NBA Power Rankings: The Biggest Defensive Liability on Every Team
Back in the early days of basketball, teams prided themselves on defense and would only give up two points a game on average. But then they cut the bottom off the basket, made the ball bounce and added a 24-second shot clock.
Once the 24-second shot clock was introduced, the NBA became an offensive game. It was a change for the better, but it also led to a lot of guys spending 99.98 percent of their time focusing on how to put the ball in the basket.
Sadly there are very few people in the league now that pride themselves on their defense. Quite a few guys are just plain awful.
A lot of guys like to use numbers to prove their point, but I watch probably more basketball than anyone not named Marc Stein and I love to watch with my eyes.
I currently don't think the numbers for defensive efficiency can be trusted just yet. Numbers set it so new and it hasn't been perfected.
Maybe at the Sloan Conference (aka Dorkapalooza) this year they can finally hammer out a proper defensive efficiency number and then I'll be more likely to use it.
So I'm going to be handing out an award to each player who is a complete defensive liability for his team. This guy is going to personify everything a fan doesn't want a player to be. A guy who when he steps on the floor, the player he's going be guarding gets a huge smile on his face and his coach automatically changes the game plan to get that player the ball every trip down.
We are going to call this award the Travis Knight Defensive Memorial Award, or the Travies for short.
Why Travis Knight? Because it would be very wrong to not honor the man who fouled out of an NBA game the fastest.
Six fouls in six minutes during the Western Conference Finals in 1999.
Atlanta Hawks: Jamal Crawford
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I've been watching Jamal Crawford since he was playing at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Wash. I've seen him make some amazing shots throughout his career. He could be the best high school player I've ever seen live.
Yet through all the points I've seen him score, I don't think I've ever seen him play a single lick of defense.
Not even in his charity games that he puts on every year in Seattle.
I love Jamal. I love how he reps the 206, but it's quickly coming out that Seattle produces scorers and not defenders.
Boston Celtics: Shaquille O'Neal
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The Boston Celtics are probably the best defensive team in the NBA from top to bottom.
Each and everyone one of their players—from Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen all the way down to Marquis Daniels and Semih Erden—takes pride in every defensive possession.
I'm sure Shaq does, too, but the man is old and out of shape. He just isn't the same man he used to be.
Shaq is generally the last man down the down the court, the worst pick-and-roll defender I've seen since Benoit Benjamin and to top it off, he's just not that big of a threat in the post. His feet no longer move fast enough.
A half-decent drop step and you're out of his gravitational pull and ready for a layup.
Charlotte Bobcats: DJ Augustin
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It has often been said that when DJ Augustin is on the floor, the Bobcats are playing a four-on-five game at that end of the court.
I've only gotten to watch a couple of Bobcats games this year, but I always notice that Augustin's man usually has a big night.
Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer
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Carlos Boozer is soft. Extremely soft.
The man backs away from any contact and would rather release for a break rather than bang bodies and get a tough rebound.
You want to know how soft Carlos Boozer? Boozer backed down from a feud with Prince.
Yeah, Prince. Not Tayshaun Prince. Just Prince.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Daniel Gibson
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I think Daniel Gibson could be a great player. He knows how to score, get to the line and knock down the three, but he can't stay out there because he doesn't play defense at all.
I've seen him recently get beat on a drive by Brian Cardinal.
I'm sorry, but if Brian Cardinal is getting by you on a drive, you really need to sit down and rethink some things about your life.
Dallas Mavericks: JJ Barea
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JJ loves to shoot the basketball. He absolutely loves to shoot the basketball and when he goes unconscious, he could make a shot with both hands and feet tied behind his back.
When he's on defense, he can't keep an old lady pushing a walker in front of him. Allegedly Dirk's mom blew by him on a drive. I have no confirmation of this, it's just a rumor. Take it as you will.
To say he's a liability on defense is a gross understatement.
Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington
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If you look at the picture you see how well Al Harrington defends. When is the last time he slapped down at the ball and actually hit the ball? Usually there is a loud slapping sound or a complete whiff. Never him actually getting the ball and starting a break.
The man can't keep anyone in front of him. He has no hops to defend a jump shot and if a guy gets by him, it's a hack and two free throws.
Harrington is lucky he can score in bunches or he wouldn't ever see the court.
Detroit Pistons: Tracy McGrady
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Tracy McGrady is another guy who has never been known for his defense, never been on an all-defensive team at any level and never will be.
When I watch T-Mac play defense, I see a lot of standing around while his man is cutting to the basket and lots of lackadasical jumping out during a shot. He only grabs a defensive board if it comes right at him.
McGrady could be the epitome of lazy on defense. I never liked his game on that end of the floor, even more so after the knee issues.
Charlie Villanueva was about .00001 percent from getting this spot, but McGrady was just that much worse.
