Why Marc Gasol is the NBA's Best Defensive Player

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol should win the Defensive Player of the Year. All you need to do to understand why is to watch everything he does away from the ball during a game

To understand why Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is the league's best defensive player, you need to watch him very closely. Spend a game ignoring the ball and just focus on what he does on the defensive end of the court. Do that enough times, and you too will see why he's a basketball savant.

I spent my time watching Gasol during the Grizzlies' 96-85 win over the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, a pivotal win that gave Memphis a leg up in the race for the all-important No. 3 seed in the West. It was one of those odd Gasol games where the stat sheet actually told a large part of the story. Gasol scored 21 points to lead Memphis' offense and was credited with five steals, a rarity for him. But there were so many defensive possessions where Gasol's positioning, anticipation and on-court intelligence forced misses without him getting any credit in the stat sheet. These are just a few of those possessions.

First, it should be noted that Gasol has excellent natural quickness. Look at him stay with Chris Paul on this switch.





But in today's game, lots of centers can stay with quick point guards for one possession when needed. What sets Gasol apart? He combines that natural ability with superior positioning and fantastic play recognition.

lakerfan2 wrote:That article also has to notice that:

1. Conley did not follow CP3.
2. Conley did not go under the screen
3. Conley cut off the immediate roll pass to Blake and Memphis collapsed the paint to take that away. That's team defense right there.

Lakers need to get on that page.

laker911 wrote:I thought LeBron was. I'm so confused. Why do ESPN keep emphasizing that LeBron is? Surely ESPN can't be biased.

Chillbongo wrote:Marc's defense is excellent, but that is TEAM DEFENSE at its finest.

Doc Brown wrote:^^^ There's the one man cover for everyone, while everyone else stands around, defense that we have been running the last couple of years.

wcsoldier81 wrote:I wouldn't take Marc as a defensive player over Chandler, Noah or healthy D12

wcsoldier81 wrote:He's not even the best defender on his own team ...

I know a big can have a huge defensive impact by anchoring the paint and blitz the PNR but more props need to be given to perimeter defenders , especially with today's rules ... if you want to award Grizz great team D , give the defensive player of the year award to Tony Allen ...

I wouldn't take Marc as a defensive player over Chandler, Noah or healthy D12

bystander wrote:

Finwë wrote:^^ I think Chandler and Noah are much more like a Marc Gasol than like Ibaka or McGee or Jordan. They aren't all over the place like those guys, they direct and conduct others with frequent comunication, they don't bite on pump fakes often, they play VERY good D against guards if they switch on screens...
Howard so far I'd say is kinda between both, sometimes he looks to block every shot and that can end up producing (directly or indirectly) bad results for us, and sometimes he looks much more like a true defensive anchor, talking with our guys, hedging on screens with great precision, boxing out, etc..

Battle Tested20 wrote:

bystander wrote:

What a defensive beast