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Pacers Season Reviews: Cory Joseph’s season defined by his defense

By Ben Pfeifer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket during the game against Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 12: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket during the game against Emmanuel Mudiay #1 of the New York Knicks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 12, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers on March 27, 2019 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – MARCH 27: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers on March 27, 2019 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defense defines Cory Joseph’s season

It is difficult to quantify defensive ability with any one number. However, some of the impact metrics we do have help paint a cohesive picture. The best impact metric, Player Impact Plus-Minus, offers some credence to Joseph’s defensive greatness.

His Defensive Player Impact Plus-Minus ranked tied second of any guard in the NBA with Chris Paul and Danny Green, only topped by Derrick White. His defensive impact on the Pacers is truly profound. If I had a vote, Joseph would make one of my all-defensive teams.

In all facets of defense, Joseph excels. The six-foot-three guard is a pitbull, hounding opponents on and off of the ball. Despite his lack of incredible size, Joseph is a good shot-blocking guard because of elite hand placing and timing. Like the great Tim Duncan, he has a habit of blocking shots early in the shot.

This technique won’t result in many highlights, but it will create countless fastbreak opportunities for his team:

Joseph resides in the upper echelon of man to man defenders, not just in the guard division, but in all of the NBA. He has hidden strength and balance to him, allowing him to slide with ball handlers and bump them out of their rhythm.

As an isolation defender, Joseph held opposing offensive players to 0.65 points per possession, landing in the 90.6th percentile of isolation defenders. This trait allows Joseph to play far above his size, hanging with big wings in isolation; I vividly remember Joseph giving the lanky Brandon Ingram difficulty on his shots all night:

He’s just as elite defending in the pick-and-roll, whether the Pacers choose to hedge, switch or stick to traditional drop coverage.

Only allowing 0.7 points per possession when opposing pick and roll ball handlers attempted to score, ranking in the 92nd percentile, is impressive for a guard of his size. Joseph’s effort never fades; he always fights around screens, no matter how burly the screeners, and offers a contest:

As a team defender, Joseph is just as stingy. Due to his constant engagement, Joseph rarely loses his man off of the ball and fights through screens well. Defending Kyrie Irving, he doesn’t concede any airspace to the shot-making maestro, glued to his hip the whole play:

As are most of Indiana’s players, Cory Joseph’s rotations are crisp and quick. He has an excellent feel as a team defender, with a great sense of positioning and spatial awareness. Joseph quickly processes the mismatch in the post and what Tobias Harris wants to do. Guarding a fake shooter, Joseph helps out on the Ben Simmons post-up and steals the lazy entry pass:

As a whole, Joseph’s All-league caliber defense makes him one of Indiana’s most valuable players. Joseph is an unrestricted free agent, though, so what does the future look like for him?

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