Donte DiVincenzo’s defensive impact
The Milwaukee Bucks boast the best defense in the NBA, and also, one of the best defenses that fans have seen in the 21st century. Of course, the dominant presence of Antetokounmpo and the rim protection from Brook Lopez are two key reasons for that. But another key reason (one that is certainly worthy of being said in the same breath) is none other than DiVincenzo.
On the surface, this shouldn’t come to a huge surprise. He stands at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-6 wingspan and weighs a solid 203 pounds. Combine that with his 2018 combine best 42-inch vertical and you have a trustworthy base for a defensive guard. That base really comes into fruition when you consider DiVincenzo’s defensive activity and hustle.
In terms of the “hustle stats,” he’s the cream of the crop. This season he was averaging 3.6 pass deflections per 36 minutes, for example. That’s on par with some of the most elite perimeter defenders; from Marcus Smart (3.6 deflections per 36) to Robert Covington (3.8 deflections per 36). In terms of grabbing loose balls, he also was ranked at the top of the league; averaging the same as Kawhi Leonard and PJ Tucker with 0.8 recovered loose balls per 36 minutes.
He’s a pest-like windup toy that seemingly never winds down; per Basketball-Index, DiVincenzo travels 1.3 “defensive miles” per every 75 possessions (which ranks him in the top quarter of the league). In terms of their other defensive metrics, he predictably checks all of the boxes:
- Loose Ball Rec Rate: 79% (91st percentile)
- Steals per 75 Poss: 2.7 (93rd percentile)
- Deflections per 75 Poss: 3.6 (90th percentile)
- Passing Lane Defense: 5.1 (94th percentile)
It’s worth noting that final statistic; DiVincenzo’s passing lane defense. His activity and hustle have already been displayed, but his defensive anticipation is what truly separates his skill set from the rest. He is a football free safety who found himself on a basketball court; as the stats suggest, he is one of the best at being such. He’s what one could call a “defensive playmaker.”
On a Milwaukee Bucks squad that features the likes of Antetokounmpo (an all-around defensive menace), the Lopez brothers (two rim protecting beasts), on top of Middleton and Eric Bledsoe (two great on-ball defenders); DiVincenzo’s off-ball, pass-intercepting presence is the final piece that completes the puzzle. It’s fair to say that his contributions might even be the most important piece for the team (excluding Antetokounmpo, for obvious reasons) when looking at his advanced defensive metrics (again, via the trustworthy Basketball-Index).
- Defensive PIPM: +2.0 (94th percentile)
- Defensive RPM: +1.1 (93rd percentile)
- Defensive Raptor: +3.0 (89th percentile)
- Defensive BPM: +2.7 (96th percentile)
It’s evident; the Bucks are much better on defense when he is on the floor. DiVincenzo’s combination of activity, hustle, and anticipation fits perfectly within Milwaukee’s defense. His fit on offense is almost just as well-suited. To transition into that here is a clip that is, at the same time, both a final display of his defense and also an intro into his offensive skill set. Perhaps, consider this the “DiVincenzo in a (about 15 second) nutshell” video:
On the defensive end of this possession, DiVincenzo’s off-ball hustle is on full display. The way he commits to his defender through two tough screens is admirable; the fact he still managed to get the trailing block is as equally impressive. Then; he is the first man down the floor on the other end and he tops off the sequence with a “cherry on top,” catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. And there lies the first offensive calling card that DiVincenzo brings to the Bucks.