Here's the visual:
http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/defensecatchall/Sheet1?:embed=y&:display_count=no
The caption on the table gives all the information to deduce how great a player's defense is. Now let's look at this on a team by team basis:
ATLANTA:
Weak soft/hard: DeShawn Stevenson, Zaza Pachulia, Jeff Teague
Strong soft/hard: Al Horford, Ivan Johnson, Devin Harris
Two weakest soft defenders: DeShawn Stevenson, John Jenkins
Two weakest hard defenders: Dahntay Jones, DeShawn Stevenson
Two best soft defenders: Devin Harris, Ivan Johnson
Two best hard defenders: Josh Smith, Al Horford
BROOKLYN:
Weak soft/hard: Keith Bogans, Deron Williams, Andray Blatche
Strong soft/hard: Reggie Evans, Gerald Wallace
Two weakest soft defenders: Deron Williams, Kris Humphries
Two weakest hard defenders: Keith Bogans, Jerry Stackhouse
Two best soft defenders: Marshon Brooks, Brook Lopez
Two best hard defenders: Reggie Evans, Kris Humphries
BOSTON:
Weak soft/hard: Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee
Strong soft/hard: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jared Sullinger
Two weakest soft defenders: Brandon Bass, Courtney Lee
Two weakest hard defenders: Jason Collins, Jeff Green
Two best soft defenders: Kevin Garnett, Jared Sullinger
Two best hard defenders: Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo
CHARLOTTE
Weak soft/hard: Ben Gordon
Strong soft/hard: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Adrien, DeSagana Diop
Two weakest soft defenders: Ben Gordon, Byron Mullens
Two weakest hard defenders: Jeff Taylor, Brendan Haywood
Two best soft defenders: DeSagana Diop, Brendan Haywood
Two best hard defenders: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Jeff Adrien
CHICAGO
Weak soft/hard: Marco Belinelli, Nate Robinson, Luol Deng
Strong soft/hard: Joakim Noah
Two weakest soft defenders: Carlos Boozer, Nate Robinson
Two weakest hard defenders: Jimmy Butler, Marco Belinelli
Two best soft defenders: Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah
Two best hard defenders: Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah
CLEVELAND
Weak soft/hard: Dion Waiters, Alonzo Gee, Daniel Gibson, Tyler Zeller
Strong soft/hard: Omri Casspi, Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, CJ Miles
Two weakest soft defenders: Dion Waiters, Alonzo Gee
Two weakest hard defenders: Tyler Zeller, Daniel Gibson
Two best soft defenders: Omri Casspi, Wayne Ellington
Two best hard defenders: Anderson Varejao, Omri Casspi
DALLAS
Weak soft/hard: Anthony Morrow, Bernard James, Jae Crowder, OJ Mayo, Chris Kaman
Strong soft/hard: Vince Carter, Elton Brand
Two weakest soft defenders: Anthony Morrow, Darren Collison
Two weakest hard defenders: Anthony Morrow, Mike James
Two best soft defenders: Rodrigue Beaubois, Dominique Jones
Two best hard defenders: Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki
DENVER
Weak soft/hard: Ty Lawson
Strong soft/hard: Wilson Chandler, Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller
Two weakest soft defenders: Jordan Hamilton, Ty Lawson
Two weakest hard defenders: Corey Brewer, JaVale McGee
Two best soft defenders: Wilson Chandler, Andre Iguodala
Two best hard defenders: Kenneth Faried, Andre Iguodala
DETROIT
Weak soft/hard: Kim English, Jonas Jerebko, Will Bynum
Strong soft/hard: Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight
Two weakest soft defenders: Kim English, Jonas Jerebko
Two weakest hard defenders: Jonas Jerebko, Will Bynum
Two best soft defenders: Brandon Knight, Austin Daye (Detroit stint)
Two best hard defenders: Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe
GOLDEN STATE:
Weak soft/hard: Carl Landry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes
Strong soft/hard: Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut
Two weakest soft defenders: Carl Landry, Stephen Curry
