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The 2021 NBA Playoffs are fast getting to the business end. The LA Clippers, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, are currently battling it out of the West with the Phoenix Suns for a berth in the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks, led by the dynamic Trae Young, are up against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The 2021 NBA Playoffs have already given a fair share of surprises, with defending champion LA Lakers and the majority’s favorites Brooklyn Nets knocked out early due to injury troubles.
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Regardless, some predictable names have put in exemplary performances on both ends of the court, and are still in the hunt. In this article, we look at the five best defensive players in the 2021 NBA Playoffs thus far.
NBA 2021 Playoffs: 5 best defensive players so far
A range of defensive superstars have come to the fore for their teams on the defensive end of the court. This season has been heavily influenced by COVID-related injuries, leading to quite a few teams playing without their best players in the Playoffs as well. This has allowed defenders to dominate, with quite a few playoff games going close to the wire. Without further ado, we look at the five best defenders of the 2021 NBA Playoffs thus far. Apart from individual performance, the overall impact on the teams has also been considered.
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#5 Joel Embiid
Despite playing through an injury for quite a few playoff matches, Joel Embiid makes the list on the basis of his rim protection and size alone. Embiid had arguably his most successful defensive season and was part of the All-NBA second team as well as the All-NBA Defensive second team of the year.
He produced 10.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks throughout the regular season and was impressive throughout the playoffs despite playing through a right knee injury. Embiid produced two double-doubles with respect to rebounds and points in seven games against the Atlanta Hawks. He was the defensive anchor for one of the best defensive teams in the NBA this season. The Philadelphia 76ers were unlucky with injuries despite the likes of Embiid, Simmons and Matisse Thybulle putting in consistent elite defensive performances during the Playoffs.
#4 Ben Simmons
Another Philadelphia 76ers’ player who deserves to be in this list on the basis of ability alone is Ben Simmons. Simmons has been heavily criticized for his lack of shooting, but the 76ers’ starting point-guard is easily the best one-on-one defender on the roster.
Simmons’ defensive skills have never been under scrutiny as he was one of the favorites for the defensive player of the year award for much of the season and generally defends the opposition’s best players. This season, he registered 1.6 steals and 5.6 defensive rebounds per game and as a result was part of the All-Defensive first team as well.
#3 Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has also had his share of injury trouble and sat out of the Clippers’ first two matches against the Phoenix Suns. However, Leonard was selected in the All-NBA First team as well as the All-Defensive second team and has been a consistent menace defensively in the NBA Playoffs so far as well.
Leonard has averaged more than two steals per game through the playoffs along with around seven defensive rebounds and is the best player on the LA Clippers’ roster comprehensively. The Clippers have struggled for large periods of the two matches defensively and are arguably the best two-way player in the NBA Playoffs this season.
#2 Rudy Gobert
Defensive player of the year for the third time in his career, Rudy Gobert produced a whopping three blocks and 12.9 defensive rebounds through the playoffs.
Gobert’s defensive performances were crucial to the Utah Jazz’s success through the season as he averaged a double-double through the Playoffs. Gobert was also the Utah Jazz’s second most prolific scorer through the playoffs and averaged 21.5 points. Regardless, he finished second only because the Utah Jazz were knocked out.
#1 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Even in matches where Giannis was not at his best offensively or with his shooting, he was everywhere for the Milwaukee Bucks defensively. That's something the numbers prove as well. Giannis leads the NBA Playoffs in terms of defensive rating and defensive win-share, and has produced 14 rebounds per game, the most in the NBA Playoffs thus far.
The Greak Freak might have lost out on the MVP for what would have been his third consecutive award. But he has been at his best defensively and has averaged more than 11 defensive rebounds with one block and slightly less than one steal per game. The Milwaukee Bucks might have lost game 1 against the Hawks, but with the likes of Giannis, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton in their ranks, they look perfectly capable of winning the championship this season.
