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The NBA Eastern Conference proved its superiority in the 2021 NBA Finals after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games. While many will argue that the West did not send their best team to the Finals, the same could be said for the East too.
A lot of teams focus on offense, and are not mindful of how they perform at the defensive end. The Brooklyn Nets were the perfect example of that in the 2020-21 NBA season. But they have taken steps to improve their defense this offseason.
Nonetheless, focusing strictly on defense could also be a problem, as was seen in the case of the LA Lakers. Without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers continued to lead the league in defensive rating, but were inefficient in offense.
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It can be difficult to strike a balance between offense and defense, but some teams have done a decent job at that. One could argue that the Western Conference currently fields the best defenders in the NBA. But there are elite defenders in the East as well.
As we get closer to the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, here are the five best defenders in the Eastern Conference:
#5 Jrue Holiday
In the point guard position, only a few can play defense as intensely as Jrue Holiday. He was arguably the best defender for the Milwaukee Bucks during their championship run. He successfully reduced Chris Paul's impact in the NBA Finals, forcing him to make 21 turnovers in the Finals alone.
Holiday is finally getting the recognition for his defense, making the NBA All-Defensive team three times in the last four seasons. There is an argument for him to win the Defensive Player of the Year too. But as that award is almost exclusively reserved for big men who protect the paint, the best Holiday could get is an All-Defensive first-team selection.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Holiday said:
“Man, I feel like I'm the Defensive Player of the Year every year. I'm not joking about that. And I know this is my opinion, and other people have different opinions, and they'll probably think I'm crazy. But I think what I bring defensively on the court, a lot of people don't really do, to be completely honest."
For the Bucks to reach the heights they did last season, Holiday needs to recreate his impressive showing in defense.
#4 Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid's dominance in the paint cannot be overlooked. He might not be the most exciting player to watch defensively. But his ability to lock down the paint while Ben Simmons operates on the perimeter has been crucial for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Embiid has continually stated that he does not want his offensive displays to overshadow his defense. Before the 2021 NBA DPOY award presentation, Embiid made an appearance on The Lowe Post podcast, and spoke on who should receive the award. He said;
"I want to be the Defensive Player of the Year. I should be the Defensive Player of the Year."
If he manages to stays healthy, Embiid has a decent shot of winning the MVP and/or DPOY awards in the 2021-22 NBA season.
#3 Bam Adebayo
Big men who can move their feet and essentially defend against guards in the NBA are rare. Bam Adebayo is one such player whose defense transcends beyond paint protection.
The Miami Heat center has been an anchor for the team defensively. and also makes notable contributions at the other end of the floor. The youngster has had problems guarding dominant big men like Embiid. But the 24-year-old still has a few years to play and develop in the NBA.
Adebayo is heavily underrated as a defender, and that might not stop anytime soon. His versatility is beyond impressive. He showed that in his rookie season after guarding Stephen Curry and not getting burned.
#2 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. While he is practically unguardable in offense, his athleticism also gives him an advantage defensively.
Rudy Gobert has dominated the DPOY award for the last four years, winning three of them. The Greek Freak is the only one who successfully dethroned Gobert. Antetokounmpo won the 2020 DPOY, and made the NBA All-Defensive First Team for three consecutive seasons (2019-2021).
His ' clutch block in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals will go down in history as one of the greatest plays in league history. He had to quickly switch back to Deandre Ayton after the pick-and-roll to make a block.
#1 Ben Simmons
It is unclear where Ben Simmons could play in the 2021-22 NBA season, given his strained relationship with the 76ers' management and his eagerness to leave. But at the time of writing, he remains a Sixer, and is the best defender in the East.
Simmons was a finalist in the 2021 DPOY race, and could get as close or perhaps win the award in the 2021-22 NBA season. His versatility is the most intriguing aspect of his defensive acumen. The All-Star once told reporters that he can guard all positions in the league, and he has proven that on occasion.
“I’m one of those guys who can guard one through five. Obviously, there’s a lot of respect for Rudy. I know what he’s capable of. I know he’s great down there in the paint. But he’s not guarding everybody, and that’s just what it is. He guarded me in Utah. I had 42. And, apparently, I’m not a scorer.”
The Australian is tasked with guarding the best player on the court, regardless of the position. In most cases, he has successfully limited the productivity of the opposition's key players.
