The best defender for Giannis Antetokounmpo?

[RodyTur10]

The Milwaukee Bucks are currently the best team in the East (and the NBA) as they'll probably finish with the best record in the league for a second time in a row. Not in the last place because of the Greek Freak. Arguably Al Horford was our best shot in slowing him down last year. But we might meet the Bucks again this playoffs and likely for many years to come.

Therefore it's a legit concern who the Celtics have on the roster to stop Antetokounmpo from dominating a series. So who do you think has the best chance as an individual defender to be effective defensively against him?

Since this is a question about a stretch of years, you can choose a player who needs more development.

[Csfan1984]

Kind of depends on where Giannis gets the ball.

[gouki88]

I like to think of it as a team thing more than anything, that being said, there are definitely guys more suited to it than others.

I’d like to give Jaylen a crack at Giannis. Half of that is to keep him off Middleton, who always seems to lose him off-ball. The other half is that JB is our most Kawhi-like on-ball defender. Try and copy Toronto’s method of using athletic wings and imposing bigs (sadly we’re lacking - maybe TimeLord?)

[CFAN38]

There is one guy in this draft who may end up staying in who I think has the ability to be one of the best Giannis defenders in the entire NBA. Yves Pons, he moves well laterally ,is 6’6 with around a 7’ WS and really strong frame. He has a chance to be a longer more explosive Semi.

[Phantom255x]

Tatum and Brown.

Smart's good and can hold his own, but the size advantage is clearly Giannis there.

Ojeyele at times can also defend guys like Lebron/Giannis pretty well. Good for 6 hard fouls in games IMO. Tatum's improvement on defense has been promising and I actually think he and Giannis could have many battle in the years to come. 

[gouki88]

There is one guy in this draft who may end up staying in who I think has the ability to be one of the best Giannis defenders in the entire NBA. Yves Pons, he moves well laterally ,is 6’6 with around a 7’ WS and really strong frame. He has a chance to be a longer more explosive Semi.

Is Pons strong enough to deal with Giannis? He’s an insane athlete (as you can see by his 2.4BPG while listed as a guard), but Giannis is next level strong. I don’t think Pons has the ability to hold his ground like Semi does, but maybe I didn’t watch enough of him at Tenn.

Our last pick from Tennessee worked out pretty well

[Jvalin]

I like none of our options. Gun to my head, I'd vote for Semi.

Horford was doing a decent job on Giannis. Obviously, he couldn't stop him 1-on-1, but no one can stop Giannis 1-on-1.

Here's a question: Who do you guys think is the best Giannis "stopper" in the league?

[hpantazo]

I like none of our options. Gun to my head, I'd vote for Semi.

Horford was doing a decent job on Giannis. Obviously, he couldn't stop him 1-on-1, but no one can stop Giannis 1-on-1.

Here's a question: Who do you guys think is the best Giannis "stopper" in the league?

Today's Horford lost a few steps though and would get smoked by Giannis.

I think Smart and Jaylen can both do a good job on him.

Tatum is also an underrated defender and still improving.

In the end though, the Celtics will defend him by committee as usual.

[footey]

Need to follow Toronto plan that worked pretty well in last year’s playoffs. Team oriented beat down. Need to get physical with him.

[gouki88]

I like none of our options. Gun to my head, I'd vote for Semi.

Horford was doing a decent job on Giannis. Obviously, he couldn't stop him 1-on-1, but no one can stop Giannis 1-on-1.

Here's a question: Who do you guys think is the best Giannis "stopper" in the league?

My default go-to would probably be Kawhi, mainly because he was the key player to stopping Giannis in the playoffs, which is IMO the most impressive (and useful) place to stop him. But I think using the term "stop" for someone this dominant is never really right. You either slow them down as much as possible, or try and shut down their #2. We have a seeming complete inability to slow down Middleton, so our best bet might be trying to slow him down.

Our best bet might be finding someone in the draft, given Giannis will (in all likelihood) be around for a while. CFAN38 mentioned Pons, I think Paul Reed could give it a red hot go. 6'9", 7'2" wingspan, can play the passing lanes, block perimeter jumpshots and is a great rim-protector. His defensive impact reminds me of a lesser Nerlens Noel. I think his career will play out very similar to Jerami Grant (overlooked in the draft, goes on to be a steal - Grant has been better than ~50% of the lottery picks from that year), but with better rebounding, and in all likelihood better defensive numbers. He'll probably never become a 40% 3 point shooter like Grant though.

[SparzWizard]

I like none of our options. Gun to my head, I'd vote for Semi.

Horford was doing a decent job on Giannis. Obviously, he couldn't stop him 1-on-1, but no one can stop Giannis 1-on-1.

Here's a question: Who do you guys think is the best Giannis "stopper" in the league?

Anthony Davis?

[Phantom255x]

I like none of our options. Gun to my head, I'd vote for Semi.

Horford was doing a decent job on Giannis. Obviously, he couldn't stop him 1-on-1, but no one can stop Giannis 1-on-1.

Here's a question: Who do you guys think is the best Giannis "stopper" in the league?

Anthony Davis?

I think it’s Kawhi Leonard.

And he did prove it in the playoffs a year ago.

[GreenFaith1819]

Marcus "The Dentist" Smart....

He gets up in your Grill.

[keevsnick]

Probably go Jaylen. Smart is just a little too short, although he would be my second choice. Tatum isn't strong enough. Semi is a valid option but Giannis would be playing 40+ so one of the regulars would get most the minutes.

Real answer is probably its a team effort.

[ozgod]

Kind of depends on where Giannis gets the ball.

Really depends on this. Posting up around the key I think Semi would be the best to keep him from being backed down. You need someone with some size and strength. If Giannis is on the perimeter and trying to drive Jaylen or Marcus have quick enough feet to stop him getting a first step. They can also harass him and make it hard for him to get the ball in a dangerous situation. But our best way to stop Giannis will be as a team. It's a team game after all. Given how easy it it to switch players on screens these days Budenholzer will have plenty of plays to get a mismatch on Giannis and the team will have to help.