Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Kelcey Wright Johnson weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 9:25 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: IMHO
Kelcey, I woke up this morning with defense on my mind. Primarily, I was thinking about defense because I had money on the Chiefs last night for the Super Bowl, and the Bucs defense treated the Chiefs’ o-line like a row of turnstiles all night. Patrick Mahomes ran backward more than he did forward. It was disappointing but what are you gonna do? I guess we can all be happy to see things finally go right for Tom Brady.
The other thing that had me thinking defense was this clip I saw on Reddit of Tyrese Haliburton baiting defenders into turnovers:
This is pretty remarkable, and not only for a rookie—zero in on him and watch the way he consistently stands just a step or so out of the passing lane, then jumps in as soon as the pass gets launched.
Anyway, all this thinking about defense had me wondering about the NBA. Who do you think is the best on-ball defender in the NBA right now? If you needed one stop, who would you want trying to get you that stop?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 10:46 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
This might be my favorite topic we’ve ever talked about. Did I ever tell you that I was a defensive specialist in college? I loved playing defense, I thrived off it.
So, now, as a journalist who covers basketball, I find myself constantly watching players’ defense and praising defensive plays.
Before I begin my list, I want to give young Paul George an honorable mention. He won’t make my active NBA player list right now, but PG a few years ago was hell for ball handlers. I also can’t begin this list without giving a shout out to Mr. Tony Allen, the Grindfather himself.
But I want to stick with active players for this one:
First criteria for this is to look at the top teams in each conference. So, I’m really choosing from the Jazz, Lakers, Clippers, Sixers, Bucks and Nets.
I think if I’m a Western Conference team, I want Kawhi trying to get me that stop. He’s got a great, wide defensive stance, a 7-3 wingspan and huge hands. Plus, he moves so well laterally.
And if I’m an Eastern Conference team, I’m putting it at the mercy of the MVP, Giannis. I don’t know if this one needs much explanation. He’s got the speed to defend guards and strength to defend bigs… and oh yeah, he’s one of three players to ever win MVP and DPOY in the same season.
I chose current players, can you take it old school for me, Lang? Who is the best on-ball defender in NBA history? EVER?!
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 9:46 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: RE: IMHO
I did not know you were a defensive specialist, but now that you mention it, I can see how you would have been a fit for that role – the tenacity, the competitiveness, etc. Meanwhile, I was a below-average defender, to be charitable. Put it this way: I loved it when our coach called for us to go to a 2-3 zone.
Anyway, this is one of those questions that makes retired players get all snippy, because they almost always think their generation was the best to ever do it. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised this week when Kevin Garnett came out and said the current generation is way better than his own generation, because in terms of skill and athleticism, KG is absolutely correct. Every generation improves, which is sort of the point of evolution. Bill Russell was a dominant defender in his era, but in today’s game he may have had to be a stretch four who guarded on the perimeter.
So, if we’re keeping in mind that it’s all relative, I’d absolutely have Russell and Wilt on my list of all-time defenders. I’d also have KG on there, one of the first bigs who could genuinely guard 1 through 5. Hakeem Olajuwon belongs in the conversation, as well as his contemporary Gary Payton. And for all the talk about how great the Bulls were in the ‘90s, it wasn’t only their offense – Scottie Pippen was a versatile, aggressive defender. I used to love watching Bruce Bowen guard on the ball for the Spurs, as much as I liked watching Tony Allen focus on defense and not even go into the Grizzlies’ huddles during timeouts. (I once asked TA why he didn’t go into the team’s huddles, and he said, “Well, I’m not really a huddle kind of guy.” Now that I actually know Tony, I understand how accurate that statement was.)
And of course, don’t sleep on Michael Jordan, who for all his scoring exploits made the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine(!) different times.
Kelcey, I lost a lot of money on Sunday by betting against Tom Brady, who at 43 years old won his seventh Super Bowl, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite getting long in the tooth, Brady has said he wants to play until he’s 45, and given the way he’s still playing at this age, who wants to bet against him?
At the same time, LeBron is 36 years old and coming off a season where he just won his fourth NBA title, and seems to have the Lakers in position to at the very least contend for another title this season. In the list of modern-day GOATs, I suppose Brady is at the top of the list. How would you rate LeBron’s chances at catching or passing Brady and becoming the GOAT?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 10:39 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
That’s such a hard question to answer. I’m obviously biased because I know more about LeBron and I’ve watched 1,000,000,000 more LeBron games than Tom Brady games, but that being said, seven Super Bowl rings is insane.
They both did similar things, going from a dynasty to a struggling franchise and winning a championship in one (Brady) or two (James) years.
Both incredible feats.
Do I think they’re both the GOATs in their respective sports? Yes, the same way Phelps is in swimming, Serena is in tennis and Gretzky is in hockey.
But LeBron’s chances at passing Brady as the GOAT? In my eyes, he already is past him. Am I crazy?
Look — I understand that NO ONE is reaching Tom Brady’s playoff wins, his Super Bowl wins, even his Super Bowl appearances. But LeBron’s career has been hella impressive too. Remember I grew up in Toronto where the Raptors needed to get past LeBron every year in the playoffs for like a decade and never did. LeBron still haunts my dreams.
So hey, maybe you’re just asking the wrong person (didn’t even tune into a minute of the Super Bowl), but BRON OVER BRADY, BABY!
Woah. I felt wild even typing that, but I’m going to sit on my little hill on this one.
If you had to pick just ONE athlete of all time to be the GREATEST OF ALL TIME, you’re going with Tom Brady? Or someone else?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 9:18 AM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: RE: IMHO
I should have known you weren’t going to watch the Super Bowl. You were probably eatching ketchup chips and watching DeGrassi, or something else equally Canadian.
I’m going to write about Tom Brady this week for my Lang’s World column, so I don’t want to give too much away. But I will say this: To me it’s hard to compare football players to players from other sports, because football is such a team game, even more so than baseball or basketball. Brady is awesome, sure, but without his receivers and backs and his defense, the Bucs aren’t the Bucs. Same goes for what he did in New England—that was an organizational effort.
Not to discount Brady’s importance to the overall endeavor. He makes the right reads and right passes and clearly is incredible at his job. Tom Brady is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time. But to me, greatness goes beyond wins and losses.
How will history remember you, not only for what you did on the field, but off of it, as well?