GOAT Skills: Post Defense

The Explorer · Post #1 » by **The Explorer** » Wed Jan 24, 2024 7:55 pm

Continuation of the GOAT skills series. Next up is post defense.

Who would you say is the GOAT post defender? Consider positioning, strength, disruption, and track record against all time post scorers.

70sFan · Post #2 » by **70sFan** » Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:21 pm

This one is quite easy to me - Nate the Great gets this title.

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:33 pm

70sFan wrote:This one is quite easy to me - Nate the Great gets this title.

An excellent choice.

Rishkar · Post #4 » by **Rishkar** » Wed Jan 24, 2024 9:02 pm

I think Thurmond is a pretty obvious answer. https://thinkingbasketball.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/All-Time-center-defense-v-AS-centers.png

He shut down Wilt and Kareem

HeartBreakKid · Post #5 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:54 am

How about for guards and forwards?

I think Smart might be the best at it for guards unless I'm forgetting someone. Maybe Simmons?

Perhaps Wallace for forwards?

70sFan · Post #6 » by **70sFan** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:48 am

HeartBreakKid wrote:How about for guards and forwards?

I think Smart might be the best at it for guards unless I'm forgetting someone. Maybe Simmons?

Perhaps Wallace for forwards?

For forwards, Chuck Hayes is one of the best choices available.

EmpireFalls · Post #7 » by **EmpireFalls** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 2:42 pm

James Harden.

Post #8 » by **penbeast0** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:33 pm

For wings (he was a F-G type in his day, maybe a combo forward today), maybe Bill Hanzlick. Doug Moe used to use him on centers because his ability to hold post position was so good plus he was a nasty little pest on the pass in.

Ron Swanson · Post #9 » by **Ron Swanson** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 4:47 pm

Don't think you can go anyone other than Thurmond and it's awful hard to say anyone in the recent or modern era has a case with how post offense has been mitigated. One underrated guy I'll throw out there is PJ Tucker.

Watch on YouTube

Peregrine01 · Post #10 » by **Peregrine01** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:08 pm

My underrated pick is Dennis Rodman. He gave the most trouble to Shaq of anyone I’ve seen.

Post #11 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:03 pm

Peregrine01 wrote:My underrated pick is Dennis Rodman. He gave the most trouble to Shaq of anyone I’ve seen.

Shaq averaged 26.8 ppg and 13.4 rpg on 54.0% FG, with .545 FTr versus Rodman on his career, FWIW.

Peregrine01 · Post #12 » by **Peregrine01** » Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:09 pm

tsherkin wrote:
Peregrine01 wrote:My underrated pick is Dennis Rodman. He gave the most trouble to Shaq of anyone I’ve seen.

Shaq averaged 26.8 ppg and 13.4 rpg on 54.0% FG, with .545 FTr versus Rodman on his career, FWIW.

I'm guessing he did most of his damage against Longley and Wennington. I still remember those Bulls/Magic and Bulls/Lakers games of the 90s...Shaq would have these huge scoring first halves and then the Bulls would go small with Rodman in the middle and Kukoc at the 4 and completely demolish them in the second half. Having three long wings (Harper, Jordan and Pippen) made it difficult for opposing guards to even get the ball past the half court line and when Shaq finally got the ball with a limited clock to work with Rodman was sturdy enough not to get moved off his spot. And when Shaq couldn't bully his way to get right under the rim his effectiveness dropped a lot.

It's actually incredible how dominant those Bulls defenses were. I'd argue even more important than their offense.