Who is/was the better defender?

Lol, I got another poster to start a poll based on what I said and he includes my name in the poll! Awesome! I must've struck a nerve huh knote32. Do you think you're going to get an objective answer on this site where people think Battier is Jesus? Lol. I still stand by what I said, which was that Bowen (yes I know he was a little dirty) in his prime was a much better defender than Battier ever was or will be. Thanks!

 

close call but i'd have to give it to bruce, he'd get into the opponents minds and get em off their game. but i'll take shane anyday of the week. he's a smarter player for sure. bowen, when hitting those corner 3's, is as good of a role player as any.

 

Bruce Bowen was ridiculously dirty. Thats not defense thats just dirty. Shane plays fundamental defense. The worse thing people accuse him of his flopping. Give me Shane

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Has to be Shane. Bowen gets away with everything just to be labeled a good defender while Shane does it through basketball skills.

 

If Bruce Bowen's "a little dirty" that makes Shane Ghandi.

 

You could have a simple yes/no poll on this site asking if Battier should be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and it would be close.

Hero worship does not allow anyone to think critically.

 

Should fans have a hate-first/hate-second/win-me-over approach toward players of their teams?

 

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but aside from Bowen having a reputation as a good defensive player, was there every any night in the Playoffs or otherwise when he stonewalled a top level, A-list player? I don't remember it. I just remember people slavishly repeating how good he was without seeing anything truly exemplary. I think he was probably similar to Battier in that he did a good job of limiting the other guy's opportunities for success rather than making blocks/steals.

 

There was not.

In recent history the only wing players who did that were Prince and Artest. After watching a slow mo version of Ron this season people forget that he was a dominant perimeter defender.

Shane and Bowen are known as great defenders because they are smart guys who work really hard on every play but they are not stopping anyone. When the Pistons were younger and had more offensive help (Billups, Hamilton, and Sheed in their primes) and Tayshaun could focus on defense he was a better defender than both of them. I feel the same way about Ron when he was still athletic.

 

I'd say Bowen in terms of overall effectiveness. But he really benefited from being on that Spurs team, because the refs let him get away with tons of stuff due to the Spurs "defensive reputation". Shane would indeed become a better defender if he became a dirtier player. Think of how much lower opponent's FG% would be if they're afraid of Battier undercutting them and karate kicking them.

 

I'd say Bowen was a better individual defender. More physical, and he frustrated opponents more. But he also had a better behind to do those things. Battier's brand of defense is less aggressive, and more about playing the percentages, help defense, and communication. The things Battier does well aren't as obvious in a one on one matchup (and that's what people tend to focus on, even though basketball is a team sport).

I can't say who the better overall defender is, though. I like Battier's style more because its cleaner and just seems more fundamental.

 

Hyperbole much?

 

Ask Kobe

 

Well Rubean Patterson was the Kobe stopper so thats a moot point.

 

If I recall correctly, Patterson proclaimed himself the Kobe stopper, and then Kobe owned him horribly.

 

I looked it up one time and almost every premier perimeter player in the league averaged 20+ while shooting at least 45% from the field