Hoops Nightly
From our box scores · 107 games in 2026-27 · starting lineups

Defense vs Position

Softest NBA matchup by position

Trail Blazers guards against the Suns is the softest spot tonight: that defense allows 124.7 fantasy points a game to the role, 70% above the league average, 1st of 30, over 5 games.

Softest spot tonight · 9:00 PM ET
Damian Lillard
Damian LillardGuard · 33.4 fantasy points a gamevs
+70%more fantasy points than average allowed to guards by the Suns, over 5 games
Kyshawn GeorgeKyshawn GeorgeF · WAS vs ATL+57%Luka DoncicLuka DoncicF · LAL vs SAC+47%Darius Acuff Jr.Darius Acuff Jr.G · SAC vs LAL+41%LaMelo BallLaMelo BallG · MIN vs HOU+39%Isaiah StewartIsaiah StewartC · MEM vs IND+36%

The Board

  1. 1Pick a role. Tap Guards, Forwards or Centers and the 30 teams reorder, softest on top.
  2. 2Read the color. Red gives up more than average. Blue gives up less. The number is per game.
  3. 3Tap a team. The X-ray shows every stat it allows to that role, and who draws the matchup next.
Stat
Period
#Defense

Who gives up what, 2026-27

Guards

Softest

  1. Phoenix Suns124.7
  2. Los Angeles Lakers103.5
  3. Houston Rockets101.8

Toughest

  1. Atlanta Hawks42.9
  2. Portland Trail Blazers43.0
  3. Brooklyn Nets48.3

Forwards

Softest

  1. Atlanta Hawks99.6
  2. Sacramento Kings92.8
  3. Golden State Warriors76.7

Toughest

  1. LA Clippers44.6
  2. Toronto Raptors48.3
  3. Philadelphia 76ers48.9

Centers

Softest

  1. Atlanta Hawks44.9
  2. Indiana Pacers40.5
  3. Portland Trail Blazers39.5

Toughest

  1. Los Angeles Lakers17.5
  2. Sacramento Kings18.9
  3. Minnesota Timberwolves21.6

Fantasy points allowed to the role per game. League average: guards 73.4, forwards 63.3, centers 29.8.

30 rows · 2026-11-02
Writing about this? Free to cite.Source: Hoops Nightly, Defense vs Position (as of Mon, Nov 2): https://hoopsnightly.com/defense-vs-position

More from our own data

What this does not tell you

  • Three roles, not five. Official rosters list G, F and C, with no point guard or small forward. Anyone listed at center (C, C-F, F-C) counts as a center, a G-F as a guard and an F-G as a forward.
  • No pace adjustment. These are raw per-game totals, so a fast team gives up more of everything. Who a team has already faced also matters.
  • Small samples early. In November a team has played a handful of games, and one big night moves its line. Check the 2025-26 column before you trust an extreme.
  • Fantasy scoring is points 1, threes 0.5, rebounds 1.25, assists 1.5, steals 2, blocks 2, turnovers -0.5, with no double-double bonus. Full method.