Two weakest hard defenders: Carl Landry, Harrison Barnes
Two best soft defenders: Draymond Green, Richard Jefferson
Two best hard defenders: David Lee, Draymond Green
HOUSTON
Weak soft/hard: Aaron Brooks, Francisco Garcia, Donatas Motiejunas
Strong soft/hard: Omer Asik, Carlos Delfino, Patrick Beverley
Two weakest soft defenders: Aaron Brooks, Thomas Robinson
Two weakest hard defenders: Donatas Motiejunas, Francisco Garcia
Two best soft defenders: Patrick Beverley, Omer Asik
Two best hard defenders: Omer Asik, Carlos Delfino
INDIANA
Weak soft/hard: Ian Mahinmi, DJ Augustin, Tyler Hansbrough
Strong soft/hard: Paul George, Orlando Johnson, George Hill, Jeff Pendergraph
Two weakest soft defenders: Ian Mahinmi, DJ Augustin
Two weakest hard defenders: Ian Mahinmi, Gerald Green
Two best soft defenders: Jeff Pendergraph, Gerald Green
Two best hard defenders: Paul George, Orlando Johnson
LA CLIPPERS:
Weak soft/hard: Caron Butler, Willie Green
Strong soft/hard: Lamar Odom, Eric Bledsoe
Two weakest soft defenders: DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler
Two weakest hard defenders: Grant Hill, Caron Butler
Two best soft defenders: Ronny Turiaf, Lamar Odom
Two best hard defenders: Lamar Odom, Eric Bledsoe
LA LAKERS:
Weak soft/hard: Jordan Hill, Chris Duhon, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison
Strong soft/hard: Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake
Two weakest soft defenders: Jordan Hill, Earl Clark
Two weakest hard defenders: Darius Morris, Metta World Peace
Two best soft defenders: Darius Morris, Dwight Howard
Two best hard defenders: Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant
MEMPHIS:
Weak soft/hard: Darrell Arthur, Quincy Pondexter, Austin Daye
Strong soft/hard: Zach Randolph, Tony Allen
Two weakest soft defenders: Darrell Arthur, Austin Daye
Two weakest hard defenders: Darrell Arthur, Quincy Pondexter
Two best soft defenders: Tony Allen, Mike Conley
Two best hard defenders: Zach Randolph, Ed Davis
MIAMI:
Weak soft/hard: Rashard Lewis, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole
Strong soft/hard: LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen
Two weakest soft defenders: Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers
Two weakest hard defenders: Shane Battier, Rashard Lewis
Two best soft defenders: Chris Andersen, Shane Battier
Two best hard defenders: LeBron James, Mike Miller
MILWAUKEE
Weak soft/hard: Doron Lamb, Brandon Jennings
Strong soft/hard: Larry Sanders, Mike Dunleavy, John Henson, Monta Ellis
Two weakest soft defenders: Samuel Dalembert, Doron Lamb
Two weakest hard defenders: Ekpe Udoh, Doron Lamb
Two best soft defenders: Larry Sanders, Marquis Daniels
Two best hard defenders: Larry Sanders, John Henson
MINNESOTA:
Weak soft/hard: Chris Johnson, Mickael Gelebale, Nikola Pekovic, Luke Ridnour
Strong soft/hard: JJ Barea
Two weakest soft defenders: Chris Johnson, Ricky Rubio
Two weakest hard defenders: Greg Stiemsma, Mickael Gelebale
Two best soft defenders: Greg Stiemsma, JJ Barea
Two best hard defenders: Ricky Rubio, Derrick Williams
NEW ORLEANS:
Weak soft/hard: Eric Gordon, Xavier Henry, Ryan Anderson, Brian Roberts
Strong soft/hard: Al-Farouq Aminu
Two weakest soft defenders: Xavier Henry, Eric Gordon
Two weakest hard defenders: Robin Lopez, Eric Gordon
Two best soft defenders: Jason Smith, Lance Thomas
Two best hard defenders: Al-Farouq Aminu, Anthony Davis
NEW YORK:
Weak soft/hard: Amare Stoudemire, Chris Copeland, Iman Shumpert, Raymond Felton, Carmelo Anthony
Strong soft/hard: Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, JR Smith, Pablo Prigioni, Kurt Thomas
Two weakest soft defenders: Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert
Two weakest hard defenders: Amare Stoudemire, Steve Novak
Two best soft defenders: Marcus Camby, Pablo Prigioni
