Niether!! It's Shane Battier. Truthfully, I've never seen a player work so hard to stop the other team's best player. Not only that, but he literally shuts down almost ALL FIVE POSITIONS every night. The guy is a machine. I've seen Bowen and Bell play their best games, but Battier just plays harder than them. He doesn't resort to flopping or dirty play. The guy doesn't even like to draw attention to himself Plus I've never seen a player literally give Kobe so many problems The best defender in the league= Shane Battier
LOL. When I saw the thread title, I was going to answer, "Shane Battier". He's been awesome. Terrific team defender. He may not be the individual defensive stopper Bowen and Artest are, but his help defense is unmatched. The guy is just so fundementally sound.
The only sentence Bell is worth to share a place in with Bowen and Artest is a sentence concerning cheap shots. Raja Bell is not a good defender.
I'd take Kirilenko any day. He's length is just mind boggling. And he's so athletic for a dude at his position. He has the ability to keep up with smaller players, and can just frustrate the hell out out of some of the better players.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">LOL. When I saw the thread title, I was going to answer, "Shane Battier". He's been awesome. Terrific team defender. He may not be the individual defensive stopper Bowen and Artest are, but his help defense is unmatched. The guy is just so fundementally sound.</div> I don't kow, his individual defense is still unmatched. Even before the opponents gets the rock Battier's already givin him fits. He makes you work for EVERY damn shot. Plus WITHOUT FLOPPING
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't kow, his individual defense is still unmatched. Even before the opponents gets the rock Battier's already givin him fits. He makes you work for EVERY damn shot. Plus WITHOUT FLOPPING</div> He's very effective because he makes very few mistakes. If you're going to score on him, you have to make a great offensive move. He's not going to give you any freebies. I don't think he has the same quickness (lateral movement) than Bowen or Artest have. He's not nearly as strong as Artest. But there isn't a smarter defender in the league. Personally, if I was given a vote for who's the Defensive Player of the Year, I'd take Battier. Rockets are number 1 in defensive efficiency (and it really isn't close), and Battier has been our most consistent, productive defender. He's unbelievably versatile as well -- he could probably guard 4 positions.
When I first saw this thread...I thought it was going to have to be moved to OOB. Anyways, I'll give Battier his props. The man works his ass off and is easily one of the best defenders in the league. I like Kirilenko personally, just because he's got length and quickness to guard pretty much any position, and his instincts on the blocks are just ubelievable when it comes to shot blocking.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">When I first saw this thread...I thought it was going to have to be moved to OOB. Anyways, I'll give Battier his props. The man works his ass off and is easily one of the best defenders in the league. I like Kirilenko personally, just because he's got length and quickness to guard pretty much any position, and his instincts on the blocks are just ubelievable when it comes to shot blocking.</div> He's not nearly as disciplined as Battier, though. He relies a lot on his ridiculous wing span to make plays for him, instead of moving his feet and staying in front of his man. Still, he's a great defender. His impact on that end for the Jazz is quite obvious.
Individual defensive player: Ron Artest. Quick and may not have SO good lock down D as Bowen, but he has a stronger and bigger body so can defend well inside the arc, too. I don't know much about Battier but in the Olympics he looked good on the defensive end and he doesn't freak out like Artest.
Shane Battier is probably the best versatile defender, meaning he can guard players out on the perimeter or in the post. Last year I would have went with Ron Artest, but he hasn't been nearly as good defensively. Andrei Kirilenko is right up there with his ability to guard on the perimeter and in the post, although he has a hard time against physical forwards.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">He's very effective because he makes very few mistakes. If you're going to score on him, you have to make a great offensive move. He's not going to give you any freebies.</div> Exactly, just watchin the guy work is amazing. He has to be one of the hardest workin guys in the NBA. <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think he has the same quickness (lateral movement) than Bowen or Artest have. He's not nearly as strong as Artest. But there isn't a smarter defender in the league. Personally, if I was given a vote for who's the Defensive Player of the Year, I'd take Battier. Rockets are number 1 in defensive efficiency (and it really isn't close), and Battier has been our most consistent, productive defender. He's unbelievably versatile as well -- he could probably guard 4 positions.</div> I saw a play last night against the Lakers where Kobe crossed over right and came back left right quick. Battier got caught leaning but came back in time get the charge. I was like I don't know if Bowen can do that. Plus Battier gets more charges than anybody i can think of.
ill go with Ben Wallace. The guy has the most defensive player of the years of any player in the league right now from the last time i checked, and that isnt the only thing he does either. so yeah.
<div class="quote_poster">Bahir Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The only sentence Bell is worth to share a place in with Bowen and Artest is a sentence concerning cheap shots. Raja Bell is not a good defender.</div> Have you actually watched him play? The guy shuts down some of the best players in the NBA.
lol hes good but bahir is tryna say that hes not at bowen or artests level yet. and he added the cheap shot stuff becuz of the kobe incident.
<div class="quote_poster">elevate Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lol hes good but bahir is tryna say that hes not at bowen or artests level yet. and he added the cheap shot stuff becuz of the kobe incident.</div> If I played Kobe, I would have done the same. It happend once. Bruce Bowen has kicked people 10 times. People call Raja a dirty defender because of one incident when other NBA players a 10 times worse. I'm sorry he closelined the princess of L.A... Do you think I care? Boo Hoo... Cry me a river.
<div class="quote_poster">elevate Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">someones takin it a bit to personal..im just justifying what Bahir thinks. you need to relax</div> I know what Bahir thinks. I don't need you telling me what he thinks. Yes, I am taking it personal. I'm sick and tired of Laker fans judging him because of one play. How about all of the elbows Kobe threw? do they talk about that? NO! It's a complete double standard!
<div class="quote_poster">sportsaholic Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I know what Bahir thinks. I don't need you telling me what he thinks. Yes, I am taking it personal. I'm sick and tired of Laker fans judging him because of one play. How about all of the elbows Kobe threw? do they talk about that? NO! It's a complete double standard!</div> LMAO. How ignorant can be. Us Laker fans have already put the series behind us, but people like you keep dwelling on it like it happened yesterday. Also, us Laker fans are not the only people that don't like Raja Bell. The guy is a dirty player and I guess if you call flopping, playing "defense," then yes, Raja Bell may take the title. But last I checked floppping isn't a part of defense
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">LMAO. How ignorant can be. Us Laker fans have already put the series behind us, but people like you keep dwelling on it like it happened yesterday. Also, us Laker fans are not the only people that don't like Raja Bell. The guy is a dirty player and I guess if you call flopping, playing "defense," then yes, Raja Bell may take the title. But last I checked floppping isn't a part of defense</div> I never brought up the series.
