Best Defensive Centers 2021-22

[Lipoli390]

Here's the StanMuse list of best defensive centers statistically last season. Not surprisingly, Gobert is #1, Horford #2 and Embiid #3. What you might find surprising is that KAT was #9. Yes, KAT was statistically the 9th best defensive center in the League last season.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/best-defensive-rating-centers-2022

[Q-is-here]

Thanks Lip. This uses the Basketball Reference version of Defensive Rating, which is a formula that combines individual box score stats like steals and blocks with overall team defense. It tends to underrate great perimeter defenders that don't pile up a lot of box score defensive stats, but are nevertheless great defenders.

Think Mikal Bridges of the Suns. According to this stat, he was one of Phoenix's worst defenders. Well, he doesn't get a ton of steals, blocks, and defensive boards.

[Wolvesfan21]

I think you might have to pay for a service that provides eFG against. If you are the nearest defender what FG percentage did the player you are guarding shoot? I think that could be another stat that would be interesting is how well you contest. If you could add fouls into that stat too, that would be ideal I think. Steals, Blocks and Boards are important, but contesting and not fouling is ideal.

What isn't considered in that stat either I believe, is that KAT fouls a ton. So that is another issue against him.

My eye test has thought KAT is about avg as far as defenders overall. I can't agree he is 9th overall. But avg isn't so bad either considering his prowess on the offensive end (pretty much top 3 for sure among big men with Joker and Embiid in the debate but arguably better).

For everyone that has wanted KAT to play the 4 more and not have to always rebound and bang against bigger guys on defense, we have to love the Gobert addition. KAT shouldn't get into foul trouble as much which his historically been such a problem when he was always counted on to protect the rim and board.

[Q-is-here]

I think you might have to pay for a service that provides eFG against. If you are the nearest defender what FG percentage did the player you are guarding shoot? I think that could be another stat that would be interesting is how well you contest. If you could add fouls into that stat too, that would be ideal I think. Steals, Blocks and Boards are important, but contesting and not fouling is ideal.

What isn't considered in that stat either I believe, is that KAT fouls a ton. So that is another issue against him.

My eye test has thought KAT is about avg as far as defenders overall. I can't agree he is 9th overall. But avg isn't so bad either considering his prowess on the offensive end (pretty much top 3 for sure among big men with Joker and Embiid in the debate but arguably better).

For everyone that has wanted KAT to play the 4 more and not have to always rebound and bang against bigger guys on defense, we have to love the Gobert addition. KAT shouldn't get into foul trouble as much which his historically been such a problem when he was always counted on to protect the rim and board.

I'm one of those people that has been banging the drum on this, although I never dreamed we'd get Rudy Gobert. I thought we could get a token starting center like Hartenstein that could start halves for us to take some of the pressure off KAT, but that KAT would still play 50% or more of his minutes at C, especially during crunch time.

A skeptic could ask whether this is too much of a good thing because you can't play Rudy 20 MPG like you could Hartenstein. We need to be able to thrive with KAT and Gobert sharing the court for a considerable portion of the game.