“ I'll have to start running my own campaign for the defensive top five, but that's cool. » Since this statement with a bit of annoyance dated last Decemberthe campaign of Jaylen Brown seems to have caught on. And he is ultimately not alone in promoting such an appointment.
Example with Al Horford, himself named one of the two best defensive fives in 2018. “ He inspires the rest of us because he does a lot on offense and he wants to take responsibility on defense. A lot of guys say they can handle these challenges but he faces all types of players. He defends against Steph Curry, Zion… “, starts listing Celtics veteran.
A Zion Williamson against whom the Boston winger battled a few days ago. If the Pelicans buffalo still scored 25 points, Jaylen Brown did not have to be ashamed of the defensive resistance offered. After this victory, during which Boston limited New Orleans to 92 points, the winger recalled that he was already used to defending on players stronger than him due to defensive changes.
“ I defended guys like KP (Kristaps Porzingis), Anthony Davis, and that was even the kind of matchup at the start of my career. I've always had the defensive versatility to do both. …So I think it's no different than what I was doing at the beginning of my career, but at a higher level », he said about the variety of player profiles defended.
The departure of Marcus Smart played a role
Jaylen Brown still admitted that a duel in the face of such a physical phenomenon could leave its mark: “ You have to be strong enough to take the first jolt, but you also have to be fast enough to stay in front of him, which makes it a complicated duel. You don't see many guys like Zion in the world. »
As we don't see many players capable of averaging 23 points, while dealing with players who are taller and physical or smaller and livelier than him. But as he says, Jaylen Brown has wanted to emphasize this defensive dimension since the start of the season. A change of approach which was necessary with the departure of Marcus Smart to Memphis.
“ I think I've always been a good defender. But over the years, we have had players who took care of the majority of duels like Smart. It made me feel a little comfortable. This year, I wanted to emphasize again that I was going to be the one who was going to take care of these duels. Regardless of my state of mind, the defense has always been there this season », he judges after the victory against the Thunder.
Consequently, Al Horford is categorical: “ In all impartiality, he is very clearly part of the defensive first five. You look at what he does individually and the impact he has defensively. We have one of the best defenses, we have the best record. He deserves to be in this position. »
| Al Horford | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 49.9 | 0.0 | 73.1 | 3.1 | 6.6 | 9.7 | 1.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 10.1 |
| 2008-09 | ATL | 67 | 34 | 52.5 | 0.0 | 72.7 | 2.2 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 11.5 |
| 2009-10 | ATL | 81 | 35 | 55.1 | 100.0 | 78.9 | 2.9 | 7.0 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 14.2 |
| 2010-11 | ATL | 77 | 35 | 55.7 | 50.0 | 79.8 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 9.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 15.3 |
| 2011-12 | ATL | 11 | 32 | 55.3 | 0.0 | 73.3 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 7.0 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 12.4 |
| 2012-13 | ATL | 74 | 37 | 54.3 | 50.0 | 64.4 | 2.6 | 7.6 | 10.2 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 17.4 |
| 2013-14 | ATL | 29 | 33 | 56.7 | 36.4 | 68.2 | 2.3 | 6.1 | 8.4 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 18.6 |
| 2014-15 | ATL | 76 | 31 | 53.8 | 30.6 | 75.9 | 1.7 | 5.4 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 15.2 |
| 2015-16 | ATL | 82 | 32 | 50.5 | 34.4 | 79.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 15.2 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 68 | 32 | 47.3 | 35.5 | 80.0 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 14.0 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 72 | 32 | 48.9 | 42.9 | 78.3 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 7.4 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 12.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 68 | 29 | 53.5 | 36.0 | 82.1 | 1.8 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 13.6 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 67 | 30 | 45.0 | 35.0 | 76.3 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 11.9 |
| 2020-21 | OKAY | 28 | 28 | 45.0 | 36.8 | 81.8 | 1.0 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 14.2 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 69 | 29 | 46.7 | 33.6 | 84.2 | 1.6 | 6.1 | 7.7 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 63 | 31 | 47.6 | 44.6 | 71.4 | 1.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 9.8 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 61 | 27 | 50.6 | 42.1 | 89.3 | 1.3 | 5.2 | 6.5 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 8.6 |
| Total | 1074 | 32 | 51.3 | 37.9 | 76.1 | 1.9 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 13.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
