[2022 Giannis vs. 2020 Anthony Davis defensive comparison,](https://gyazo.com/30cb67cd5ad212f890db53690639ef2e) per [Bball-Index.](https://www.bball-index.com/leaderboards-tool/)
[2018 Anthony Davis vs. 2020 Anthony Davis vs. 2020 Giannis vs. 2022 Giannis defensive comparison,](https://gyazo.com/03aa7e5e0094973cbe97e3698f379774) per [Bball-Index.](https://www.bball-index.com/leaderboards-tool/)
I can see that people are really missing the point of the question. I think it’s hard to say who the better interior defender is. I think AD, at his peak, was one of the best on-ball rim defenders ever. He had great reflexes, really good hands, and didn’t foul. Giannis on the other hand, is clearly a better off-ball defender. He can help on both the interior and recover to shooters. Giannis has consistently had great shooting percentage defense for about the past four years now. Despite that, I think I’d go AD. By a hair. Giannis is a little more schematically flexible
Idk I think you're underrating AD's off-ball defense a little bit here, I would actually say AD is *better* in the helper role than the main rim protector; that's why the Lakers defense was so good when he played next to Howard and McGee. I can't tell you how many plays I've seen where AD bounced around the paint guarding 3, 4 or even all 5 opposing players in the span of like 8 seconds. He's not as quick as he used to be, but prime AD might be the most versatile defender in modern NBA history, he was elite in both switch and drop.
Giannis's big advantage over AD is as a playmaker imo, not on defense.
>I will say that Giannis is better than AD on almost all facets of offense
Agreed with the small caveat that AD is a better free throw shooter (and for years was a much better FT shooter).
The defense is interesting. I feel like both guys have only looked like Dpoy’s when they’ve had strong defensive supporting casts around them. I prefer Giannis as an off ball defender but Davis is a better rim protector.
?? People who say this are such cringe.
Giannis is in his prime and he has peaked when he won his ring and two MVP’s.
There’s a reason he’s literally worse in nearly all stats this season than when he won his hardware.
Giannis > Hakeem Olajuwan? Rick Barry got 40.8 ppg in 1967 so Rick Barry > everyone except MJ? Ofc Giannis' finals ppg > Jordan's 33.6 so Giannis > MJ huh?
No you misinterpreted me. I was trolling you by pretending to agree with that user and assuming you stating your rhetorical questions was you agreeing with your rhetorical questions. Obviously no one should because Giannis isn't better than MJ but you've ruined the joke now.
AD during his peak was a better defender than giannis. Lopez has helped the bucks defense an insane amount. AD never had someone like that but watching AD playyoff defense in 2018+2020 surpasses whatever giannis did to gleague nets or whatever.
Most of this sub doesn't know Pels AD and how he looked on defense anyways. Absolute peaks AD is one of the beat defenders ever. People hate lakers and majority never tuned into any pels games so they will love to hate on AD
yeah, this is pretty impossible to judge unless we get to see giannis play with a bunch of bad defenders, but even with that, the comparison is weird. They are both all-time greats, both long athletic freaks, who cares?
This is kind of like arguing duncan vs hakeem vs robinson vs ben wallace vs kg. you are just arguing flavors and none of us have nearly enough information to actually parse anything beyond the surface.
Very hard
AD
Prime AD was a better paint and main defender
Has much better shooting both midrange and 3s and arguably more well rounded offensive skills than Giannis
Better Off ball threat
Not physically and athletically as imposing as Giannis but good enough for a modern PF
Giannis
Giannis is a better perimeter defender
A much better threat in transition
Is better physically and durable wise, but he can only play the hard way because his shooting is not consistent and good enough to elevate his scoring ability
It is just another of these Jokic Vs Embiid
Are we talking about defense or overall? I'm a bias Giannis fan but I see no world where AD is better than Giannis at anything other than shot blocking and midrange at his prime. And don't even get me started about playmaking...
Giannis easily…
Signed a Laker fan
OOPS thought u meant player. I think AD and him do different things. AD’s switch ability is better than Giannis. Giannis has proven he can be a game altering menace when it matters…that block on Ayton is one of the best plays I have ever seen on the biggest stage in the biggest moment
Giannis has been in his prime for arguably 6 seasons (starting in 2017/18) including this one. He is 2x MVP, spot, and finals MVP. He is about to turn 28 and looks like his trajectory is still up and he is durable.
