NBA Awards Watch: LeBron James Rising

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Andrew Bogut, C Golden State Warriors – The Warriors currently boast the best defense in the NBA (95.1 points allowed per 100 possessions), and Andrew Bogut is at the center of it all. The 30-year-old Bogut “only” ranks sixth in the NBA in blocks (2.06 per game), but he is also playing less than 26 minutes per contest, and his impact when on the floor is immeasurable, including the fact that opponents are shooting less than 40% at the rim when he’s involved. Golden State desperately needs their big man healthy to be a “real” contender for the title, but as long as Bogut is available, they are scary good.
2. Roy Hibbert, C Indiana Pacers – To be honest, Hibbert has only been displaced after missing the last four-plus games with injury. The 7-foot-2 rim protector has been at the top of his game defensively this season, allowing only 38.5% shooting by opponents at the rim, and Hibbert has been the lone bright spot in a checkered season for the Pacers. It has been easy to take shots at the big man in the past, but not this season. He has been fantastic when on the floor.
3. Tim Duncan, PF/C San Antonio Spurs – Duncan isn’t the game-changing rim protector that he once was, but in the same breath, the greatest power forward of all-time happens to rank fourth in the NBA in blocks per game (2.07) right now. Duncan has also been in the elite category with regard to deterring shots at the rim (opponents shoot 41% against him), and he is always in the right place at the right time, earning the reputation as one of the smartest superstars ever. Tim Duncan at the age of 38 isn’t the same player he was at the age of 28, but he’s still incredibly effective.

Next: Rookie of the Year