Tony Allen - Lockdown

Tony Allen is unrelenting. He hounds his mark all over the court. He’ll fight through every screen and beat you to your spots. Intelligent, energetic and supremely athletic, Allen single-handedly decimates the offensive game plan. He does so because he’s thorough in his preparation and that allows him to be the perfect perimeter defender. He knows what your sets are, where you want to go, and what you want to do, and he’ll make sure you can’t get a single one of those. He’s tough, but it’s physicality with purpose, and most of the time, his body control is such that he’s playing smart, clean defense and it’s just a marvel to behold.

Kobe Bryant said of Allen that, “he plays harder than everybody else defensively.” He’s almost impossible to get away from, because his aggressiveness and know-how allow him to stay connected to his man around myriad screens. He knows when to bump down, when to stunt, and when to lean (especially when he’s giving up around 6 inches or so to Kevin Durant). Above all else, he's an NBA champion.

This video isn’t about him getting steals or blocking shots, although, of course, those are featured. It’s about how he gets into his opponents and outworks them. He’s in-sync with his teammates, always communicating, and sinking-and-filling when needed. The most impressive thing I’ve seen in a little while is how he can contest and leave his hand right in the opponent’s face without fouling even if they get him off his feet and flying by (3:57). Sometimes his opponents’ don’t know where he’s coming from or what he’s going to do, but one thing is for sure: the Grindfather and his defense are an absolute pleasure to watch.

http://boingvert.com/evin/

If you'd like to support:
Venmo - @Evin_Gual
Cash App - $EvinGual
Patreon -   / evin_gual