The defense of these five people is against the sky

In the NBA, offense is often the easiest label for fans to remember, and dunks, three-pointers, and ultimate kills are the protagonists of the highlights. But the championship is not won by offense only, defense is the hard currency that comes to the end of the playoffs. There are some players who may not remember their scores, but they will always remember how they made superstars unable to make a shot.

Fifth place: Sean Battier

Career data: 8.6 points / 4.2 rebounds / 1.0 steals / 2 championships

Battier is a famous "silent leader" in the NBA. His defense is based on the ultimate study of details. Before each game, he would spend hours watching the video to analyze his opponent's shooting habits and weaknesses - such as Durant's habit of starting from his right hand, and Kobe's success rate in the left elbow area is higher. He even adjusts the angle of his arm when he blocks according to the star's shooting trajectory. In the 2012 Finals, he took on the task of defending Durant, pushing the latter's shooting percentage to 43.7%, and averaged 11.6 points and 57.7% of the three-point shooting percentage on the offensive end, becoming one of the key puzzles for the Heat to win the championship. He is a typical defensive player who "does not steal the spotlight, but always in a key position."

4th place: Tony Allen

Career statistics: 8.1 points / 3.5 rebounds / 1.4 steals / 6 best defensive team

Tony Allen's defense is not just a close fit, but a sense of oppression. His footsteps followed the ball holder like a shadow, and his shooting space was almost completely blocked. Kobe once said bluntly: "If there is a player in the league who can defend me, it is Tony Allen." In the 2011 Western Conference Finals, he blocked Durant's receiving route many times in key rounds, forcing the Thunder to adjust his tactics. His strength allows him to withstand a strong forward line and is fast enough to chase and defend a small defender. He is one of the souls of the Grizzlies' "frosted ball" defensive system. He never pursues stealing data, but instead uses a way to destroy the offensive rhythm to make defense a continuous psychological pressure.

Third place: Andre Iguodala

Career statistics: 11.3 points / 4.9 rebounds / 4.2 assists / 3 championships / 1 FMVP

Iguodala is one of the most versatile defensive front lines in the modern NBA. His value lies in the fact that he can defend from No. 1 to No. 4, and can switch defensive tasks at any time during the game. In the 2015 Finals, he was ordered to defend James in the face of danger, suppressing his shooting percentage to 39.8%, and forcing James to deal with defensive intensity in many games. In addition to personal defense, his assisted defense and stealing opportunities are also first-class. In the 2017 Finals, he repeatedly filled up JR Smith and Loeff from the weak side, becoming the most mobile link in the Warriors' defensive system. Iguodala is one of the few players who can win FMVP on the defensive end, which is itself the highest recognition of his defensive value.

Sidney Moncliffe

Career data: 15.6 points / 4.7 rebounds / 3.6 assists / 2 DPOY

Moncliffe is a rare outside DPOY in NBA history, and has won the award for two consecutive years (1983, 1984). His defense is not just about defending, but uses super fast reactions and predictions of the passing line to destroy the offense. He can limit the ball holder in one round and also make up for defense to other positions at any time. Larry Bird once said: "He is the toughest defender I've ever met." The East of the 1980s was full of powerful scorers, and Moncliff was their nightmare. His concentration on the defensive end is suffocating. Faced with his defense, many defenders will choose to reduce the ball and let their teammates bear the pressure.

No. 1: Scotty Pippen

Career data: 16.1 points / 6.4 rebounds / 5.2 assists / 6 championships / 8 best defense team

Pippen is Jordan's most perfect defensive partner and the true defensive core of the Bulls dynasty. He has a height of 2.08 meters, an extremely long wingspan, and excellent transverse speed, which makes him almost blind spots on the defensive end. In the 1996 finals, his outside defense almost blocked the Supersonic counterattack, forcing his opponent to be suppressed to suffocation in positional battles. Pippen can not only defend the opponent's top scorer, but also act as a libero in the conversion defense, assisting in defense, intercepting the ball, and launching fast attacks at any time. His career total number of steals ranked among the top ten in the NBA history, which is not only a reflection of speed, but also a proof of his defensive reading ability. He is the kind of player who has its own chains as long as he is present.