Two best hard defenders: Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby
OKC:
Weak soft/hard: Kevin Martin, Nick Collison
Strong soft/hard: Thabo Sefolosha, Serge Ibaka
Two weakest soft defenders: Kevin Martin, Nick Collison
Two weakest hard defenders: Nick Collison, Hasheem Thabeet
Two best soft defenders: Hasheem Thabeet, Thabo Sefolosha
Two best hard defenders: Kevin Durant, Reggie Jackson
ORLANDO:
Weak soft/hard: Josh McRoberts, E'Twaun Moore, Tobias Harris, DeQuan Jones, Arron Afflalo
Strong soft/hard: Kyle O'Quinn, Glen Davis, Beno Udrih
Two weakest soft defenders: DeQuan Jones, Arron Afflalo
Two weakest hard defenders: Josh McRoberts, Andrew Nicholson
Two best soft defenders: Glen Davis, Beno Udrih
Two best hard defenders: Nikola Vucevic, Kyle O'Quinn
PHILADELPHIA:
Weak soft/hard: Damien Wilkins, Arnett Moultrie, Kwame Brown
Strong soft/hard: Jason Richardson, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner
Two weakest soft defenders: Damien Wilkins, Arnett Moultrie
Two weakest hard defenders: Lavoy Allen, Damien Wilkins
Two best soft defenders: Lavoy Allen, Nick Young
Two best hard defenders: Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright
PHOENIX:
Weak soft/hard: Kendall Marshall, Wesley Johnson, Markieff Morris, Goran Dragic, Shannon Brown, Luis Scola
Strong soft/hard: Jermaine O'Neal, Marcin Gortat
Two weakest soft defenders: Kendall Marshall, Markieff Morris
Two weakest hard defenders: Marcus Morris, Kendall Marshall
Two best soft defenders: Jermaine O'Neal, PJ Tucker
Two best hard defenders: Marcin Gortat, Jermaine O'Neal
PORTLAND:
Weak soft/hard: Meyers Leonard, Victor Claver, Wesley Matthews, Eric Maynor, Damian Lillard
Strong soft/hard: Luke Babbitt, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum
Two weakest soft defenders: Victor Claver, Meyers Leonard
Two weakest hard defenders: Meyers Leonard, Eric Maynor
Two best soft defenders: Ronnie Price, Sasha Pavlovic
Two best hard defenders: JJ Hickson, LaMarcus Aldridge
SACRAMENTO:
Weak soft/hard: James Johnson, Jimmer Fredette, Marcus Thornton, Isaiah Thomas
Strong soft/hard: none
Two weakest soft defenders: James Johnson, Jimmer Fredette
Two weakest hard defenders: Patrick Patterson, James Johnson
Two best soft defenders: Chuck Hayes, Toney Douglas
Two best hard defenders: DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans
SAN ANTONIO:
Weak soft/hard: Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner, DeJuan Blair, Stephen Jackson, Gary Neal
Strong soft/hard: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tony Parker
Two weakest soft defenders: Matt Bonner, Cory Joseph
Two weakest hard defenders: Boris Diaw, Matt Bonner
Two best soft defenders: Tiago Splitter, Tim Duncan
Two best hard defenders: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili
TORONTO:
Weak soft/hard: Andrea Bargnani, Aaron Gray, Alan Anderson, John Lucas, Linas Kleiza
Strong soft/hard: Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson
Two weakest soft defenders: John Lucas, Andrea Bargnani
Two weakest hard defenders: Andrea Bargnani, Aaron Gray
Two best soft defenders: Rudy Gay, Amir Johnson
Two best hard defenders: Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay
UTAH:
Weak soft/hard: Randy Foye, Mo Williams, Earl Watson
Strong soft/hard: Derrick Favors, Jamaal Tinsley, Alec Burks
Two weakest soft defenders: Earl Watson, Al Jefferson
Two weakest hard defenders: DeMarre Carroll, Randy Foye
Two best soft defenders: Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors
Two best hard defenders: Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors
WASHINGTON:
Weak soft/hard: Jan Vesely, Martell Webster, Trevor Booker, Kevin Seraphin
Strong soft/hard: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Bradley Beal, Jordan Crawford (WAS stint)
Two weakest soft defenders: Trevor Booker, Jan Vesely
