NBA Defense vs. Position Cheat Sheet
Historically, fantasy players have often used defensive fantasy points allowed to a particular position as a metric to determine how good or bad a matchup is for a certain player.
The issue with this methodology is that in today’s NBA, positions are much more fluid than the traditional Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center designations would suggest. Because of this, we at RotoGrinders have decided to re-think the way we view positions in daily fantasy basketball. We have categorized NBA players into one of eight different archetypes, and created a Defense vs. Archetype page that you can find by clicking the button below.
Click here to view the new Defense vs. Archetype Matchup tool.
For reference, here are the archetypes we now use to classify NBA players by how they truly contribute to their team on the floor:
Distributors: This category is heavily focused on ball handlers who facilitate the offense. There are a limited number of players who have some off ball shooting and on-ball shot creating capabilities. Most of them rely on other players to finish based on their ability to set them up. Example Distributors include Ben Simmons, Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic, and Ricky Rubio
Combo Guards: Players who may have traits of distributors, shooters, and/or scorers. They may be better described as guards with at least some creator and distributor tendencies. Example combo guards include James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, and Kyrie Irving.
Shooting Wings: Players who spend most of their time on the perimeter and off the ball. They tend to take most of their shots as spot up shooters, off-screens, via handoffs, and via other means that don’t require them to handle the ball often. They rarely create their own shot. Examples include J.J. Redick and Kyle Korver.
Scoring Wings: Offensive capable players who spend their time on the perimeter and may even be capable of shooting as well or better than shooting wings. Their primary difference from shooters is their ability to play with the ball and become creators of offense. Examples include Demar Derozan, Lou Williams and C.J. McCollum.
3 and D Wings: Similar to Shooting Wings but typically bigger and more inclusive of the former SF and PF type players. This is a fairly broad category that may include players for the tendency to shoot the three often on offense and/or play a key role guarding versatile forwards and other shot creators on defense. They aren’t typically shot creators themselves. Examples include Otto Porter, Robert Covington, and Trevor Ariza.
Versatile Forwards: Along side the elite combo guards, Versatile Forwards include some of the most dangerous offensive players in basketball. They may have traits from every single archetype but for sure have more than a single defining offensive trait. Most commonly, they share traits with shot creators offensively and can operate with and without the ball. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo fall into this group but they are special exceptions to any of the types we have. Better examples include Tobias Harris, Paul Millsap, Aaron Gordon, and James Johnson.
Versatile Bigs: Players with great size who also tend to have a strong offensive game that strays from the basket. They have the ability to play either in the post or away from the basket as Bigs on offensive. Examples include Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Blake Griffin, and Demarcus Cousins.
Post Bigs: Players who generally don’t stretch the floor and spend a lot of time near the goal and in the paint on offense. They may have some ability to step back and shoot a jumper but typically don’t look to that first. DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond, Rudy Gobert, and Steven Adams are players that fit the description well.
