Big men block shots while functioning as the last line of a defense, cleaning up other players' mistakes and protecting the rim. Wing defenders shut down isolation players and close out on shooters while displaying some degree of versatility.
What do point guards do?
They don't tend to make glamorous plays around the hoop, and steals can be the most misleading stat in the sport. They're sometimes a good indicator of active hands and tenacity, but they can also boost the reputation of a player who gambles incessantly, even when it's detrimental to the team.
A year ago, D.J. Foster argued for Chris Paul as the best defensive 1-guard on ESPN by writing, "It's all in the hands. Paul has led the league in steals four out of the last five seasons thanks to those mitts, and with a strong frame, great lateral quickness and the mentality of a pest, there's no point guard immune to his harassment."
For a player like CP3, that's a valid assessment. But steals can't be blindly cited.
In fact, the justification for why a player is a good defensive point guard is usually somet ...
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Article written by Adam Fromal
The Mystery of Point Guard Defense in the NBA
March 4th, 2014 by Adam Fromal Leave a reply »
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