tatum has arguably been more impactful on defense than offense

Tatum has been very good. Grant Williams and Horford too.

The first thing Stevens did is get rid of Kemba and Fournier. There's no one in the rotation who can be hunted. They try to hunt Pritchard when he's in, but Pritchard is a tough kid who moves his feet.

Celtics' starting 5 have a defensive rating of 88.8, which is 8 points better than the next-best 5-man lineup with at least 200 minutes (MIA).

Smart will make 1st or 2nd, I doubt anyone else will.

CoP wrote:Celtics' starting 5 have a defensive rating of 88.8, which is 8 points better than the next-best 5-man lineup with at least 200 minutes (MIA).

Smart will make 1st or 2nd, I doubt anyone else will.

Unfortunately these things seem to be very political or else Bob Williams should have a valid chance (as well as Tatum although his reputation is based more on offense)