15/16 vs 16/17 Celtics team

[tankcity!]

You're right. I forgot how Atlanta clogged the paint last year. They did that to us and tried to do  it with Cleveland. The only question I would have is isn't Atlanta supposed to have a good perimeter defense? I mean how effective were Horford and Milsap in pick and roll if they're nailing threes. Do you know for sure it was the guard play that caused the mishap on D?

I think rim protection is important if you don't have Lebron. However, GS was hurting last year without Bogut. Durant has always had rim protection. When the Pacers were good they had rim protection. Let's see how good at defense this Warriors team is since Green will basically be playing center most of the time I imagine. Unlike last year when it would only be at the end.

I don't think Atlanta has any guard so impressive on defense at all (certainly not on Smart, Bradley, or Crowder levels) and I think part of the confusion here is what you even mean by rim protection.  I think you are including here much more than that idea.  A big who has size, can box out, rebound, play pick and roll defense, get the ball and make the right pass is important for sure but that is not really "shot blocking" which is what people are so obsessed with.  Horford does all those things and could for say GS but does not meet peoples "rim protector" requirement.  You mention the Pacers being good, but they were not a contending team.

The problem with GS was not just that Bogut was out, it was that they bigs they have after him were just not good at any of the previously mentioned things.   They just were not really good players.  Varejao is really bad now.  I can see GS having that same problem again this year actually, with even less room for error given they lost Bogut.

The thing for me is just looking again at what a guy who blocks shots brings elsewhere.  I just think a fair amount of guys that fall in that category can't do a bunch of other things on the floor and also are overpaid, sacrificing further for the whole of the team across the roster.   The sacrifice isn't worth it.

Yeah I should be more clear. Rim protection and guarding the 3 point line are two separate things. I think those players I listed could do both is what I meant. But yeah, a player like Green is more valuable than rim protection in this era. I would never want a slow footed center that couldn't do both and guarding the 3 point line is more valuable. So I see what everyone means. 

[The Oracle]

With the expansion of the game outward guys like Hibbert and Asik are worthless as defenders because they are far to immobile to defend anywhere outside the paint and are just sitting ducks waiting to be exploited.

This is true for most teams. However, some teams have started to figure out ways to work around this issue.

Charlotte is the best example -- Clifford managed to coach them into a top 10 defense last year despite the fact that Al Jefferson was getting a lot of minutes at center.

I think as teams adjust and adapt to this switch-heavy perimeter oriented era, smart coaches will figure out how to keep less mobile, paint-bound big men on the floor without sacrificing defense too much.  Big Al's defensive ratings over his three years in Charlotte were a very acceptable 100, 100, and 102.  He's hardly more mobile than Hibbert or Asik, and has considerably less height / length.

Why would you want to keep Big Al on the floor when he provides no advantage on either end of the floor?  The only reason these less mobile bigs have jobs right now is because there isn't anywhere near enough more skilled quicker bigs to go around.  Bigs that can shoot the 3 and defend the entire floor provide huge advantages on both ends and if teams get hold of 3 or 4 of them there will be no need in having Big Al's.