Golden State Warriors: Vladimir Radmanovic
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One of my favorite former Sonics still in the league currently.
He's a man that Kevin Calabro once fondly dubbed "Broadway Joe." That nickname, sadly, has not followed him on his stops with just about every team throughout the NBA once he was traded from Seattle.
Vlad was a horrible defender and part of the Sonics team in 2006 that was called the worst defensive team in the history of the NBA. He was a big part of that. I've never seen a man bite on so many up-fakes.
I would have loved to see him become a better defender. It's bound to happen, right?
Sadly, he's gotten a lot worse. Makes me a little sad.
Houston Rockets: Kevin Martin
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Kevin Martin is just not a very good defender. He never has been and never will be.
I really don't know why he's not that into it. He's athletic, extremely quick laterally, has fast hands and, offensively, he can get anywhere he wants on the floor.
Is it a lack of interest (most likely) or that he just isn't that great on defense?
Who knows? But at least he can score.
Indiana Pacers: Mike Dunleavy
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Mike Dunleavy is another one of those guys who has never been good at defense. Even at Duke he was terrible.
I'm sure he was terrible in high school and junior high. Right now in the driveway, I bet his little four-year-old is routinely taking it to the rack on him.
Look at the picture to the left. Damien Wilkens has two steps on him!
Damien Wilkens!
Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Bledsoe
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Eric Bledsoe was known for his defense while he had his cup of coffee at the University of Kentucky, and that is what made him a first-round draft pick in the NBA last year.
However, in the NBA he has struggled with more elite competition and tends to look like a lost child out there on occasion.
Right now he's their biggest liability, but he's going to turn it around in the next few years. He will probably be the best on-the-ball defender in the league at point guard.
I would have put Chris Kaman here, but he doesn't play anymore. So it's a little bit hard to do it.
Los Angeles Lakers: Derek Fisher
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Derek Fisher has never been a great defender—he's more known for taking charges and flopping ability. Those two subjects really go hand-in-hand because the man goes down quicker than Vlade Divac on contact.
Fisher recently has become a liability because he doesn't have the lateral quickness or the physical ability to stay in front of his man any more. Guys like Rose, Westbrook, Parker and Paul just own Derek Fisher.
The only reason Fisher is still on the team is his clutch shooting and knowledge of how to run the triangle.
Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo
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I didn't think OJ was a bad defender, but after talking to some friends and reporters in the Memphis area, there was a huge consensus that OJ Mayo was the biggest liability for the Grizzlies.
I was thinking that it was going to be Sam Young or Zach Randolph.
I guess Young has stepped up his defense, and after watching Randolph a few times the past couple of weeks, it's hard to say he is a bad defender. He's actually one of the better low-post defenders I've seen recently.
Continuing on OJ Mayo, though.
"He doesn't move his feet on defense. He stands there, swipes at the ball and then heads the other way hoping a teammate bails him out and he can get a fast break. Sixty-eight percent of the time the other player makes the basket. Three percent of the time he scores on a fast break."
Sounds like it's definitely not enough to warrant letting your man get by you.
Miami Heat: Mike Miller
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I really thought hard about putting Zydrunas Ilgauskas here, but he's not as big of a liability as Mike Miller.
Since he's come back from injury, there are times when he looks solid on defense.
But more often than not I keep saying to myself: "There's Miller's guy with another open jumper."
Milwaukee Bucks: Corey Maggette
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Corey Maggette has always been known as a scorer who has never made the playoffs. Doesn't look like he's going to make the playoffs again this year with the Bucks struggling to do much of anything.
Bucks could be better if Maggette wasn't minus-6.7 per 100 possessions out there on the floor.
And that defensive efficiency rating was for you guys who wanted a number to back up my case.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love
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Kevin Love is a very effective scorer and always seems to be in the right place at the right time to be ready for a rebound.
Why is he such a great defensive rebounder?
Because he doesn't always keep his guy from scoring.
Kevin Love is more worried about where the rebound is potentially going than what his man is doing on offense.
I've seen way too many possessions where Love's man makes a simple cut, catches the ball and has a dunk or layup.
New Jersey Nets: Troy Murphy
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Troy Murphy doesn't play a whole lot these days, but it's probably for the best. When he's out on the floor, he couldn't stop a crawling baby.
Murphy is the man who almost gave up 40 points to Andray Blatche.
No one should give anything remotely close to 40 points to Andray Blatche.
New Orleans Hornets: Marco Belinelli
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Marco was my first choice and then I started doing research.
David West was listed as an honorable mention as one of the worst defenders in 2010, and there was Marcus Thornton, who couldn't stay on the court because he was a terrible defender.
Then there is Marco, who can't stay on the floor because he can't defend and he forgets to make a basket for games at a time.
