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top 10 defenders all-time
1. bill russell
2. scottie pippen (close second, i remember phil would always use him to shut down other teams top players -- stockton, magic, etc.. could guard anyone and do a killer job, 10 time all defense...... amazingly, no dpoy)
3. hakeem olajuwan (tie with deke -- i only give it to dream cuz i like him better
small forward in centre body, could shut down shaq, ewing, admiral in his prime, top 20 in blocks and steals, 2 time dpoy, enough said)
4. dikembe mutombo (human fly swatter, 4 time dpoy, amazing)
5. joe dumars (only player who could even somewhat keep up with mj)
6. micheal jordan (dpoy, 9 time all defense first team)
7. dennis rodman (oi! 3 bulls! but couldnt leave rodman out!! 2 time dpoy!! eight time all defense. greatest tenacious defender -- hmmm , on second thought.....maybe people just didnt want him rubbing all over them
anyway, interesting quote: "Rodman was the king at drawing the charge, heaps of them top-of-the-range, hand-made flops. Honestly in the '90 finals the Blazers spent about half their possessions tiptoeing over Rodman's body sprawled over the paint after another failed attempt. Still he was a fantastic defender and knew better than anyone that a lot of the game is played upstairs. Grab the offensive player's arm just above the elbow, draw your body in to obscure the ref's view and when the offensive player waves you away, throw yourself back with that look of mock horror
8. Tim Duncan (32 blocks in a finals series -- record. all defense every year except i think first. only player other than keem that can do anything against shaq)
9. alvin robertson (very good!)
10. gary payton (the last guard to win the dpoy i think, dont call him the glove for nothing)
notables: debuscheere, havlicek, cooper, phills, eaton, frazier, moncrief, johnson, kareem, bobby jones.
