I can’t find specific data that he defended Moncrief in the Bucks series you mention - although I find it difficult to believe that, as good as Moncrief was, that DJ guarded him and he went wild. I just don’t see it (although I can’t find a way to prove it, at the moment).

I tried to find box scores, etc, but am unable. I do recall commentary regarding DJ on Magic - and I recently read Bob Ryan’s piece on DJ where he notes that the Celtics were down to the Lakers after 3 games in the 84 Finals, and KC didn’t have DJ on Magic (for some strange reason). Ryan asserts that KC made the change, DJ contained Magic, and it was an underrecognized reason for the Celtics championship that year. Bob Ryan knows his basketball, so I’m willing to rely on his memory much more than on mine… fwiw.

As for telling how great a defender he was, probably the best way is the nine times he was 1st- or 2nd-team All-NBA Defensive Team. Now, that voting may be more like the Gold Glove than I’m willing to allow - in that it’s tough to get the first one, but once you do, it’s easy to get multiple ones - but still… *nine* times? That can’t all be by accident.

He also may have made some terrific defensive plays. I read what you wrote, and also what the sports guy said. I remember the 1987 series against the Bucks, and from what I remember, there wasn’t a heck of a lot of defense being played at all. Sure enough the Bucks averaged 122 points in that series. Can’t find Moncriefs stats for just that series, but for the playoffs in total he scored 19.4. On what basis can you really tell how great a defender he was? Did he really shut down Magic in the finals?