ESPN Insider article: Bradley and KG should be 1st team All-Defense

[nickagneta]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PerDiem-130412/nba-all-defensive-team-picks?addata=2009_insdr_mod_nba_xxx_xxx

Point Guard

Bradley

First Team: Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
Second Team: Eric Bledsoe, Los Angeles Clippers
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies; George Hill, Indiana Pacers; Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Both Bradley, 22, and Bledsoe, 23, look like All-Defensive fixtures for the next decade. The only question is Bradley's position; he spent this season at point guard but will likely move back to shooting guard next season with the return of a healthy Rajon Rondo. Bradley's pressure was one of the biggest reasons the Celtics could overcome the loss of Rondo and serves to make life miserable for opposing ball handlers. If Bradley is the league's best when it comes to applying pressure on the ball, Bledsoe might be No. 2. He ranked third in the NBA in steal rate by creating a turnover on 3.7 percent of the plays he was on the floor. Those steals typically turned into lobs at the other end.

Conley and Hill are two of the league's most underrated players, in large part because their contributions at the defensive end are more difficult to quantify than the points and assists put up by offensive-minded point guards who give up equally gaudy numbers when they go on defense. Parker has made himself into a quality defender who surrenders nothing despite being undersized.

Power Forward

Garnett

First Team: Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Second Team: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Honorable Mentions: Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Among the big men I considered for All-Defensive honors, Garnett had the most positive net defensive plus-minus. Boston allowed 7.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (per NBA.com/Stats). To put that in context, the Celtics defended like the league's second-best team with Garnett and at an average rate without him. That's due in part to the lack of size behind Garnett, but it also reflects his continued mastery of pick-and-roll defense and ability to get teammates in the right place.

Like Garnett, Duncan has been a fixture on the All-Defensive Team for years and continues to excel at the defensive end. An improbable late-career resurgence has seen Duncan block shots at the best rate of his career at age 36, ranking him fifth in the league.

Some year, Gibson is going to play 2,000 minutes and bolster his All-Defensive credentials. Alas, injuries limited his court time this season. When Gibson did play, the Bulls allowed 4.7 fewer points per 100 possessions (per NBA.com/Stats). Ibaka is on his way to leading the NBA in blocks per game for the second consecutive season. However, the Thunder aren't any better defensively with him on the floor rather than backup (and defensive savant) Nick Collison. For all the frustration he causes his own team on offense, Smith creates nearly as much for opponents on defense at either forward position.

KG played center all year but I still think he's probably the best defensive big in the league. Howard and Sanders can have all the blocks and rebounds they want, KG is still the most overall dominant defensive big in the league, IMHO.

[CelticConcourse]

I'd like that, but I don't see it.

[nickagneta]

I'd like that, but I don't see it.

I think Bradley gets 1st team. KG probably won't see it. The people who do these things just love blocks and steals and offensive reputations. I fully expect LeBron, Sanders and Ibaka to get the 1st team big man positions on the All-Defense team.

[T-LoDaniels]

I'd like that, but I don't see it.

I think Bradley gets 1st team. KG probably won't see it. The people who do these things just love blocks and steals and offensive reputations. I fully expect LeBron, Sanders and Ibaka to get the 1st team big man positions on the All-Defense team.

I actually think that KG deserves to be in the 1st team, but Bradley not. I think Mike Conley is a better overall defender

[Fafnir]

I'd like that, but I don't see it.

I think Bradley gets 1st team. KG probably won't see it. The people who do these things just love blocks and steals and offensive reputations. I fully expect LeBron, Sanders and Ibaka to get the 1st team big man positions on the All-Defense team.

I actually think that KG deserves to be in the 1st team, but Bradley not. I think Mike Conley is a better overall defender

I'll disagree on that one, especially given how often Tony ends up on the more threatening guard.

[Who]

I wouldn't put KG in as power forward. I would go with Ibaka instead. I don't think KG has played PF enough this year + I don't think he is as effective there defensively as he is at the center position or has been there in past years. I think Ibaka is the best defender at the PF position in the league right now.

