The four remaining teams in the NBA conference finals are loaded offensively, but none would've gotten this far without a defensive backbone. Brush aside the flash and the glitter of scoring, and the players who do the dirty work appear.
More so than ever, iconic postseason moments are of defensive nature, as a timely steal or an explosive block can swing the momentum of any game.
Thanks to his stupendous defense on LeBron James, the Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala snatched the NBA Finals MVP trophy last season. It set a precedent that there are factors more important than scoring within the razor-thin margins of the playoffs.
Elite defensive cogs remain in the championship hunt, but there are also some unusual suspects who have raised their level of intensity to match the occasion, and they too deserve credit.
Players who anchor more solid defenses get a bump in the rankings. Individuals who have surpassed expectations and made an immediate, tangible impact on their teams' advancement also receive an upper hand.
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Article written by Vytis Lasaitis
The Best Defenders in the NBA Conference Finals
May 17th, 2016 by Vytis Lasaitis Leave a reply »
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