Two weakest hard defenders: Jan Vesely, Kevin Seraphin
Two best soft defenders: Trevor Ariza, Nene
Two best hard defenders: Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza
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To me, athleticism is most prevalent in two phases: on 1) offense, it constitutes one's ability to drive the basketball frequently as part of their shot composition, and dunk it frequently in their chances at the rim: http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/dunkshotsatrim/Sheet1?:embed=y&:display_count=no. And on 2) defense, it involves several phases which were all tabulated earlier in this post: one's ability to muster rebounds, steals, blocks, charges and foul less, and also to actually get results in guarding on and off the basketball (aka forcing bricks). One can be athletic, but if you can't guard, you underachieve in rebounding, and you're a soft player who never attacks the rim and prefers to lay it up, well...that will be reflected in these charts. So, without further ado, I'd like to analyze a few players I find interesting.
Maximized offensive/defensive athletes:
*Players who attack the rim and dunk frequently while playing both very good soft/hard defense. These players tend to have the most upside and room to grow in the future:
1) Jrue Holiday, PG, PHI. Jrue's already a star, but he attacks the rim a tick above typical PGs, dunks relatively frequently, although he needs to work on his foul drawing ability. He also plays lockdown defense as established above.
2) Eric Bledsoe, PG, LAC. Bledsoe's just a physical dynamo who represents these athleticism algorithms well, attacking the rim 3rd most among PGs and dunking 4th most among them, but also drawing fouls relatively well. Defensively we've already established him as lockdown, particularly on hard defense (rebounding and defensive playmaking) but his soft defense is also very good.
3) DeMar DeRozan, SG, TOR. DeRozan attacks the rim, dunks, draws fouls and on defense he's surprisingly quite good in both the soft and hard defensive categories this season, although he's not in the top two of his team in either one (but still very good). Essentially, he's maximizing his athleticism. While there are concerns with the non-athletic parts of his offense which are holding him back, the fact that he's maximizing his athleticism gives him a lot of potential.
4) Andre Iguodala, SG, DEN. Iggy's one of the most insane shooting guards because he basically plays like a power forward in a SG's body--over half of his shots are dunks whenever he gets to the rim, which is over double the next SG in the list, and he also draws fouls well. On defense he's top notch and particularly specializes in soft defense.
5) Alec Burks, SG, UTA. Burks attacks the rim often, dunks, and draws fouls, and he's a very good soft/hard defender albeit not in the top two of either one within his team. Still, he maximizes his athleticism on both ends and has a lot of potential.
6) Thabo Sefolosha, SG, OKC. Sefolosha gets to the rim and dunks fairly often as far as SGs go, although he doesn't draw fouls in the process. Defensively he's top notch particularly in soft defense where he defends shots well and has great +/- impact.
7) Tony Allen, SG, MEM. Allen seriously looks to attack the basket as far as SGs go (2nd among SGs) and also dunks at a reasonable rate, and he draws fouls well, but he also plays soft/hard defense, particularly specializing in soft defense.
8) Dwyane Wade, SG, MIA. Wade is special among SGs--he attacks the rim a lot for SGs but most of all is second (a very distant second) to Iggy in dunks per slash, and he draws fouls very well. But he's also a very good soft/hard defender with good impact, a rare case of a superstar who plays both offense and defense equally well.
