Best defenders among SHOOTING GUARDS CANDIDATES LIST- The Ten Best Defenders in each Position Project

[Gibson22]

Well, I would put stephen at SF too

[Owly]

If you are including Hanslick (not that he's making many top 10s), it's definitely SF; for that matter Doug Moe used to use him to defend centers and power forwards because his legs were so strong for the rest of his body (and some of Moe's centers were so bad).

I don't think the general precedent here has been which positions you defended, more your notional position. From my main source from the time, that's guard, though, looking at it, it's possible that's over influenced my perception of him.

Hanzlik could cover up to the 5 (most notably vs the weak, high center of gravity, outside inclined Sampson - who realistically was playing PF for the Rockets), sure, but the tendency is to note his ability to cover every position. Earlier coverage lists him as a guard (Hollander handbooks through the 86 edition (released 1985) and then as a guard-forward and then guard-forward-center (I'd note here that order was guided by primacy of position, so they had C-Fs and F-Cs and G-Fs and F-Gs). That said this could just be the Hollander influence having me frame him as guard. That said this earlier coverage will note center coverage and forward coverage as the striking thing

His height makes him valuable, because it enables him to guard forwards as well as guards .... Even held his own against 7-4 Ralph Sampson on several occasions

In his one year as starter in Seattle he was starting at guard.

Later years coverage from Barry (and Cohn) describe him as SF and slightly greater emphasis on post D within the coverage of defensive versatility (after 89 season), and earlier it is possible many of his minutes were at SF given he was a reserve and Denver seem to have employed several small guards on the fringes of their rotations (then later had Adams with Lever and Dunn) so I think I'm ambivalent on his position. My traditional thinking has always been SG [as notional position] per Hollander, but SF is perhaps just as supported. I don't know.

[mdonnelly1989]

From the eye test, I will go with Sidney Moncrief. Sid was the best shutdown man defender I've ever seen, adept at closing out on shooters, strong enough to deal with post up wings, and quick enough to stay with even the jet PGs. He didn't play the passing lanes like some of the other great wings but, despite his offensive responsibilities as the leading scorer on some very good Bucks teams, he was relentless defensively, not coasting or using defense to rest. During his prime, he led a Bucks team with mediocre defensive bigs to the best defense in the league. The Bucks used a center by committee with Bob Lanier or Paul Mokeski as the offensive platoon and Harvey Catchings or Alton Lister as the defensive platoon and yet, in that 5 year stretch, were the best defense twice and the 2nd best twice for Don Nelson, one of the first open advocates of small ball.

Moncrief's healthy prime was short, only about 5 years, and occasional players like Michael Jordan could step up and play Moncrief level man defense for stretches but even peak Jordan failed to maintain the consistent relentless aggression Moncrief exhibited.

How much greater than Tony Allen you think he was?

[mdonnelly1989]

My Top 10 - Rated 1-100.

#1. Tony Allen - 100.
#2. Michael Jordan - 99
#3. Sidney Moncrief - 99
#4. Michael Cooper (He was a combo, it's very difficult decide.) - 97
#5. Bruce Bowen - 97 (His height to me says SG)
#6. Alvin Robertson - 96
#7. Joe Dumars - 95
#8. D-Wade - 95
#9. Doug Christie - 94
#10. Kobe Bryant - 93

[penbeast0]

How much greater than Tony Allen you think he was?

I like him significantly better for man defense which to me is the key to guarding the 2 since that's traditionally been the shooter spot in the league (not necessarily the scorer spot but most often the best shooter). Quicker, longer, played closer, more chest to chest; Allen is stronger, more physical, gambles more for steals which can lead to fast breaks or burns.

[Gibson22]

So these are all the candidates, guys? We are starting in a bit

Starks
Ginobili
Tr Dunn
Dumars
Eddie Johnson
Eddie Jones
Fat Lever
Jimmy Butler
Sidney Moncrief
Michael Jordan
Tony allen
Avery Bradley
THABO SEFOLOSHA
Michael cooper
Alvin Robertson
Wade
Doug Christie
Danny Green
Klay
Jerry Sloan
Kobe
Tom Gola
Don Chaney
Nick Anderson
Mitch Richmond
Raja Bell
Bobby Phills
Vernon Maxwell
Bill Sharman
Oladipo
Marcus Smart
Dan Majerle
Andre Roberson
Stacey Augmon
Aaron McKie
Sprewell
Lionel Hollins
Jaren Jackson Sr.