KG is still the best defensive player of the league

[anthony83]

It's the truth, no one in the league to defend as KG, with 36 years but is still unstoppable.
It's awesome, the fight, claw, motivation is amazing, he still has the same enthusiasm as when he was a rookie.
I think this season he should take this award, but I doubt it, Stern is a firecracker, he will opt for DH.
Beyond the numbers, are other things, so KG is still a top of the league.

[ManUp]

I think Howard recieving the honors is pretty fair.

He basically is Orlando's defense.

[Celtics18]

I think one could fairly argue for Dwight Howard, but I can't think of anyone else who has a more positive defensive impact on his team.

[RyNye]

Dwight personally puts up better defensive numbers.

However, KG not only has great defensive numbers, but the defensive play of the rest of the team when he is on the floor is significantly better, as well. KG has an impact on the team that Dwight simply does not at this point in his career.

Dwight, though, by putting up the numbers will probably win.

[wahz]

KG has looked like the greatest defender ever the last month. The stats gurus can run the numbers but it seems like the ball pressure that Bradley has applied has helped. Guys might penetrate but its not easy and they may be off balance. Meanwhile PP is nearly as good as ever at d and not slacking and Bass has played solid team d since thee break. Its a positive feedback loop now. They are better because of KG and since they are better, KG is even better. And the only guy fouling a lot is Steamboat and his d has been good too

[LB3533]

1. KG
2. Lebron
3. Tony Allen

[j804]

Big test for him tonight hopefully he can shut Duncan down

[BballTim]

KG has looked like the greatest defender ever the last month.

  It's not the last month, it started when Rondo was out with a wrist injury.

[Marcus13]

LeBron >>>>>>>>

[RyNye]

Lebron really is not THAT good of a defender. He is extremely strong and fast, so he is good at being physical on defense. He also has good timing for blocks. But when it comes to actual defensive awareness and IQ he really is NOT very good. He keeps his eye on the ball, not the players, and he isn't terrible good at covering people off-the-ball at all. He is just overrated because he is strong and fast enough to make up for his mistakes, so it seems as if he is elite. He is above average, sure, but nowhere near, say, Tony Allen or Avery Bradley's level of sheer defensive IQ.

[Fafnir]

Lebron really is not THAT good of a defender. He is extremely strong and fast, so he is good at being physical on defense. He also has good timing for blocks. But when it comes to actual defensive awareness and IQ he really is NOT very good. He keeps his eye on the ball, not the players, and he isn't terrible good at covering people off-the-ball at all. He is just overrated because he is strong and fast enough to make up for his mistakes, so it seems as if he is elite. He is above average, sure, but nowhere near, say, Tony Allen or Avery Bradley's level of sheer defensive IQ.

This isn't true.

He lacks their defensive focuse and effort. Part of this is his greater offensive role, part is just a lack of said focus/effort on his part at times. This matters a lot clearly, because of his lazy play (he wasn't the only culprit) the C's were able to stretch a 10 point game to a 20 point game. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have the same IQ as Tony/Bradley.

His defensive IQ is superior to both Tony and Bradley, because he cannot allow himself to foul like they because his team absolutely needs him on the court. Instead he uses length, quickness, and angles to recover and contest shots. His help defense is superior to those two players because of his superior athleticism and length, he also gambles to help more than Bradley does (not Tony, Tony gambles a lot when he's not denying or defending the ball)

LeBron is an amazing defensive player, even more so when you consider the amount of energy he expends offensively.

[droopdog7]

It's Howard and it not even close.  The impact he has on defense is unlike that of any other player.

[Greenbean]

It's Howard and it not even close.  The impact he has on defense is unlike that of any other player.

It's true...If you combine KG's tenacity with Dwight Howard's frame and you would be looking at Bill RUssel 2.0

[Finkelskyhook]

Lebron really is not THAT good of a defender. He is extremely strong and fast, so he is good at being physical on defense. He also has good timing for blocks. But when it comes to actual defensive awareness and IQ he really is NOT very good. He keeps his eye on the ball, not the players, and he isn't terrible good at covering people off-the-ball at all. He is just overrated because he is strong and fast enough to make up for his mistakes, so it seems as if he is elite. He is above average, sure, but nowhere near, say, Tony Allen or Avery Bradley's level of sheer defensive IQ.

This isn't true.

He lacks their defensive focuse and effort. Part of this is his greater offensive role, part is just a lack of said focus/effort on his part at times. This matters a lot clearly, because of his lazy play (he wasn't the only culprit) the C's were able to stretch a 10 point game to a 20 point game. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have the same IQ as Tony/Bradley.

His defensive IQ is superior to both Tony and Bradley, because he cannot allow himself to foul like they because his team absolutely needs him on the court. Instead he uses length, quickness, and angles to recover and contest shots. His help defense is superior to those two players because of his superior athleticism and length, he also gambles to help more than Bradley does (not Tony, Tony gambles a lot when he's not denying or defending the ball)

LeBron is an amazing defensive player, even more so when you consider the amount of energy he expends offensively.

It doesn't hurt either, that he gets away with more hacks than any other player since Jordan.

[Finkelskyhook]

It's Howard and it not even close.  The impact he has on defense is unlike that of any other player.

Howard might be the best defensive player in the NBA.  But Garnett has the biggest defensive impact when he's on the court. 

In addition to stellar defense on his man, Garnett directs traffic all around him like nobody else.  Howard erases a lot of mistakes.  But our players make a lot fewer mistakes when Garnett is playing.