How to use Defense vs position

Open Defense vs position for the NBA or the WNBA. It answers one question: how much does this defense give up to players at this position? If a point guard faces a team that lets point guards score a lot, that's a point in favor of their over.

Open the full-size screenshot (opens in a new tab)

Reading the matrix

• Rows are defenses. When there are games tonight, the sheet opens on tonight's teams only. Search Find a team to add any other.
• Columns are positions: PG, SG, SF, PF and C in the NBA; G, F and C in the WNBA.
• Each cell shows a rank on top and the average allowed a game underneath. 29th · 30.2 means this defense allows 30.2 points a game to point guards, the 29th fewest in the league.

1st allows the fewest (a tough matchup). The last rank allows the most (a soft matchup). The colors follow the legend in the top right:

• Red for 1–5 and 6–10: tough.
• Gray for 11–20: average.
• Green for 21–25 and 26–30: soft, good for an over.

The WNBA has fewer teams, so its ranks run 1st to last of that league.

Your first five minutes

1. Pick the stat. Points is the default. Switch to Rebounds, Assists, Threes, PRA or open More stats.
2. Pick the window. The window pill starts on Season, which uses every game. Last 5, 10, 15 or 20 shows how a defense has played lately, which matters after a trade or an injury.
3. Sort. Click a position's header to sort the defenses by that column.
4. Open a defense. Click any cell to open the team panel: every position and stat, the last 10 games against the season, and tonight's game.

Using it with a player

Find the player's position and tonight's opponent, then read that cell. Then go to the player:

• Check their hit rate at the line in Top props or the Hit rate matrix.
• Check their minutes and role. A bench player in a soft matchup still needs minutes.

A soft matchup is a lean, not a bet. Pair it with the player's own numbers.

Tips for newer bettors

• Positions are labels. A "forward" on one team can play like a guard on another. If a player's role doesn't match their listed position, the matrix fits them less well.
• Early-season ranks move. The header says how many games each number is built on. A rank from 3 games can change a lot by next week.
• Pace matters. Fast teams allow more of everything to everyone. If a team is soft at every position, it may be pace, not a weak defender.

Troubleshooting

• Only some teams are listed: the sheet opens on tonight's teams. Clear the search and filters, or check the date.
• The ranks look like last season's: early on, the sheet uses last season until the new season has completed games. The top right says which season you're looking at.