Example Archetype List (As of 10/2018)
Distributors | Combo Guards | Scoring Wing | Shooting Wing | 3 and D Wing | Versatile Forwards | Versatile Bigs | Post Bigs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aaron Holiday | Aaron Brooks | Alec Burks | Alex Abrines | Abdel Nader | Aaron Gordon | Adreian Payne | A.J. Hammons |
Aaron Jackson | Alex Caruso | Allonzo Trier | Alfonzo McKinnie | Al-Farouq Aminu | Alec Peters | Al Horford | Al Jefferson |
Andrew Harrison | Anfernee Simons | Andrew Wiggins | Allen Crabbe | Andre Iguodala | Alex Poythress | Anthony Davis | Alex Len |
Austin Rivers | Brandon Jennings | Bogdan Bogdanovic | Andre Ingram | Andre Roberson | Alize Johnson | Blake Griffin | Alexis Ajinca |
Ben Simmons | Brandon Knight | Bradley Beal | Anthony Brown | Arnoldas Kulboka | Anthony Tolliver | Bobby Portis | Amile Jefferson |
Bobby Brown | Bruce Brown | Brandon Ingram | Antonio Blakeney | Arron Afflalo | Billy Preston | Brook Lopez | Amir Johnson |
Briante Weber | Cameron Payne | C.J. McCollum | Antonius Cleveland | Ben Moore | Carmelo Anthony | Channing Frye | Andre Drummond |
Caris LeVert | Charles Cooke | DeMar DeRozan | Avery Bradley | Brandon Paul | Chris McCullough | Chris Boucher | Andrew Bogut |
Cory Joseph | Chris Paul | Denzel Valentine | Ben McLemore | Brice Johnson | D.J. Wilson | Darrell Arthur | Angel Delgado |
D.J. Augustin | Collin Sexton | Dillon Brooks | Bojan Bogdanovic | C.J. Miles | Danilo Gallinari | Deandre Ayton | Ante Zizic |
Dante Exum | D’Angelo Russell | Dion Waiters | Bruno Caboclo | C.J. Williams | Dante Cunningham | DeMarcus Cousins | Aron Baynes |
Darren Collison | Damian Lillard | Dwyane Wade | Bryn Forbes | Cedi Osman | Dario Saric | Derrick Favors | Bam Adebayo |
Daryl Macon | Damion Lee | Eric Gordon | Buddy Hield | Chandler Hutchison | Davis Bertans | Dirk Nowitzki | Bismack Biyombo |
De’Aaron Fox | Danuel House | Evan Turner | C.J. Wilcox | Chandler Parsons | Derrick Williams | Dragan Bender | Boban Marjanovic |
Dejounte Murray | De’Anthony Melton | Gary Harris | Carrick Felix | Damien Wilkins | DJ Wilson | Draymond Green | Brandan Wright |
Delon Wright | Demetrius Jackson | Isaac Bonga | Corey Brewer | Damyean Dotson | Ersan Ilyasova | Dwight Powell | Caleb Swanigan |
Derrick White | Dennis Schroder | Isaiah Hicks | Courtney Lee | Danny Green | Georges Niang | Enes Kanter | Cheick Diallo |
Devonte’ Graham | Dennis Smith Jr. | Jamal Crawford | Daniel Hamilton | Darius Miller | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Frank Kaminsky | Chimezie Metu |
Edmond Sumner | Deonte Burton | James Nunnally | Darrun Hilliard | David Nwaba | Gordon Hayward | Henry Ellenson | Chinanu Onuaku |
Elfrid Payton | Derrick Rose | Jared Terrell | Davon Reed | DeAndre Bembry | Guerschon Yabusele | Jack Cooley | Clint Capela |
Elie Okobo | Derrick Walton | Jerryd Bayless | Derrick Jones | DeAndre Liggins | Harrison Barnes | James McAdoo | Cody Zeller |
Emmanuel Mudiay | Devin Booker | Jimmy Butler | DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell | DeMarre Carroll | Jabari Parker | JaMychal Green | Cole Aldrich |
Eric Bledsoe | Devin Harris | Joe Johnson | Devon Hall | Devin Robinson | JaKarr Sampson | Jaren Jackson | Cristiano Felicio |
Frank Mason | Donovan Mitchell | Jonathon Simmons | Ding Yanyuhang | Dorian Finney-Smith | Jameel Warney | Jason Smith | Dakari Johnson |
Frank Ntilikina | Dwight Buycks | Jordan Clarkson | Donte DiVincenzo | Duncan Robinson | James Johnson | Joel Embiid | Damian Jones |
Fred VanVleet | Frank Jackson | Jordan Crawford | Doug McDermott | Dzanan Musa | Jarell Martin | Joffrey Lauvergne | Daniel Theis |
