Dear Jason Lloyd: A Response to an Incorrect Cavs Writer

With the regular season rapidly ending, the NBA’s award season is just around the corner. For many media members with a vote, this is a prestigious opportunity. With how often awards and rings are regarded as measuring sticks of a player’s success, they are presented with a chance to influence how a player’s legacy goes down in history.

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However, every season, the debate of whether media members should receive a vote at all is brought up, mostly due to head-scratching comments and decisions made by said media members. This season’s example is the Akron Beacon Journal’s Jason Lloyd.

Cavs Beat Writer @JasonLloydABJ has no Warriors player on any All-Defense teams... Look at the note on @Money23Green pic.twitter.com/Hdvzsiidm3
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) April 13, 2015

Lloyd explained his pick for the NBA All-Defensive Teams in this piece, of which the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green was excluded. He mentioned that he didn’t see Green’s defensive play as worthy of attention, and that other players he polled “scoffed at the idea of Green being on this list”.

For many, this is a puzzling statement. Green has been regarded by many as one of the best defensive players this season – leading the league’s best defense. Lloyd’s decision not to include a member of the league’s best defense is also a startling one, considering he includes Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan on his list – whom are part of the 17^th best defense in the league.

Let’s find out if Lloyd’s claims are substantiated.

Apr 7, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) celebrates after a basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 103-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Versatility

Despite being listed as a small forward, Draymond Green plays as the Warriors’ starting power forward. In the modern day NBA, this isn’t an uncommon sight, especially when teams are beginning to value spacing and three-point shooting.

However, for many small-ball power forwards, defense is a problem. Teams with bigger forwards are able to bully them on the offensive end, and their lack of size leads to poor rebounding numbers. Which is why you rarely see teams employ a small-ball power forward for long stretches of time.

However, with Draymond, things are a bit different. Listed at 230 lbs, Green is more than capable of handling his own against bigger, stronger power forwards. He has proven to be an adept defender in the post, using his strength and length to help even out the playing field.

According to NBA Savant, Green has had a lot of success against some of the best power forwards in the league. This is how he has fared defensively against other forwards:

As you can see, the success he’s had this season isn’t limited to a particular type of power forward. He’s fared well against both jump shooters (Nowitzki, Griffin, Ibaka) and low-post behemoths (Aldridge, Randolph, Favors).

Plus, he’s quick enough to handle guards and speedier wings in short bursts.

His versatility on the defensive end is a big reason why the Warriors have thrived this season. The Warriors play a switch-heavy defense, constantly switching players when possible, which allows them to contest shots as best they can. Green’s ability to handle guards and forwards is a key aspect of their scheme, and without his versatility, the Warriors’ defense wouldn’t be as successful.

Defensive Rating

Outside of the team’s defensive scheme, Draymond is a very capable defender. He boasts a defensive rating of 95.9 points per 100 possessions, which puts him third overall in the league for players with more than 1000 minutes played. The other two players ahead of him: Andrew Bogut and Tony Allen. Of all the players in the top 10, no other player has played more minutes than Green.

Here’s the defensive rating for the other players included in Lloyd’s All-Defensive teams.

March 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene Hilario (42) controls the basketball defended by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Wizards 107-76. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The stats and the eye test all back up the claim that Draymond Green is one of the best defensive players in the league. It may not be easy for him to win the Defensive Player of the Year award (only one guard and wing player has won it since 1990), but he has to be a lock for the NBA All-Defense First Team.