9) Wilson Chandler, SF, DEN.
10) Kawhi Leonard, SF, SAS.
11) LeBron James, SF, MIA.
12) Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, NOH.
13) Amir Johnson, PF, TOR.
14) John Henson, PF, MIL.
17) Derrick Favors, PF, UTA.
18) Andre Drummond, C, DET.
19) Joakim Noah, C, CHI.
20) Omer Asik, C, HOU.
21) Dwight Howard, C, LAL.
22) Larry Sanders, C, MIL.
Unathletic "Defensive" types:
*Unathletic jumpshooter with good soft/hard defense, or "athletic" defensive traits.
1) Beno Udrih, PG, MIL.
2) Kyle Lowry, PG, TOR.
3) Steve Blake, PG, LAL.
4) Jamaal Tinsley, PG, UTA.
5) Jordan Crawford, SG, BOS.
6) Paul Pierce, SF, BOS.
7) Draymond Green, SF, GSW.
8) Mike Dunleavy, SF, MIL.
9) Trevor Ariza, SF, WAS.
10) Evan Turner, SF, PHI.
11) Glen Davis, PF, ORL.
12) Lamar Odom, PF, LAC.
13) Marreese Speights, PF, CLE.
14) Pau Gasol, PF, LAL.
15) Udonis Haslem, PF, MIA.
16) LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, POR.
17) Tim Duncan, PF, SAS.
18) Kevin Garnett, C, BOS.
19) Marcin Gortat, C, PHX.
20) Spencer Hawes, C, PHI.
21) Jermaine O'Neal, C, PHX.
Offensive athletes:
*Players who attack the rim and dunk often, but are in the lower sector of both hard and soft defense (in other words awful defenders).
1) Darren Collison, PG, DAL.
2) Norris Cole, PG, MIA.
3) Damian Lillard, PG, POR.
4) Courtney Lee, SG, BOS.
5) Damien Wilkins, SG, PHI.
6) Dion Waiters, SG, CLE.
7) Shannon Brown, SG, PHO.
8) Alonzo Gee, SF, CLE.
9) Harrison Barnes, SF, GSW.
10) DeQuan Jones, SF, ORL.
11) Nick Collison, PF, OKC.
12) Amare Stoudemire, PF, NYK.
13) Meyers Leonard, C, POR.
No Athleticism, No Defense:
*These players better have a great jumper and/or great passing ability to compensate. Otherwise, they're not NBA material.
1) Deron Williams, PG, BKN.
2) Nate Robinson, PG, CHI.
3) Aaron Brooks, PG, HOU.
4) DJ Augustin, PG, IND.
5) Chris Duhon, PG, LAL.
6) Steve Nash, PG, LAL.
7) Mario Chalmers, PG, MIA.
8) Brandon Jennings, PG, MIL.
9) Luke Ridnour, PG, MIN.
10) Kendall Marshall, PG, PHX.
11) Eric Maynor, PG, POR.
12) John Lucas, PG, TOR.
13) Mo Williams, PG, UTA.
14) Klay Thompson, SG, GSW.
15) OJ Mayo, SG, DAL.
16) Ben Gordon, SG, CHA.
17) Arron Afflalo, SG, ORL.
18) E'Twaun Moore, SG, ORL.
19) Wesley Matthews, SG, POR.
20) Jimmer Fredette, SG, SAC.
21) Gary Neal, SG, SAS.
22) Alan Anderson, SG, TOR.
23) Randy Foye, SG, UTA.
24) Jae Crowder, SF, DAL.
25) Luol Deng, SF, CHI.
26) Chris Copeland, SF, NYK.
27) Carmelo Anthony, SF, NYK.
28) Stephen Jackson, SF, SAS.
29) Luis Scola, PF, PHX.
30) Boris Diaw, PF, SAS.
31) Antawn Jamison, PF, LAL.
32) Ryan Anderson, PF, NOH.
33) Tyler Zeller, C, CLE.
34) Chris Kaman, C, DAL.
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