Goran Dragic | Frank Mason III | Josh Jackson | Dwayne Bacon | Emanuel Terry | Jarred Vanderbilt | Jon Leuer | David West |
Isaiah Briscoe | Furkan Korkmaz | Josh Okogie | E’Twaun Moore | Eric Griffin | Jayson Tatum | Jonathan Isaac | DeAndre Jordan |
Isaiah Taylor | George Hill | Kawhi Leonard | Evan Fournier | Erik McCree | Jeff Green | Julius Randle | Dewayne Dedmon |
Isaiah Whitehead | Gian Clavell | Kent Bazemore | Garrett Temple | Garlon Green | Jerami Grant | Karl-Anthony Towns | Deyonta Davis |
Ish Smith | Isaiah Canaan | Kevin Knox | Gary Trent | Gary Payton | Johnathan Motley | Kelly Olynyk | Domantas Sabonis |
Issuf Sanon | Isaiah Thomas | Khris Middleton | Gerald Green | George King | Jonas Jerebko | Kevin Love | Dwight Howard |
Jalen Brunson | J.J. Barea | Kyle Collinsworth | Grayson Allen | Glenn Robinson | Josh Huestis | Kristaps Porzingis | Ed Davis |
Jerian Grant | Jacob Pullen | Lance Stephenson | Hamidou Diallo | Jae Crowder | Josh McRoberts | Kyle O’Quinn | Ekpe Udoh |
Jevon Carter | Jamal Murray | Lonnie Walker | Ian Clark | Jake Layman | Josh Smith | LaMarcus Aldridge | Emeka Okafor |
Joel Berry II | Jameer Nelson | Lou Williams | Iman Shumpert | Jalen Jones | Juan Hernangomez | Larry Nance | Eric Moreland |
Jose Calderon | Jamel Artis | Luka Doncic | J.J. Redick | James Ennis | Keita Bates-Diop | Markieff Morris | Georgios Papagiannis |
Kadeem Allen | James Harden | Manu Ginobili | J.P. Macura | James Webb | Kevin Durant | Marreese Speights | Gorgui Dieng |
Lonzo Ball | Jarrett Jack | Naz Mitrou-Long | J.R. Smith | James Young | Kostas Antetokounmpo | Meyers Leonard | Greg Monroe |
Malcolm Delaney | Jawun Evans | Nicolas Batum | Jabari Bird | Jamil Wilson | Kyle Kuzma | Mike Muscala | Guillermo Hernangomez |
Marcus Paige | Jaylen Adams | Rawle Alkins | Jacob Evans | Jared Dudley | Lauri Markkanen | Montrezl Harrell | Hassan Whiteside |
Mario Chalmers | Jeff Teague | Rodney Hood | Jason Terry | Jaylen Brown | LeBron James | Moritz Wagner | Ian Mahinmi |
Marquis Teague | Jeremy Lamb | Terry Rozier | Jaylen Morris | Jodie Meeks | Luc Mbah a Moute | Myles Turner | Ike Anigbogu |
Matthew Dellavedova | Jeremy Lin | Tim Hardaway Jr. | Jeremy Evans | John Holland | Malcolm Miller | Nikola Jokic | Ivan Rabb |
Mike Conley | Jerome Robinson | TJ Warren | JJ Redick | Justin Anderson | Marvin Bagley | Nikola Vucevic | Ivica Zubac |
Milos Teodosic | John Wall | Tyrone Wallace | Joe Harris | Justise Winslow | Marvin Williams | Patrick Patterson | Jahlil Okafor |
Nate Wolters | Jordan Loyd | Will Barton | Joe Ingles | Kelly Oubre | Maxi Kleber | Quincy Acy | Jake Wiley |
Patrick Beverley | Jordan McRae | Yakuba Ouattara | Josh Hart | Kenrich Williams | Michael Beasley | T.J. Leaf | Jakob Poeltl |
Rajon Rondo | Joseph Young | D.J. Stephens | JR Smith | Kevin Hervey | Michael Porter | Thomas Welsh | Jarrett Allen |
Raul Neto | Josh Gray | Josh Richardson | Justin Holiday | Klay Thompson | Michael Young | Trevor Booker | JaVale McGee |
Raulzinho Neto | Josh Magette | Justin Jackson | Kyle Anderson | Mike Scott | Udonis Haslem | Jeff Withey | |
Raymond Felton | Jrue Holiday | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Kyle Singler | Miles Bridges | Wendell Carter | Joakim Noah | |
Ricky Rubio | Julyan Stone | Kevin Huerter | Lance Thomas | Nemanja Bjelica | Zach Collins | Joel Bolomboy | |
Ron Baker | Kay Felder | Khyri Thomas | Luke Babbitt | Nigel Hayes | Serge Ibaka | John Collins | |
Shabazz Napier | Keenan Evans | Kyle Korver | Luke Kornet | Nikola Mirotic | Marquese Chriss | John Henson | |
Shane Larkin | Kemba Walker | Langston Galloway | Luol Deng | Noah Vonleh | Zach Randolph | Johnny O’Bryant | |
Shaq Harrison | Kobi Simmons | Luis Montero | Malik Beasley | Okaro White | Marc Gasol | Jonas Valanciunas | |
