PtR Survey: The perfect Spurs defenders of all time

Welcome again to the PtR Survey, the place we’re following an internet development the place followers are voting on gamers from their group to fill out a grid just like the one under. Most lately, we did essentially the most likable and annoying Spurs of all time, and these have been the outcomes:

Each polls have been shut, though Manu Ginobili bought his second (and fairly probably not his final) victory to date, pulling away to win “Most Likeable” Spur with 37% of the votes — 10% greater than runner-up Patty Mills and 15% greater than David Robinson. Nonetheless “Most Annoying” was tremendous tight and all the way down to the wire, and truthfully, I contemplate it a little bit of an upset. Whereas I used to be positive the infamous, ungrateful and loud-mouthed hater Stephen Jackson would win, Kawhi Leonard pulled it out by the narrowest of margins but, with simply 29 extra votes on the time of this writing.

To be trustworthy, I didn’t even have him within the ballot till the final second since I might contemplate his actions extra treasonous, whereas Uncle Dennis has been the “annoying” one together with his trash speak and potential lies to the media concerning the group. However alas, I added Kawhi as a result of typically silence in conditions just like the one he created is even worse because it permits false narratives to persist, and that’s seemingly why he received.

Subsequent, after starting with some generic and personality-based polls, it’s time to speak about some actual basketball! Immediately, we’re the most effective Spurs defenders of all time, particularly the most effective perimeter defender and rim protector.

Starting with the perimeter, the Spurs have had a number of All-NBA defenders at guard and the wings through the years, particularly again after they have been persistently the highest protection within the league throughout their championship period. Whereas it’s straightforward to think about a number of within the trendy period as three-point taking pictures turned extra prevalent — similar to Bruce Bowen (7x All-NBA), Danny Inexperienced (1x All-NBA) and Leonard (4x All-NBA, 2x DPOY) — we will’t neglect concerning the outdated occasions, both. That’s the place guard Alvin Robertson is available in, who received Defensive Participant of the 12 months in simply his second season with the Spurs and made the All-Protection group in 4 of his 5 seasons right here, together with averaging greater than 3 steals per video games 4 occasions.

The Spurs have been equally as considerable within the rim-protector class with two potential favorites in Tim Duncan and David Robinson, however we’re additionally going to get controversial right here and usher in a rookie/one-year Spur (to date) in Victor Wembanyama. That’s simply how transcendent he has been, changing into the primary rookie to ever are available as runner-up for Defensive Participant of the 12 months, and his presence alone is sufficient to stop gamers from even making an attempt to assault the rim. Is that sufficient to upset two legends with rather more expertise?

There’s additionally George Johnson. Who, chances are you’ll ask? Whereas he solely spent two seasons with the Spurs within the early 80’s, he averaged over three blocks per recreation in each whereas making the All-Protection group. That being mentioned, the principle stat that will get him on the checklist is block share of seven.9, which leads the franchise by a reasonably vital margin, with the Admiral coming in at a “distant” second with 5.7 %. (I additionally thought-about Jakob Poeltl, who additionally has very spectacular defensive stats, however I made a decision he simply wasn’t as impactful, though that’s not totally his fault.)

You should definitely vote, and keep in mind, if “Different” wins in both ballot, I’ll verify the feedback right here and on social media, and essentially the most appreciated will win.