Top 15 Worst defenders in the League

[Promezclan]

I'm only going to label players that have played this season, and played very significant minutes, say 25 or more. In no order:

Eddy Curry
Andrea Bargnani
Allen Iverson
Mike Dunleavy
Andres Nocioni
Michael Redd
Zach Randolph
Jamaal Tinsley
Troy Murphy
Ricky Davis
Steve Nash
Jamal Crawford
Juan Carlos Navarro
Mike Miller
Joe Calderon

Eddy Curry = historically terrible
Andrea Bargnani = below average
Allen Iverson = above average
Mike Dunleavy = average
Andres Nocioni = below average
Michael Redd = below average
Zach Randolph = awful
Jamaal Tinsley = above average
Troy Murphy = below average
Ricky Davis = bad
Steve Nash = awful
Jamal Crawford = awful
Juan Carlos Navarro = not sure
Mike Miller = below average
Joe Calderon = bad

[JoshB914]

How has no one mentioned Dirk? Josh Childress is terrible too.

[Teddy KGB]

How has no one mentioned Dirk? Josh Childress is terrible too.

Maybe because Dirk isn't bad?

[JoshB914]

Dirk is terrible at defense. He can't defend anyone one-on-one because they are either too fast or too strong and back him down. Look at the GSW playoff series last season, they just got him in one-on-one matchups and beat him to the bucket all night long.

[Rand10]

Dirk is terrible at defense. He can't defend anyone one-on-one because they are either too fast or too strong and back him down. Look at the GSW playoff series last season, they just got him in one-on-one matchups and beat him to the bucket all night long.

Yeah he sure is terrible. I can't believe Dirk isn't able to guard 6'7'' small forwards off the dribble.

[daswunderboy]

^^Calderon is decent, so is Miller.

Calderon isn't decent at all.

Calderon on D:

He gets beat, and then tries to make up for it by clapping loudly. Every PG seems to beat him off the dribble and have career games against him.

I think our PA system guy plays that "Everybody clap your hands" song to cover for Jose. He can just say the rhythm is moving him or something.

[Joseph17]

I'm only going to label players that have played this season, and played very significant minutes, say 25 or more. In no order:

Eddy Curry
Andrea Bargnani
Allen Iverson
Mike Dunleavy
Andres Nocioni
Michael Redd
Zach Randolph
Jamaal Tinsley
Troy Murphy
Ricky Davis
Steve Nash
Jamal Crawford
Juan Carlos Navarro
Mike Miller
Joe Calderon

I didn't know that Nocioni was that bad on D. I always thought he was above average. Drew Gooden should be on this list.

[Jemini80]

if Zach Randolph is on that list, than David Lee should be. They are the same level of defender.

[AussieBuck]

There is no way that there are 15 guys worse at D than Mo Williams.

[Schad]

Charlie Villanueva deserves mention. I love the guy, but he is an atrocious defender.

[compucomp]

Amare Stoudemire deserves to be on the list. For a guy who could be a very good defender he plays no defense, and he doesn't even try, he's been called out by Nash already for that. Mediocre bigs have played well against him, good bigs have lit him up like a Christmas tree. A 23.1 PER against speaks for itself.

[revprodeji]

No Timberwolves rotation guys. Woot-woot

[Kyrama]

Amare is awful.

[Scalabrine]

Who ya got.

1.Zack Randolph
2-15 ?????

You made this thread just to rag on Zach Randolph? You think you could have at least spelt his name right.

Randolph hasnt even been that bad a defender this year, he trys most of the time hes just not athletic enough to be a top notch defender. Certaintly he cant be the worst if hes not the worst on his team. If you wanted to put Curry on the list I wont argue.

[Scalabrine]

Dirk is terrible at defense. He can't defend anyone one-on-one because they are either too fast or too strong and back him down. Look at the GSW playoff series last season, they just got him in one-on-one matchups and beat him to the bucket all night long.

Its so funny how everyone watched that one playoff series and now they think they no everything about Dirk.

[miller31time]

I really don't understand people who think that. He does ONE thing well: get into the passing lanes. He does not contest jumpshots, block shots, rebound, get back on defense to stop the transition, take charges in order to protect the paint, play within a set scheme, stay in front of his man. He's small, light, and expending a ton of energy on offense. And if he wasn't all those things, he still wouldn't be a good defender because he wants the steal more than he wants the missed shot.

Agreed. Iverson is basically a clone of what Arenas' defense looked like before his short stretch of games played this season (where he really looked good - didn't double down low, got out on shooters, stayed in front of his man, didn't gamble - albeit for what, 7-10 games?).

[miller31time]

I hate Jamison's D with a passion. But with his improved rebounding, and his effort (no doubt due to the contract season), he missed the cut.

I'm also a person who has absolutely hated Jamison's defense, not exactly for lack of effort (most times), but sheer lack of understanding the proper fundamentals along with questioning his actual defensive ability/mobility.

But this season, with the addition of Randy Ayers (noted defensive specialist), he and the rest of the team are flat out playing defense. They look like they "get it" and aren't doing the idiotic things that have made our defense or lack thereof a laughingstock.

[BrooklynBulls]

-= original quote snipped =-



I'm also a person who has absolutely hated Jamison's defense, not exactly for lack of effort (most times), but sheer lack of understanding the proper fundamentals along with questioning his actual defensive ability/mobility.

But this season, with the addition of Randy Ayers (noted defensive specialist), he and the rest of the team are flat out playing defense. They look like they "get it" and aren't doing the idiotic things that have made our defense or lack thereof a laughingstock.

I see the same lack of fundamentals you do, as well as the knee problems that cause him to stand almost completely upright, the antithesis of proper defensive posture. But thats an effort thing in my book. Its his JOB to know the fundamentals. If he was 24, I'd agree with you. He's a salty vet, and he should know how to defend. His mobility is limited defensively, but not to the level he displays. He consistently gets beaten, but he just watches, instead of runs back into the play. He's been more feisty this season, but whenever I see an effort skill like defense, and contract in the same thought, I think of a causation. Hope I'm wrong.

[theTHIEF]

Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo are in the mix...

[Promezclan]

No Timberwolves rotation guys. Woot-woot

Probably because nobody knows any players on the Timberwolves...