NBA: Ibaka, Hibbert, 7 Best Post Defenders

Who are the best post defenders in the NBA?

Last time, we evaluated NBA perimeter defenders and the criteria for those players, highlighting the best at that skill that helps teams win championships.

Now we turn to the NBA post defenders. They have to patrol the lane, keeping guards from driving in and from big men camping on the block.

Criteria

The same criteria is used to see who are the best post defenders, there are just different names and emphasis.

Reputation-

Who is known as a great post defender? Do they routinely have crazy highlight blocks, as well as subtle good defense? The better defense is to keep the ball inbounds, tapping it to a teammate. It’s more difficult than the flashy, smack of the ball into the third row. Tim Duncan is one of the best at doing that.

Assignment-

Does this player draw the defensive assignment against the best post player? If Al Jefferson comes to town, does this player have to be the primary defender?

Stats-

There are several metrics that let us evaluate different post players including blocks, steals and opponents field goal percentage at the rim. NBA.com defines rim protection as the defensive player no more than five feet from the rim and from the shooter.

The Players

Who are the elite post defenders in the league? They include Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Roy Hibbert, Joakim Noah, Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard. Some honorable mentions are Tim Duncan, who used to be the best, and DeAndre Jordan.

Anthony Davis

Davis is really good. In his first game of the new season he had nine blocks! That’s amazing. Davis is so good he can block jumpshots on a regular basis. That is hard to do. Davis is the cornerstone of the New Orleans Pelicans, anchoring their defense and helping out on offense in a variety of ways.

Last season, he averaged 1.3 steals, 2.8 blocks and only allowed 48.8 percent near the rim.

Oct 20, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) blocks a shot by Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Grizzlies 108-103. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Marc Gasol

The younger Gasol brother is a big part of the Memphis Grizzlies “grit and grind” style. He can spread the floor with his mid-range shooting and plays great defense. He plays that physical style that gets underneath the opponent’s skin, while utilizing his finesse whenever the need arises.

He averaged 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks in 2013-14, while giving up 51.2 percent near the rim.

Serge Ibaka

He’s the third part of the “big three” of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the only one still standing right now as both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are currently sidelined due to injury. He’s key to OKC as his defensive presence is felt every night and he can knock down jumper after jumper when defenders leave him to go help on Durant and Westbrook.

In 2013-14, Ibaka averaged 0.5 steals per game and 2.7 blocks per game, while giving up only 45.0 percent from the field near the rim. That’s incredible.

Oct 29, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten (8) lays the ball in against Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Roy Hibbert

The 7’2” Hibbert is a beast of a defender. The master of verticality, he keeps his long arms up, “changing” the opponent’s shots rather than blocking them. With Paul George out due to that brutal broken leg and Lance Stevenson gone, Hibbert will have to bear the offensive load as well.

Last season, Hibbert averaged 0.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, while allowing 41.1 percent shooting near the rim. Just incredible.

Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, is anchoring the Chicago Bulls great defense orchestrated by Tom Thibodeau. He is somewhat limited offensively, but is a great passer, especially for a big man and more heart than nearly anyone in the league (he’ll own that title once Kevin Garnett is retired next year or so). He hustles and plays smart.

In 2013-14, Noah averaged 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, while giving up only 47.2 percent field goal percentage near the rim.

Tyson Chandler

Chandler won a title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 then went to New York to go cover up Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith’s defensive deficiencies. That didn’t work too well. Now he’s back with the Mavericks for another go with a better roster.

Last season, he averaged 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks while giving up 50.9 percent from the field near the rim.

Oct 29, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts during the second half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. The Rockets won 104-93. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Dwight Howard

Howard was the franchise player for the Magic for many years, even making it to the 2009 NBA finals. He then tried a stop in LA with the Lakers for a year that didn’t work out well at all. Now he’s found a home in Houston. Howard is an athletic freak. He gobbles up shots and wreaks havoc on opposing players’ shots.

Last season, he tallied 0.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game and gave up 48.1 percent from the field near the rim.

Clearly the best post defender is Roy Hibbert, who gave up a ridiculously low percentage near the rim last season. Going forward however, it will be Anthony “the Brow” Davis. It’s only a matter of time.

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