Greg Stiemsma

[Narf]

So Kirilenko is not a great or elite defender? Can't even agree with that?
And Rubio is just good, even though putting him in over anyone else is a 7 1/2 point defensive advantage per 100 possessions?

How many SFs are better defenders than AK47 in the NBA? Don't just include 1 on 1 defense, even though AK's a great 1 on 1 defender as well as a top help defending F in the NBA.

[guille_4]

So Kirilenko is not a great or elite defender? Can't even agree with that?
And Rubio is just good, even though putting him in over anyone else is a 7 1/2 point defensive advantage per 100 possessions?

How many SFs are better defenders than AK47 in the NBA? Don't just include 1 on 1 defense, even though AK's a great 1 on 1 defender as well as a top help defending F in the NBA.

In my ranking "Very Good" is the second highest grade below "Excellent". AK47 is an "Excellent" PF defender but he will see most of his minutes playing as a SF in which IMO he is "Very Good". He is also 31, his defense is no longer as good as it was in 04-08.

Regarding Rubio, I am assessing next year's defense. After a knee injury I can't expect his defense to be as good as it was last year. Rubio's defense until he got injured was "Very Good" but we're talking about next year. Same goes with Brandon Roy, I question how good his defense will be after a very serious injury/inactivity time.

[jscott]

You guys have a very skewed standard for D.

Pekovic is better than average.
Kirilenko is better than good.
Rubio is better than good.

The team defense isn't night and day from a "good" defender. Kirilenko and Rubio are great or elite defenders and Pekovic is above average or good.

Pek is better then most think. He's not a shot blocker but he doesnt let ANY Center (not even Dwight in the match-ups they had last-year) out muscle him and get close in the paint. He helps this team a lot.

[NewWolvesOrder]

You guys have a very skewed standard for D.

Pekovic is better than average.
Kirilenko is better than good.
Rubio is better than good.

The team defense isn't night and day from a "good" defender. Kirilenko and Rubio are great or elite defenders and Pekovic is above average or good.

Pek is better then most think. He's not a shot blocker but he doesnt let ANY Center (not even Dwight in the match-ups they had last-year) out muscle him and get close in the paint. He helps this team a lot.

+1.
Pek is a great positional defender that doesn't let you to you favourite spots in the paint and pushes you away from the rim. It's the best defense against low post scorers.

[cpfsf]

You guys have a very skewed standard for D.

Pekovic is better than average.
Kirilenko is better than good.
Rubio is better than good.

The team defense isn't night and day from a "good" defender. Kirilenko and Rubio are great or elite defenders and Pekovic is above average or good.

Pek is better then most think. He's not a shot blocker but he doesnt let ANY Center (not even Dwight in the match-ups they had last-year) out muscle him and get close in the paint. He helps this team a lot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yQOi1fBmmQ&t=0m49s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQo93nlacu4&t=6m2s <--- continue watching for 10 seconds

I didn't use youtube tags since I wanted to skip the irrelevant parts. Pek barely even budges.

[Jukeness]

LOL at the first one, Pek wasnt even phased from that weak ass push.