If you compare prime years to prime years than Giannis takes it.
They are similar in who they defend, but Giannis is probably a better defender at 1-5. AD has been played at 5 way more and during a time where teams still played big and he was a beast but hated the position. Hard to say. Why do you care about only interior defense?
It's AD and not close. AD was a top 3 regular season defender in his prime behind Dray and Gobert and the 2nd best postseason defender behind Dray.
I am hesitant to definitively say Giannis is a top 10 defender when Brook was arguably a more valuable defender than Giannis on his own team. I think he was clearly not a top 5 defender. This is no shade to Giannis. I think at worst he's the 2nd best player in the league currently and probably been the 4th or higher since breaking through to MVP. Being 10th on offence and Defence equates to best in league value.
Enner Valencia
Tbf he’s playing the soccer equivalent of the Charlotte Bobcats right now.
More like the Adelaide 36ers
Fr. Mans prime ronaldo😭😭. i just got a feeling before the game that he would do this 🤷
LeCap is that you?
[2022 Giannis vs. 2020 Anthony Davis defensive comparison,](https://gyazo.com/30cb67cd5ad212f890db53690639ef2e) per [Bball-Index.](https://www.bball-index.com/leaderboards-tool/)
Pelicans AD better imo
[2018 Anthony Davis vs. 2020 Anthony Davis vs. 2020 Giannis vs. 2022 Giannis defensive comparison,](https://gyazo.com/03aa7e5e0094973cbe97e3698f379774) per [Bball-Index.](https://www.bball-index.com/leaderboards-tool/)
Hard for me to understand advanced stats but AD a better interior defender 🤷
I can see that people are really missing the point of the question. I think it’s hard to say who the better interior defender is. I think AD, at his peak, was one of the best on-ball rim defenders ever. He had great reflexes, really good hands, and didn’t foul. Giannis on the other hand, is clearly a better off-ball defender. He can help on both the interior and recover to shooters. Giannis has consistently had great shooting percentage defense for about the past four years now. Despite that, I think I’d go AD. By a hair. Giannis is a little more schematically flexible
Idk I think you're underrating AD's off-ball defense a little bit here, I would actually say AD is *better* in the helper role than the main rim protector; that's why the Lakers defense was so good when he played next to Howard and McGee. I can't tell you how many plays I've seen where AD bounced around the paint guarding 3, 4 or even all 5 opposing players in the span of like 8 seconds. He's not as quick as he used to be, but prime AD might be the most versatile defender in modern NBA history, he was elite in both switch and drop. Giannis's big advantage over AD is as a playmaker imo, not on defense.
That’s a fair opinion. I can see what you’re talking about. I will say that Giannis is better than AD on almost all facets of offense
>I will say that Giannis is better than AD on almost all facets of offense Agreed with the small caveat that AD is a better free throw shooter (and for years was a much better FT shooter).
I think giannis is better at help defense
People don't read past the title. Though OP might've done it on purpose because you can fit the question in the title.
Mb i didnt know people dont read the small bit. New to reddit. Kinda
I likes this
Giannis easily tf
Nobody read the post lol
The defense is interesting. I feel like both guys have only looked like Dpoy’s when they’ve had strong defensive supporting casts around them. I prefer Giannis as an off ball defender but Davis is a better rim protector.
Giannis all day. We don't even know about Giannis' prime yet though. *typo
Yeah but its shocking that giannis has never averaged 2+ blocks
can't block shots if you don't let people shoot
Can block shots and prevent the opp for another chance and gain possession
?? People who say this are such cringe. Giannis is in his prime and he has peaked when he won his ring and two MVP’s. There’s a reason he’s literally worse in nearly all stats this season than when he won his hardware.
The dude who dropped 35 ppg in the finals tf
Smartest Raptors fan
I forgot how important ppg is to defense
[удалено]
I’m not arguing AD Is a better defender, just stupid to bring up points in a thread about *defense*.
Im talking about interior defense. AD was a beast brother. Back to back games dominating (even though its no competition)
That's disingenuous. There are top 10 players who didn't average 35ppg in the finals. Would you take Giannis over them?
[удалено]
Giannis > Hakeem Olajuwan? Rick Barry got 40.8 ppg in 1967 so Rick Barry > everyone except MJ? Ofc Giannis' finals ppg > Jordan's 33.6 so Giannis > MJ huh?