Shaun Livingston | Kris Dunn | Luke Kennard | Marcus Georges-Hunt | Omari Spellman | Skal Labissiere | Jordan Bell | |
Shelvin Mack | Kyle Lowry | Malachi Richardson | Marcus Morris | Paul George | Jordan Mickey | ||
T.J. McConnell | Kyrie Irving | Marco Belinelli | Maurice Harkless | Paul Millsap | Justin Patton | ||
Tim Frazier | Landry Shamet | Mario Hezonja | Melvin Frazier | Ray Spalding | Jusuf Nurkic | ||
Tim Quarterman | London Perrantes | Nick Young | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Rodions Kurucs | Kendrick Perkins | ||
Tony Carr | Lorenzo Brown | Nicolas Brussino | Mikal Bridges | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Kenneth Faried | ||
Tony Parker | Malcolm Brogdon | Nik Stauskas | Mindaugas Kuzminskas | Rudy Gay | Kevon Looney | ||
Trevon Duval | Malik Monk | Norman Powell | Mirza Teletovic | Ryan Anderson | Khem Birch | ||
Trey Burke | Marcus Smart | Patrick McCaw | Moe Harkless | Shabazz Muhammad | Kosta Koufos | ||
Trey McKinney-Jones | Markel Brown | Rashad Vaughn | OG Anunoby | Thaddeus Young | Lucas Nogueira | ||
Tyler Ennis | Markelle Fultz | Reggie Hearn | Omari Johnson | Thomas Bryant | Mangok Mathiang | ||
Tyler Ulis | MarShon Brooks | Rodney McGruder | Omri Casspi | Tobias Harris | Marcin Gortat | ||
Tyus Jones | Michael Carter-Williams | Ryan Broekhoff | Otto Porter | Travis Wear | Marshall Plumlee | ||
Victor Oladipo | Mike James | Scotty Hopson | P.J. Tucker | Trey Lyles | Mason Plumlee | ||
Xavier Munford | Milton Doyle | Sean Kilpatrick | Pat Connaughton | Tyler Cavanaugh | Matt Costello | ||
Xavier Rathan-Mayes | Monte Morris | Seth Curry | Paul Zipser | Tyler Lydon | Matt Williams | ||
Zach LaVine | Myke Henry | Sterling Brown | PJ Tucker | Vince Hunter | Miles Plumlee | ||
Bradley Wanamaker | Patty Mills | Terrance Ferguson | Quincy Pondexter | Wenyen Gabriel | Mitchell Robinson | ||
Gabe Vincent | PJ Dozier | Terrence Ross | Reggie Bullock | Yante Maten | Mohamed Bamba | ||
Quinn Cook | Trevon Bluiett | Richard Jefferson | Drew Gordon | Nene | |||
Ramon Sessions | Troy Caupain | Robert Covington | Christian Wood | Nene Hilario | |||
Reggie Jackson | Troy Daniels | Royce O’Neale | Harry Giles | Nerlens Noel | |||
Rodney Purvis | Troy Williams | Sam Dekker | Jonah Bolden | Nick Collison | |||
Russell Westbrook | Tyler Dorsey | Semi Ojeleye | Gary Clark | Omer Asik | |||
Ryan Arcidiacono | Vince Carter | Sindarius Thornwell | Isaiah Hartenstein | Pascal Siakam | |||
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Wesley Matthews | Solomon Hill | Drew Eubanks | Pau Gasol | |||
Shake Milton | Xavier Silas | Stanley Johnson | Marcus Derrickson | Richaun Holmes | |||
Sheldon McClellan | Yuta Watanabe | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | Robert Williams | ||||
Spencer Dinwiddie | Zhaire Smith | Taurean Prince | Robin Lopez | ||||
Stephen Curry | Theo Pinson | Thabo Sefolosha | Rudy Gobert | ||||
Tomas Satoransky | Zach Lofton | Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot | Salah Mejri | ||||
Trae Young | Tony Allen | Steven Adams | |||||
Tyler Johnson | Tony Snell | Taj Gibson | |||||
Tyreke Evans | Torrey Craig | Tarik Black | |||||
Vander Blue | Treveon Graham | Thon Maker | |||||
Wade Baldwin IV | Trevor Ariza | Timofey Mozgov | |||||
Walt Lemon Jr. | Troy Brown | Tony Bradley | |||||
Wayne Selden | Vince Edwards | Tristan Thompson | |||||
Yogi Ferrell | Wayne Ellington | Tyler Davis | |||||
Marshon Brooks | Wesley Iwundu | Tyler Zeller | |||||
Joe Chealey | Wesley Johnson | Tyson Chandler | |||||
Wilson Chandler | Willie Cauley-Stein | ||||||
Desi Rodriguez | Willie Reed | ||||||
Zaza Pachulia | |||||||
Zhou Qi | |||||||
Ismaila Kane | |||||||
Alan Williams |