There’s no defense for such talk
Ask a fan who the best defensive player in NBA history was and you could get a variety of answers: Bill Russell. Michael Jordan. Hakeem Olajuwon. Dikembe Mutombo. Former Laker Don Ford.
OK, probably not that last one.
Ask Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors who the best defensive player of all time is and you will get a quick answer: Draymond Green.
“The best ever defender?” Green told the Athletic. “Me. That’s what I believe. Wholeheartedly.” That makes one of you. There is an NBA stat in vogue called Defensive Rating. It takes everything a player does on defense and coverts it into a formula that says how many points that player would allow in 100 possessions.
The top 10 all time in the NBA: 1. Gar Heard, 95.30 2. Dave Cowens, 95.52 3. Tim Duncan, 95.57 4. David Robinson, 95.65 5. Ben Wallace, 95.76 6. Clifford Ray, 96.26 7. Wes Unseld, 96.31 8. Sam Lacey, 96.45 9. George Johnson, 96.67 10. Paul Silas, 96.77 Green’s rating is 101.2, which puts him in 55th place all time, between Robert Horry and Dan Roundfield. Among active players he is fourth, behind Dwight Howard, Andre Drummond and Joakim Noah.
Pretty good, but far from the best ever. Then again, who’s picking Gar Heard as the best defensive player in history?
Standing still
New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano is having the worst season of his career, and it didn’t get any better over the weekend against the Miami Marlins.
Cano batted Friday with runners on first base and second base and one out in the seventh inning in Miami and hit a bouncer to pitcher Adam Conley, who threw to second to record the first out. At which point Cano stopped running, allowing the Marlins to easily turn an inning-ending double play.
Even the Mets broadcasters noticed, saying, “Cano didn’t even bother trying to run, just jogged slowly down to first.”
Said manager Mickey Callaway: “He came up proactively on his own and came up to me, the board said two outs, he thought there were two outs at the time, and he understands no matter what the board said, he needs to understand how many outs there are.”
On Sunday, with a runner on first and one out in the top of the fourth, Cano hit a nubber in front of the plate. He appeared to contest the play while catcher Chad Wallach threw to second for one out and Cano was thrown out at first while still standing at the plate, arguing that the ball should not have been in play.
Mets broadcasters criticized Cano.
“I can’t defend Robinson on that one,” Keith Hernandez said and booth partner Gary Cohen added, “There’s nothing to argue. It’s a fair ball. Run!” China bound?
LaMelo Ball, 17, is one year away from being able to make himself eligible for the NBA draft. So what will he do with himself while waiting to be the first overall pick? His father probably believes LaMelo will be No. 1 and he wouldn’t exaggerate about stuff like that, would he?
According to Slam magazine, Ball could play in China next season.
Hey, LaMelo, if that is true, and you do end up playing for a team in China next season, you should go ask your brother LiAngelo where to shop while you’re there. I understand he knows some places where the prices are a real steal.