I would consider him at the center position along with Noah and Tyson Chandler. Noah would probably be my first choice for the first team though.

[guava_wrench]

Bradley torments players with his ball pressure. There is nothing else like it right now in the NBA. He will get a lot of votes for that. It is impressive to hear opposing team broadcasts rave about him. I suspect coaches have to do some serious game planning for him, meaning lots of votes.

[pearljammer10]

I dont think either will get the nod. I dont think Bradley is recognizable enough to the NBA fan base yet. KG wasnt consistent enough for me.

[Snakehead]

I'd like that, but I don't see it.

Same.

Well I should say KG.  He has been getting shafted for years on defensive awards.  But I think Bradley may have picked up too much steam and he's put up some really great defensive games, maybe too much to be ignored.

[dinome18]

Bradley torments players with his ball pressure. There is nothing else like it right now in the NBA. He will get a lot of votes for that. It is impressive to hear opposing team broadcasts rave about him. I suspect coaches have to do some serious game planning for him, meaning lots of votes.

Ball pressure and shutting down opposing guards are two different things. When attacked on the defensive end by guards Bradley doesn't fare that well.

[Snakehead]

Bradley torments players with his ball pressure. There is nothing else like it right now in the NBA. He will get a lot of votes for that. It is impressive to hear opposing team broadcasts rave about him. I suspect coaches have to do some serious game planning for him, meaning lots of votes.

Ball pressure and shutting down opposing guards are two different things. When attacked on the defensive end by guards Bradley doesn't fare that well.

What does "attacked" mean?  And he doesn't fare that well compared to who?

Were you not impressed by his defense on Russel Westbrook?

[Celtics4ever]

It will be justice if Bradley makes the team but hard to beat out league favorites like Kobe at SG.

[dinome18]

Bradley torments players with his ball pressure. There is nothing else like it right now in the NBA. He will get a lot of votes for that. It is impressive to hear opposing team broadcasts rave about him. I suspect coaches have to do some serious game planning for him, meaning lots of votes.

Ball pressure and shutting down opposing guards are two different things. When attacked on the defensive end by guards Bradley doesn't fare that well.

What does "attacked" mean?  And he doesn't fare that well compared to who?

Were you not impressed by his defense on Russel Westbrook?

No, I wasn't impressed with results against Lawson, Teague, Henderson and Dwill just to name a few. Give him credit for the effort but that's the only thing that separates him from other top guards in the league.

[wayupnorth]

Bradley torments players with his ball pressure. There is nothing else like it right now in the NBA. He will get a lot of votes for that. It is impressive to hear opposing team broadcasts rave about him. I suspect coaches have to do some serious game planning for him, meaning lots of votes.

Ball pressure and shutting down opposing guards are two different things. When attacked on the defensive end by guards Bradley doesn't fare that well.

What does "attacked" mean?  And he doesn't fare that well compared to who?

Were you not impressed by his defense on Russel Westbrook?

No, I wasn't impressed with results against Lawson, Teague, Henderson and Dwill just to name a few. Give him credit for the effort but that's the only thing that separates him from other top guards in the league.

Trololololol

[Atzar]

No, I wasn't impressed with results against Lawson, Teague, Henderson and Dwill just to name a few. Give him credit for the effort but that's the only thing that separates him from other top guards in the league.

Williams and Henderson can bully him.  Lawson and Teague can match or exceed his quickness. 

That's the key with Bradley; you have to be able to match or limit his athleticism somehow.  In the case of quick guards like Lawson, he needs to learn to play an extra half-step back.  It'll help him shut off the drives, and I believe he still has the length to contest shots.  But there's no easy fix for guys like Williams, who can just muscle through him and get him in foul trouble. 

It's important to note that guys like Williams, Joe Johnson and DeRozan are capable of scoring on anybody.  I'm also firmly of the opinion that people would know Gerald Henderson's name if he played anywhere but Charlotte.  So the fact that they played well on his watch (though I don't consider the Henderson explosion to be primarily his fault) isn't really an indictment on Bradley... they're just really good.