Watching Marco against guys like Monta Ellis is like watching the time I guarded Nick Van Exel in an LA Rec League and he dropped 72 on me.
On the bright side, I got 37 on him, but he never played a minute of defense in his life.
New York Knicks: Amar'e Stoudemire
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Amar'e is the crown jewel in the Knicks rebuilding process and he should be. The man exudes Broadway Star and he has a style and pizzazz all his own.
He's an aggressive scorer on offense and unleashes some of the angriest dunks out of anyone in the NBA.
On defense, he couldn't care less. He's slow on switches, gets muscled out of the paint and constantly blocked out by should-be inferior rebounders.
Sure, he's great for a block here and there, but it's good that he scores so many points because most nights he gives up just as many.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeff Green
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This isn't really Jeff's fault. He's a small forward in a small forward's body playing power foward.
You can place the blame squarely on Sam Presti on this one. What type of idiot GM would draft an elite player at one position and then draft another really good player at the same position three picks later?
David Kahn, that's who!
Jeff Green does his best to keep guys much bigger than him off the boards and keep them from scoring, but there is only so much he can do. It's why we see Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison in the lineup in clutch situations against larger guys.
You get him on a team where he can play the SF position and his defense will get a lot better and quicker.
Orlando Magic: Ryan Anderson
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Ryan Anderson has become a de facto starter in Orlando recently. Once Brandon Bass is healthy, he will be back in as the starting power forward next to Dwight Howard.
Anderson, while tough and full of heart, isn't the greatest defender in the low post. He was recently abused by Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom when the Magic played the Lakers this past weekend.
Anderson has a great stroke on the offensive end, but he just can't do anything with other bigs on opposing teams on the defensive end of the floor.
Philadelphia 76ers: Lou Williams
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You open up the dictionary and look up "overzealous help defender" and they'll just have a picture of Lou Williams next to the phrase.
Lou Williams loves to collapse down and try to swipe the ball away from the bigs in double-team situations, but he ends up getting burned on kick outs for threes. He can rarely keep anyone in front of him as well.
Thaddeus Young and Maurice Speights were also considered for this spot, but Williams just gives up too many threes.
Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash
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I hate putting a two-time MVP on this list, but Nash no longer has the ability to stop anyone. He's like a combination of Derek Fisher and Lou Williams.
Like Fisher, he no longer has the legs to keep up with the younger, quicker guards in the NBA. Like Williams, Nash loves to help out and will leave his man wide open and over-pursues when he jumps back out at the player.
This, of course, leads to a three or a blow-by.
Like I said, I hate to put him on this list, but he's just not the defender he once was.
Portland Trail Blazers: Rudy Fernandez
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Rudy Fernandez doesn't like to play defense.
Most of his team does, but Rudy shows just about as much interest in playing defense for Portland as he has for actually being in Portland.
I've seen Rudy play a lot since he's come to Portland and his Olympic stints. He's only really interested in putting the ball in the basket and he only does that kind of well.
Sacramento Kings: Beno Udrih
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Beno Udrih just gets lost on the defensive end.
I've seen him run into his own man multiple times, get caught watching the ball and have his man cut to the basket for an easy layup.
His on-the-ball defense isn't great either. He seems like he can never decide if he wants to press and prevent a shot or play back and prevent the drive.
Playing in no-man's land creates a lot of jumpers in his eye and leaves his front line scrambling to make a play on the back line after his man beats him again.
You think he would have learned to play better defense in San Antonio.
It's probably why he's playing in Sacramento now.
San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan used to be one of the better defenders in the league, but like Shaq, he has lost a couple of steps. He no longer has the side-to-side quickness or the hops to really defend the quicker centers in the league.
Tim Duncan is still one of the greatest players in the history of the game and definitely the greatest power forward to ever live.
He could get blown by on defense by just about anyone now.
Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani
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There is no way around this one. Bargnani may possibly be the worst defender in all of the NBA.
I've never seen a game in which he doesn't get dunked on, blown by, or commit a foul on what should be an easy block. I could keep on going, but I'd just feel like I was picking on the guy.
He's great on the offensive side, though. He's got a great stroke. Like a poor man's Dirk Nowitzki.
Utah Jazz: Andrei Kirilenko
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Kirilenko was once an All-Star known for his defense.
Then it just seemed to fall off a cliff.
He hasn't been the same scorer he once was and he is completely stiff on defense now.
He used to flow around the court and now his hips are tight—no lateral movement. His leaping ability has returned back to Russia with the rest of his game.
Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis
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I love Rashard Lewis. I really do. But the man doesn't play defense at all.
He never has.
He likes to make the appearance that he does play defense, but he's never been into it on any level. Didn't in high school, never did in Seattle (thought he had his best defensive years under Nate McMillan) or Orlando.
It's not a real big priority in Washington for him, either.
