Empty the Bench

These gentlemen have a nose for the leather. No, not in that way. Get your mind out of the gutter. They’re NBA players who get their hands on balls they have no business touching. What’s so funny? Oh, what is wrong with you? Focus. We’re talking about the players whose hustle, sticky fingers, and knack for being in the right place at the right time give their teams more possessions every night.

It doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but these guys chase down every loose ball, harass their man into mistakes, and constantly have an arm in the passing lanes. Why eight? You’ve got nerve, buddy. Don’t question us in public again. ETB hustla, Andrew, wrote this introduction and contributed to our list of NBA ballhawks.

1. Ron Artest, F, Sacramento Kings

A chemical imbalance. That’s about the only non-performance-related shot we’ll fire at Ron-Ron because at this point the target is too broad and it’s just too easy. Personality issues aside, Artest is a major force on defense, and if it wasn’t for Ben Wallace and Bruce Bowen, the 6-7 forward from Queensbridge would likely have anywhere between four and six Defensive Player of the Year awards hanging next to all those platinum records and singles (zing). As it is, the Tru Warrior has had to settle for just one of those awards (in ‘04) and for a reputation as being the premier one-on-one defender the league has to offer (sorry, Bruce, we’re not fans). For the 2006-07 season, Artest is leading the league in steals at 2.26 a night, and is averaging more boards a game (6.5) than any other year in his checkered 10-year run in the NBA.

2. Ben Wallace, C, Chicago Bulls

Big Ben’s lack of measurables aren’t what impress, and that’s probably why he went undrafted. It’s his untiring work ethic and impeccable sense of defensive timing that have made him one of the best centers and defensive players in the NBA over the past seven seasons. During that span, all he’s done is average 12.5 boards, 2.6 blocks, and about 1.5 steals a night en route to winning four Defensive Player of the Year awards, five All-NBA Defensive First Team honors, and four all-star game appearances. Dude is just a bitch to deal with when he’s focused. He seems to have lost a step this season, but you can’t help but feel that Wallace could still have a good 4 or 5 years of burn left in him.

3. Jason Kidd, PG, New Jersey Nets

We’ll spare you the fine wine analogies, but Kidd is perhaps having his best individual season in the NBA. He can’t really shoot, he’s not that fast anymore, and he could never out-jump too many guys, but Kidd knows how to win games. He has a preternatural grasp of basketball and a tireless motor, which has made the undermanned Nets competitive long after the rebuilding process should have begun. Eight rebounds a night (good for 14th in the Eastern Conference) and just over 1.5 steals from a starting point guard ain’t too shabby.

4. Caron Butler, F, Washington Wizards

It gives ETB great joy to finally see Caron earning some national attention for his efforts. Butler is the rare NBA player who earns his steals by both marauding the passing lanes and playing fantastic man defense. His 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals/game this season (both career highs) make him the Wizards’ peskiest defender and rebounder, a guy that opposing players always have to box out and worry about handling the ball with care when he’s on the court.

5. Andre Iguodala, G, Philadelphia 76ers

The other AI is producing in a major way since Iverson left Philly. We love Allen, but it was obvious to everybody that he was stunting Iguodala’s overall growth. Andre is currently fifth in the NBA with just over 2 steals a game, and is also pulling down just under 6 boards, too. Obviously his ability to create shots for himself and his teammates, as well as to score big in bunches, are the most visible improvements in his repertoire since the trade, but his defensive prowess hasn’t wavered a bit, either. Is Iguodala the kind of guy the 76ers can build their franchise around? No, probably not. But there’s no question he’s a key building block and a player who still hasn’t realized his full potential.

6. Shawn Marion, F, Phoenix Suns

There’s a reason Marion has been one of the best players in fantasy basketball pretty much since he came into the league in 1999-00 as a first-round pick of the Suns. Certainly over the past three seasons or so, one could make a legitimate case that he’s been the best. The Matrix gets after the ball like few others, averaging 1.9 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 10.1 rebounds over the course of his eight-year career. ‘Course, he’s also a career 18.7 points a game scorer, and finds himself streaking down the court for uncontested dunks nightly with the help of Steve Nash & Co. Marion is the total package.

7. Allen Iverson, G, Denver Nuggets

In this generation of NBA players, there is no one else who brings it every night like Allen Iverson. No matter what injury he may have suffered the previous night or the record of his team, the Answer leaves his soul on the court each game and always makes his presence felt. We just can’t imagine how young point guards who’ve grown up watching him on the tube feel when they step on the court and look into AI’s steely glare for the first time in person. The man is an intimidating presence, without a doubt, and there might not be a scrappier player in the league. Wade gets lots of press for “falling down seven times, getting up eight,” and surely the stage has been set for the drama queen to make a “miraculous” return in the playoffs, but AI has no need for such theatrics. He’s a baller who just does what he does with increasingly less fanfare, and damn it if ETB doesn’t just love him for it. His 2.13 steals/night are second only to the Tru Warrior.

8. Carlos Delfino, G/F, Detroit Pistons

Gerald Wallace probably belongs here, so call this a stretch pick, call it a homer pick, call it utter shite. You might be correct on all counts, but the third-year Argentinean has proven this season that he has an uncanny knack for finding the ball when he’s on the court, which, granted, is less than 16 minutes a game. We don’t have crazy stats to back this up (Delfino only has credit for 34 steals and 210 rebounds all season), but on most nights this guy is like Magneto out there, often finding himself in the right place at the right time to grab loose balls, rebounds, tip outs, errant passes, and deflections.

His outside shooting is erratic and he has a tendency to disappear for long spells on the offensive end, but on defense Delfino seems to always be active and is developing into a solid on-ball defender, often drawing the Ray Allens and Dwayne Wades of the world when starter Tayshaun Prince is resting. You might see a small rebuttal from my ETB associate, Andrew, about this pick and hell… he’s probably right.