Many people see big men as defensive anchors in the NBA. There’s some merit in that distinction.
Perimeter defense is a group effort. You can hide one weak perimeter defender if you’ve got a number of strong ones. By contrast, protecting the rim is a one-man job. If your last line of defense is broken, it’s hard to get stops.
Yet, in the modern NBA, a rim protection specialist may not be enough. Big men who can survive defending in space have become increasingly popular.
Still, even a big who can’t switch can retain value just by protecting the rim. For example, Mo Bamba can’t switch, but he remains a solid rim protector.
By contrast, Robert Williams III is a versatile defender, but unfortunately, he struggles with staying healthy.
Could the two find themselves on the same team this season?
