Jrue Holiday, Matisse Thybulle, and Robert Williams III were the three net ratings kings on the Blazers last year. They all make their impact on defense, but how, by the numbers, did they reach these levels?
One of the most consistently revealing statistics in the NBA is plus/minus, a.k.a. net rating. For the Blazers, the net rating stat tells the story of how three of their most overlooked players made their undeniable impact on the court. There are always aberrations where some of the highest-usage players or those who play the most minutes can have a skewed net rating. But here's some love for the unsung heroes.
The three best net ratings on the Blazers all came from defensive aces. Jrue Holiday, who has been locking people up for all of his illustrious career, had by far the best on the team with a total of plus 197. Holiday is always in position on defense. While he's had seasons averaging even more, he was good for a steal a game while also giving you 16 points a game. After being salary-dumped to Portland, the veteran showed he never will be an afterthought, and the two-way demon helped spark the Blazers to a playoff run. He was a key contributor, but what else is new for the two-time NBA champion?
Second was Matisse Thybulle with plus 88. Thybulle has previously made the all-defensive team in a bench role on the Philadelphia 76ers. He is one of the strongest, most versatile perimeter defenders in the game. The Aussie is good for a steal and a block in any game where he gets enough minutes. Thybulle compiled 60 steals in just 30 games, and as he has excelled at before, averaged half a block in those limited minutes as well.
Third on the team was the newly renewed Timelord himself, Robert Williams III. While he can at times be gotten with the pump-fake, his shot-blocking prowess is one of the main reasons he just got a sizable three-year contract extension. Williams rejected 1.47 shots a game, 87 total, boasting a defensive rating of 107. He also gave the team 4.64 defensive rebounds a game as a real presence and anchor at that end of the floor over 59 games.
Holiday and Thybulle will have different roles since the Blazers are so loaded with perimeter players and have had Ja Morant as the face of their season ticket campaigns. But at least we know from their net rating stat that they can contribute even in limited action. Williams, who, like Holiday, was able to have an impact in the San Antonio Spurs playoff series, should have plenty of action next season in a frontcourt minus recently traded Jerami Grant.