You got the spirit
Not me, it's u/jumpthroughit. Although they deleted the comment you so might have a deserter on your hands.
I removed because I thought he meant Top 10 active players. After I saw he meant Top 10 historically my answer wasn’t relevant anymore.
No you misinterpreted me. I was trolling you by pretending to agree with that user and assuming you stating your rhetorical questions was you agreeing with your rhetorical questions. Obviously no one should because Giannis isn't better than MJ but you've ruined the joke now.
lmao nice reading
Prime AD is a better defender yea
AD during his peak was a better defender than giannis. Lopez has helped the bucks defense an insane amount. AD never had someone like that but watching AD playyoff defense in 2018+2020 surpasses whatever giannis did to gleague nets or whatever. Most of this sub doesn't know Pels AD and how he looked on defense anyways. Absolute peaks AD is one of the beat defenders ever. People hate lakers and majority never tuned into any pels games so they will love to hate on AD
Fr lopez need his respect. Been stepping up big time
yeah, this is pretty impossible to judge unless we get to see giannis play with a bunch of bad defenders, but even with that, the comparison is weird. They are both all-time greats, both long athletic freaks, who cares? This is kind of like arguing duncan vs hakeem vs robinson vs ben wallace vs kg. you are just arguing flavors and none of us have nearly enough information to actually parse anything beyond the surface.
I think I'd take AD tbh
Are people seriously saying AD?
We watched him play, so yeah
Fr bro was just different. Gave me hakeem vibes
Giannis
Very hard AD Prime AD was a better paint and main defender Has much better shooting both midrange and 3s and arguably more well rounded offensive skills than Giannis Better Off ball threat Not physically and athletically as imposing as Giannis but good enough for a modern PF Giannis Giannis is a better perimeter defender A much better threat in transition Is better physically and durable wise, but he can only play the hard way because his shooting is not consistent and good enough to elevate his scoring ability It is just another of these Jokic Vs Embiid
Giannis is absolutely not a better perimeter defender than prime AD.
I do think AD is slightly better interiorly.
AD
Are we talking about defense or overall? I'm a bias Giannis fan but I see no world where AD is better than Giannis at anything other than shot blocking and midrange at his prime. And don't even get me started about playmaking...
Interior defense. Giannis better at the rest :D
Giannis easily… Signed a Laker fan OOPS thought u meant player. I think AD and him do different things. AD’s switch ability is better than Giannis. Giannis has proven he can be a game altering menace when it matters…that block on Ayton is one of the best plays I have ever seen on the biggest stage in the biggest moment
Giannis is a better overall defender. Its just that prime AD was terrorizing people in the paint.
AD he can shoot if he isn’t on the bench with an injury
Yea same way Kawhi can shoot if he isn’t on the bench with an injury
Literally just my opinion lmfao
I just agreed with you? Both players have better overall defense if they’re emit injured on the bench.
Tru
I would say peak AD's interior D is better, but peak AD happens about 20% of the time so give me Giannis who is almost always in peak form.
Talking about peak only so AD 🤷
ITT people with 0 reading comprehension
Giannis has been in his prime for arguably 6 seasons (starting in 2017/18) including this one. He is 2x MVP, spot, and finals MVP. He is about to turn 28 and looks like his trajectory is still up and he is durable. If you compare prime years to prime years than Giannis takes it.
Pure interior defending tho
They are similar in who they defend, but Giannis is probably a better defender at 1-5. AD has been played at 5 way more and during a time where teams still played big and he was a beast but hated the position. Hard to say. Why do you care about only interior defense?
Cause its not fair to AD if we compare them overall. Giannis puts him in his place 😭
AD is definitely the much more switchable defender between them.
Giannis the better team leader, AD the better second choice if we can choose the other 4 players.
Giannis is withtout a doubt a better player. Interior defense tho.. prime AD was PRIME AD
Pretty much my reasoning
It's AD and not close. AD was a top 3 regular season defender in his prime behind Dray and Gobert and the 2nd best postseason defender behind Dray. I am hesitant to definitively say Giannis is a top 10 defender when Brook was arguably a more valuable defender than Giannis on his own team. I think he was clearly not a top 5 defender. This is no shade to Giannis. I think at worst he's the 2nd best player in the league currently and probably been the 4th or higher since breaking through to MVP. Being 10th on offence and Defence equates to best in league value.