Bloodbather wrote:Sgt Major wrote:Embiid being injured sucks hard. At least him vs Jokic conversation is funny and it's been going on for years.
Discussing Jokic vs SGA is a joke, engaging in that would be embarrassing.
I have Jokić as MVP too, but if you think SGA doesn't belong in a conversation against him you simply don't give SGA his dues. Guy's a Top 5, maybe Top 3 offensive anchor this season while being an All-Defensive Team level defender, and his team is only half a game off the #1 seed in the West.
I love SGA and I think he's still right there in it, tho by now with the Nuggets recent form and Jokic's dominance probably a bit more back then he was for most of the season. meaning I thought they were neck to neck for most of this season, Jokic is probably a bit more ahead now
but regardless, I think the defensive take is pure exaggeration
OKC currently has about the 5th best defense, last season they were 14th
Chet is the defensive anchor of this team, that's just how it works positionally
J-Dub is a great defender in his own right, Dort is a pretty good defender and tbh was known mostly for his defens and physicality before this season and Chet leads the Thunder in DRTG and is obviously a very impactful defender already.
SGA's talents fit likle a glove and he can help around, lurk, provide POA defense etc. he's an excellent defender and in the context of this elite defensive team - he's a great defender that can maximize his strengths and effect on that end of the floor but let's not act as if he's "anchoring" a top 5 defense
how much would we be talking about SGA's defense if he was playing in Fox's role alongside Sabonis, Murray etc.?
it's pretty hard to gauge the indivudal defensive contributions as both SGA and Chet have basically played all the games, SGA at 56 and Chet at 66. for reference, SGA has played 2239 mins this season with 1438 of those are with Chet