Bleacher Report's Tim Duncan misfire ignores one unavoidable Bill Russell truth

Bill Russell is an all-time defender, and he belongs in every conversation when discussing the greatest to ever do it. Let's get that out of the way. But rankings don't (or at least shouldn't) exist in a vacuum. They should account for context, and that's where Bleacher Report's decision to put Russell ahead of Tim Duncan gets it wrong.

This isn't about diminishing the Celtics legend's legacy. It's about recognizing the truth we've ignored for far too long. Dominating in an eight-to-14 team league isn't the same as anchoring elite defenses for nearly two decades in a 30-team NBA.

Era has to matter in all-time debates

Now, the latest all-time defender ranking on BR was built off 12, 370 fan votes. Hakeem Olajuwon came in first, receiving 34% of the votes, while Russell pulled in 33% for second, leaving 17% for Timmy D in third place, and 16% for "other."

That doesn't let Bleacher Report off the hook, though. They released their own ranking as a staff last week. In their version, the old Boston great was first, followed by Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Olajuwon. Now, I can abide Hakeem being one or two, but definitely not fourth, and I would say the same goes for the Spurs' biggest franchise superstar.

Yes, Russell has 11 championships, and during his reign, "Boston's defensive rating was dramatically better than the league average," as the article so eloquently states, but again, there were only so many teams. To some, it may sound like I'm penalizing a Hall of Famer for the era he was born in, and that's because, to a certain extent, I am.

However, calling someone a top-five defender ever isn't really an insult. Is it? He's just not number one.

It almost feels like the NBA community wants him to hold that title because we know he's not the GOAT, but we want to give him something for that level of winning and impact. It's just not reasonable. If we can acknowledge that the 11 chips don't earn him the label of Greatest of All Time, that same logic should be extended to the title of greatest defender.

Tim Duncan thrived where defending became far more difficult

The offensive schemes, skill level, and spacing all worked to the advantage of a skilled shotblocker like Russell. Duncan thrived under illegal defense rules, the change to allowing more zones, and the proliferation of the three-point shot. He got it done against the Triangle, 7-seconds-or-less, motion, and pick-and-roll-heavy offenses.

In his 19-year career, The Big Fundamental only allowed the Spurs to finish outside of the top-10 in defensive rating twice. They led the NBA six times (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2016). San Antonio maintained a top-three defensive rating with him on the floor in each of his first 11 years in the league. In his final season at 40 years old, Duncan led the league in Defensive Real Plus/Minus.

The biggest travesty of his career is never winning a Defensive Player of the Year award, but it's one we all acknowledge. Olajuwon was truly out of this world during a more modern era as well, so he's the only other defender worth considering over Duncan. Not Russell. It's time we said that out loud.

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