Edit: poll*
Obviously seeing Brook finishing runner up to Jaren Jackson Jr. for this years Defensive Player of the Year was disappointing. We know the impact Brook brings to our team, and how deserving he was of this award. However, the Athletic have just posted their 2022-23 player poll outlining how players around the league perceive each other and opposing teams, and I found some of the results very interesting.
DeMar DeRozan, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Zach LaVine, and Donovan Mitchell are just a few of many players interviewed.
The Athletic make some great reads, and I only wanted to outline what positive stuff was said about **us** in this poll. If you really wanted to read the article, [here’s the link](https://theathletic.com/4421645/2023/04/18/nba-players-poll/).
The following stand out responses from the poll were to the following questions:
* *Who’s the MVP?,*
* Joel Embiid was the resounding favourite, with 50% of votes. **Giannis came in 3rd to Jokic, finishing with 15.7% of votes**. No question was asked regarding the League’s best player, whom most of us obviously believe is Giannis.
* *Who’s the best defender?*
* It wasn’t JJJ, it wasn’t Brook, and it wasn’t even 3rd place DPOY runner up Evan Mobley who was named the league’s best defender. It was **OUR JRUE HOLIDAY, with 28.7% of votes.** To us though, this is not very surprising, Jrue isn’t just elite, he’s the best perimeter defender in the league, easily. Brook finished with 8.9% still, and Giannis with 4%.
* *You’re building a roster from scratch: Who are you going to sign first?*
* Giannis Antetokounmpo, of course, was the most selected option here. **Giannis had 52.4% of the votes here**, and how close was the second place? Jokic, with 8.7%. No words really, he’s just the best player on Earth.
* *Who’s the most underrated player?*
* **AGAIN, JRUE HOLIDAY takes this vote with 17.5% of the pooling**. In fairness, 34% of the votes went to other players not listed as they would have likely each received an individual vote, but of all listed players, Jrue was voted the most underrated. **Khris** also makes a showing here, with **1 vote** it would seem to his name!
* ***Which team, other than your own, will win the title this sesason?***
* By an absolute landslide, the **Bucks were voted the favourite to win by 62.2%**! Boston came in second, with 18.9%, followed by Golden State then Denver. Bucks in 6.
* *Who talks the most trash on the court?*
* The GOAT, from my hometown Adelaide, **Joey Ingles, makes a nice appearance here, with 4% of the votes**. Talk the talk Joe.
Hope you guys enjoyed the spill and enjoyed seeing at least one slightly important component of basketball (the opposition themselves!) respect our team.
by methodeum
8 Comments
Jrue has definitely been shown to have all the respect from players over the years
I don’t even have to read the answer on who talks the most trash on court. It’s 1000% Jingles.
Thanks for sharing. I no longer sub to the athletic so I wouldn’t have seen it without you posting
>Giannis had 52.4% of the votes here
Kinda low ngl
We need to play better defense against scoring forwards. It’s our Achilles heel. Butler, tatum, brown (lol Celtics in general because they all fit that scoring wing mold) get anything they want on us. Also way too reliant with the hot/cold 3 ball. Every team has a weakness this year so I don’t want to be doom and gloom. We’re fucking amazing. We can def win it all but I think it’s time to have Giannis defend instead of roaming. We need it this year.
My buddy who is a die hard Celtics fan praises Jrue everytime we watch a game together.
It’s enlightening to hear what the players think about who the best defensive player is. They are the ones who have to go to battle against him on a nightly basis. Frankly, blocking shots and drawing charges are the more marketable aspects of defense. The media can’t sell you highlights of this man locking dudes down 35 minutes a night.
🦌6️⃣