NBA Awards Watch: The Case for Chris Paul

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors – We’ve already heard from Green as a candidate for Most Improved Player, but he is the front-runner for defensive glory. The third-year forward leads the NBA in defensive win shares while finishing in the top-3 in individual defensive rating, and the Warriors are basically the best defensive team in the league (98.0 points allowed per 100) when he plays. When he doesn’t see the floor, however, Golden State plummets defensively (105.1 points allowed per 100), and that is perhaps the best indicator of his value. Green isn’t the typical DPOY candidate because he isn’t a dominant shot blocker, but he does fill the stat sheet with 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, and because he leads the best defense in the league, it is more than reasonable to align with the former Michigan State Spartan.
2. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs – This has become a two-man race because, well, Kawhi Leonard has been out of his mind in recent days. The Spurs are charging to the finish line with elite defense down the stretch, and Leonard now outpaces Green in individual defensive rating (per Basketball-Reference). No one is more terrifying in the passing lane than Leonard, who leads the league in steals with 2.3 per game, and his combination of length, speed and ferocity is the bedrock of San Antonio’s defense at this point. If Leonard doesn’t win, it will be because he has played in only 59 games, but on a per-game basis, he’s been the best in the business this season.
3. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers – I don’t think DeAndre Jordan should win Defensive Player of the Year, but he has a very interesting candidacy. The Clippers center ranks near the top of the league in defensive rating on an individual basis, and that should perhaps be weighted more heavily than the struggles of his team on that end of the floor. Still, Jordan’s calling card is in his ability to end possessions, and he leads the league (by a wide margin) in both defensive rebounds per game and defensive rebound percentage. There is no one you would rather have cleaning up the glass than Jordan in his prime, and given his abilities as a rim protector, a glance in his direction is warranted.

Next: Rookie of the Year