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Denver Nuggets: Breaking down Plumlee’s defensive narrative

By Mathew Huff

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 10: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Mason Plumlee #24 of the Denver Nuggets and Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets defends at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 10, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 10: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Mason Plumlee #24 of the Denver Nuggets and Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets defends at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 10, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Many Denver Nuggets fans seem to think Mason Plumlee is one of the team’s elite defenders.

While he may not be Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee caught the eye of quite a few Denver Nuggets fans. Many seem to think the back up center is a solid rim protector. On top of that, they think this is the reason Malone tried to play Plumlee down low with Jokic at times in the starting rotation.

Well, this narrative of Plumlee being a good defender is actually false. According to NBA.com, Plumlee had a defensive field goal percentage of 45.3% to go along with an overall differential percentage of -2.5%.

He also allowed a field goal percentage of 62.7% when he was contesting shots which were less than six feet from the basket. For shots which were less than 10 feet away from the hoop, Plumlee allowed a field goal percentage of 57.5% and an overall percentage of 47.9% in general.

It is not that Plumlee is a bad player. It is simply he is extremely overrated as a defender and/or rim protector. To go even further, Plumlee also possessed a two pointer differential percentage of -5.1% and a differential percentage of -7.9% on shots which were less than six feet away from the basket.

Not the greatest numbers to possess if you are going to be labelled one of the better rim protectors on the team. Especially a team which is in dire need of some type of defensive help.

In the 68 games that Plumlee played, he had a defensive field goal percentage of 46.1%. He did get a bit better at the end of the season. In the last 10 games of the year, he improved his defensive field goal percentage of 41.1%. A significant improvement from his total with all of his 68 games he played.

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So, there you have it, Plumlee is a serviceable back up center to Nikola Jokic. However, he is not an elite rim protector like many are trying to label the former Duke big man.

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