Andrew Bogut has ensured the Sydney Kings are violent crumbles no more.
The season is less than 10 games old, but Kings coach Andrew Gaze and teammate Daniel Kickert have seen enough to credit Bogut for turning them into a defensive powerhouse.
"Andrew's a world-class defender. That's all that needs to be said. That's what changes everything," Kickert said on Tuesday.
"Just getting guys in there and making them have to finish over him has worked out great for us. I think at the moment we've got the best defence in the league.
The statistics certainly back him up.
Last year, the Kings were among the worst defensive units in the league, conceding 89 points per game and narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
Five weeks into Bogut's return, the third-placed Kings are now giving up 86 points per contest - and 79 in their past three - to be the competition's second-best defensive team.
Bogut's 3.2 blocks per game is double that of his nearest counterpart in Melbourne rim-protector Josh Boone, while his 12.4 rebounds is light years ahead of Nicholas Kay's 9.2.
And Gaze believes the former NBA championship-winner is getting short-changed.
"It's not just the ones he gets, it's also the people aware of him being around that can help psychologically in the players' mind," Gaze said.
"He's been really good in that area, and in fact, when you look at the replays, may have been a bit stiff on a few occasions as well where he should've got either a couple of blocks."
Bogut's contributions are even more impressive given the ex-No.1 draft pick has hardly been able to train for the past fortnight because of a nagging back issue.
Ahead of Sunday's home game against the New Zealand Breakers, the 33-year-old was limited to light duties on Tuesday.
"He's been great in the way in which he's been able to come out with those small little ailments he's got and that he plays through it," Gaze said.
"Your judgment is what happens on the floor, and right now we can't complain. If he keeps playing like that and needs days off, I'm happy to give it to him."
Australian Associated Press
