Poll

Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?

Marcus Smart
Al Horford
Aron Baynes
Jaylen Brown
Semi Ojeleye
Other - comment please

Author Topic: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?  (Read 2607 times)

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Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2018, 05:44:27 PM »

Offline Celtics4ever

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Horford, Brown and Smart are very good defenders.   Tatum is up there, too.  I like Theis on D, too.   I have to go with Al as the best as well.  Baynes and Semi have been helped too at times.  Especially Baynes who eats space like no one's business.  I love how we play defense as a team, too.

Nader gets my vote for the worst defender.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2018, 06:12:06 PM »

Offline mctyson

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Brown still is figuring it out, he's really good overall but you can see he still struggles at times against various veterans. First year as a primary rotation player though so I don't mind too much.

It is Horford for me by a pretty big margin over Marcus.

Considering Horford has 8 years of experience over him, I am going to say Marcus.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2018, 06:26:57 PM »

Offline jambr380

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Smart makes some incredible plays and Jaylen is showing real potential (he is just scratching the surface), but I have to agree with Horford. He is the QB of our defense, can extend out to the 3pt line, and might be the best positional defender in the NBA.

Earlier in the season, he seemed to be a leader in the DPOY race, but that hype seems to have quited down. Now that the Cs are winning again and locking teams down on defense, he may begin garnering more attention.

Horford may not be a highlight reel on D, but he is certainly a savant on that end.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2018, 03:26:59 PM by jambr380 »

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2018, 06:35:05 PM »

Offline saltlover

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I’m going with Smart over Horford, but I won’t judge anyone who reverses that order.  I think Smart is a little more versatile in terms of positions he’s able to at least capably guard for short times, whereas Horford can get taken advantage of on some switches.  But Horford’s still a top defensive big, and if you want to argue that our league leading defense starts with him, I won’t quibble.

What I find at least as interesting is that I can’t figure out who #3 is.  Is it Baynes or Rozier, numbers 2 and 3 in Defensive Rating for the NBA? Is it Tatum, who leads the team in Defensive Win Shares?  Is it Brown, who has the length, athleticism, strength, and will to keep up with just about anyone?  Is it Ojeleye, who’s been very reliable against some of the top players in the game like Giannis and LeBron?  Is it Theis, who leads the team in block percentage and defensive rebound percentage?  That’s six players who could arguably be our third best defender, but would be the top defender for several teams.

I know that’s traditional view is that offense wins in the playoffs, but I can’t imagine many teams are looking forward to a series worth of games against this defense.  It will wear them down.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2018, 08:02:05 PM »

Offline 2short

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I’m going with Smart over Horford, but I won’t judge anyone who reverses that order.  I think Smart is a little more versatile in terms of positions he’s able to at least capably guard for short times, whereas Horford can get taken advantage of on some switches.  But Horford’s still a top defensive big, and if you want to argue that our league leading defense starts with him, I won’t quibble.

What I find at least as interesting is that I can’t figure out who #3 is.  Is it Baynes or Rozier, numbers 2 and 3 in Defensive Rating for the NBA? Is it Tatum, who leads the team in Defensive Win Shares?  Is it Brown, who has the length, athleticism, strength, and will to keep up with just about anyone?  Is it Ojeleye, who’s been very reliable against some of the top players in the game like Giannis and LeBron?  Is it Theis, who leads the team in block percentage and defensive rebound percentage?  That’s six players who could arguably be our third best defender, but would be the top defender for several teams.

I know that’s traditional view is that offense wins in the playoffs, but I can’t imagine many teams are looking forward to a series worth of games against this defense.  It will wear them down.
What he says and tp

My vote is smart over horford but its amazing how hard it is to pick #3 #4
Our team is filled with very good defenders

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2018, 08:04:30 PM »

Offline csfansince60s

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TP to the OP. The poll results underscore people's thoughts as to Smart's importance to the team.

Smart, and it's not even close.

Versatility, agression, strength, physicality and the perfect melding of BBIQ and instinct which allows him to see the play before it happens and the physical skills to get him to the right place at the right time.

Uncanny defensive anticipation....phenomenal.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2018, 08:06:38 PM »

Offline Boris Badenov

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I’m going with Smart over Horford, but I won’t judge anyone who reverses that order.  I think Smart is a little more versatile in terms of positions he’s able to at least capably guard for short times, whereas Horford can get taken advantage of on some switches.  But Horford’s still a top defensive big, and if you want to argue that our league leading defense starts with him, I won’t quibble.

What I find at least as interesting is that I can’t figure out who #3 is.  Is it Baynes or Rozier, numbers 2 and 3 in Defensive Rating for the NBA? Is it Tatum, who leads the team in Defensive Win Shares?  Is it Brown, who has the length, athleticism, strength, and will to keep up with just about anyone?  Is it Ojeleye, who’s been very reliable against some of the top players in the game like Giannis and LeBron?  Is it Theis, who leads the team in block percentage and defensive rebound percentage?  That’s six players who could arguably be our third best defender, but would be the top defender for several teams.

I know that’s traditional view is that offense wins in the playoffs, but I can’t imagine many teams are looking forward to a series worth of games against this defense.  It will wear them down.

Yeah for all the grief our bench offense gets, being able to trot out Smart, Ojeleye, Theis, Rozier must be demoralizing for the other team. If anything the defensive intensity picks up with that group.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2018, 08:14:23 PM »

Offline 2short

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Ok with some thought
1. Smart
2. Horford
3. Brown
4. Baynes
5. Rozier
6. Theis
7. Tatum

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #23 on: January 09, 2018, 03:20:23 PM »

Offline CelticsJG

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Smart, not even close.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #24 on: January 09, 2018, 03:39:57 PM »

Offline footey

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Now: Smart
Potentially: Semih.  Great foot work, and strongest foundation on team.  Holds his ground better than any other Celtic.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #25 on: January 09, 2018, 03:51:56 PM »

Offline chilidawg

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Ok with some thought
1. Smart
2. Horford
3. Brown
4. Baynes
5. Rozier
6. Theis
7. Tatum
I'd reverse smart and Horford, but otherwise that's a good list.

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #26 on: January 09, 2018, 04:20:26 PM »

Online Atzar

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I voted Jaylen without thinking and almost instantly regretted that choice.  He might be the most complete defender in the sense that he can credibly guard most players 1-4 and even 1-5 on some nights, but he's not the best defender. 

I think it's Horford right now.  Smart is the other serious candidate, but I'd take Horford personally.

It's a fun question.  Nearly the entire rotation deserves at least token consideration except Kyrie, and even Kyrie is somewhere around average now whereas he was a defensive liability in Cleveland.  Lots of good defense on this roster. 

Re: Who is the best/most complete defender on this team?
« Reply #27 on: January 12, 2018, 09:50:29 PM »

Offline flybono

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Mchale