Dwyer: Top 10 Defenders of the Last Decade (Garnett #1)

[Luffy]

KG stands alone because he pitches nearly as many perfect games, while combining Tim Duncan's length and frame with a guard's ability to move his feet. Garnett has become a bit more showy about things after getting traded to the Boston Celtics, but his time spent toiling for those awful Minnesota teams prior to that -- and his years spent dominating on some solid-to-great Timberwolves teams prior to that -- were the work of a defensive genius. He just guarded everyone, every play, every feint, every drive, everything. And then he'd get the rebound. Pity that nobody seemed to be paying attention.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/The-top-10-best-defenders-of-the-last-decade;_ylt=AguWIobfTvquo7.Qzi8LTF.8vLYF?urn=nba,185792

[bc legends]

can't argue with the #1, kg is deserving of that spot. didn't expect to see snow on that list though.

[Dogen]

Nice props!

[SonicYouth34]

Bout time. KG doesn't get enough recognition. He's one of the best PF's ever, no disputing that.

[Hilltop]

can't argue with the #1, kg is deserving of that spot. didn't expect to see snow on that list though.

Thought the same thing about snow. I would agree with #1 though, that definitely belongs to Garnett.

[Kefa461]

He will show he still has it this season too.......

[PPAW4Life]

Eric Snow was a tremendous defender when he was playing for the Sixers.

Him and Mckie allowed AI to gamble the passing lanes and dominate the steals per game category for years on end.

I don't think there was a better PG over the last 10+ years keeping his man in front of him (other than J. Kidd) than Eric Snow.

[rambo_ortega]

maybe you can take out snow and hinrich for either 2 of posey, prince, kobe, wade. camby was very much of a gambler imo just like AI.

[sully00]

I really liked Hinrich being on the list. Snow was a mistake, once they took away the ability to put hands all over the offensive player he became a non factor defensively, his run was about 3 years long. Marion, who is overrated, and Raja Bell were better defenders.

He was a back up and his career was kind of split between the 90's and 00's, but the best on ball defender, especially without just mugging guys, was Erick Strickland.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Sheed belongs on this list

[Zin5]

I personally would have put Duncan at 1 and KG at 2. KG's great, but he's at his best when he has someone downlow that can let him roam like now with Perk. I mean, KG's effective all the time, but it doesn't matter who you put next to Duncan, he'll still have a huge impact on the game defensively.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I personally would have put Duncan at 1 and KG at 2. KG's great, but he's at his best when he has someone downlow that can let him roam like now with Perk. I mean, KG's effective all the time, but it doesn't matter who you put next to Duncan, he'll still have a huge impact on the game defensively.

I disagree. Duncan's lack of lateral movement prevents him from being as a good of a defender as KG

[drza]

I personally would have put Duncan at 1 and KG at 2. KG's great, but he's at his best when he has someone downlow that can let him roam like now with Perk. I mean, KG's effective all the time, but it doesn't matter who you put next to Duncan, he'll still have a huge impact on the game defensively.

The essential style difference is that Duncan is better at defending big centers and blocking shots at the rim, while Garnett is better at defending forwards and disrupting action from the paint to the 3-point line. The core of that style difference is that Duncan has more center in him while Garnett has more forward in him.

The thing is, style doesn't determine quality. No matter who you put next to either Duncan or Garnett, either will still have a huge impact on the game defensively. That isn't the question. The question is, who does better at what they do and who could you build the stronger defense around. And I think the answer to both, by a small margin in each case, is Garnett. It can be argued either way, but Duncan doesn't automatically win just because he's got more center in him...Garnett's defensive impact can be held up there against anyone that's ever done it.