Just because he's the best defender on the Rockets doesn't mean he's top 10 in the league. He's no shot blocker, and Harden averaged more steals/deflections per game. Correct me if I'm wrong. He definitely holds his own every night, and i know blocks and steals aren't everything, but y'all are being a lil' bias. Some nights it took Harden and Gordon to shut down opposing big men to help the Rockets win games. Tucker is awesome for the Rockets but does a lot of that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. People who voted for him probably watched more Rocket games than those who didn't, and know his true value.
Kawhi Leonard was a mediocre defender this regular season, and pleeeeeenty of Raptors fans would confirm that.
He was certainly a top 10 defender in the NBA this season. On that list you can argue he's better than Bledsoe, George, Thompson and Holiday.
He looked like the normal Kawhi Leonard to me on the defensive end. He is the only guy in the league that can defend 5 positions on the floor well. I love Tucker and think he is a very good defender, but Leonard is on a different level than the other guys on the list.
He'd probably get better recognition (through sheer domination) if he was permitted to fight in his weight/height class... he is a small forward who is constantly guarding bigger power forwards - and even centers on occasion... jus saying...
Maybe, but defending multiple positions well is a HUGE part of his value. So you're basically saying he'd be more recognized if he gave up what made him special in the first place? Doubtful.
You're talking about something different. Kawhi has the ability to guard 5 guys and be on a different level. In the playoffs, Kawhi is playing like the defensive animal that he is. He was mediocre in the regular season. That's widely agreed and the stats reflect it. Certainly not the normal Kawhi, for the majority of the season Kawhi was not even the best defender on his team. He rested heavily on that end for whatever reason, and the reward should go to the person who did it not to the person who can do it.
I'm saying the guy is asked to cover bigger dudes pretty much all game every game... if we didnt play undersized the vast majority of the time the guy might have more juice to be even better... and get the benefit of some highlights when matched up against some guys he can actually see eye to eye with...
Tucker should have gotten it over Kawhi. Kawhi was coasting a bit this year on defense, and in general -- he must have led the league in DNP-rest games.
At some point, one needs to question the senility of those voting. At this point, the question is moot!
We're definitely being biased, no doubt about it. However, I remember Chris Webber or maybe another commentator talking in the playoffs about how they believe Tucker could be first team all-NBA defense while he was locking down Durant in game 3 or 4.
Tucker is never going to lead the league in steals or blocks, where he excels is pure defensive position. He's a move his feet, hustle, fight for lose balls/rebounds, block out and just get in your shorts kind of defender. He's not a star, but he's the kind of glue guy every great team needs--think Horry, Elle, etc. It looks like the guys voted to the All-Defense teams at Forward are considered stars. PJ is our junkyard dawg and has become the defensive nemesis for other teams when they play the Rockets. Shame he didn't get any recognition from the NBA.
Tucker is 6’6”. The only spots he would be considered tall for are either guard position. He’s “undersized”, height wise, for the 3 as well, but I think it actually benefits him guarding 4s because of how big he is. He can stick with the bigger slower wings pretty well, but I think he’d wear down a lot quicker guarding your typical wings all game every game.
