NBA Awards Watch: 5 Defensive Player of the Year Candidates

While there is little doubt in who is winning some of the 2012-13 NBA Awards, there is a little more discussion to be had around the Defensive Player of the Year award, for which there are seemingly a number of deserving candidates. From third-year surprises to a 16-season veteran, we have seen a number of outstanding defensive performances this season and some of the best defensive teams in the NBA are anchored by outstanding big-man defenders.

While there is no doubt there are some outstanding defenders on the perimeter, we simply could not overlook these five big men who have spent the season locking down the key, throwing back shot attempts and securing defensive rebounds. Here are your top five Defensive Player of the Year candidates.

Roy Hibbert is among the league’s best shot blockers. Photo Credit: IsoSports, Flickr.com

1. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers and the Memphis Grizzlies are clearly the league’s two best defensive teams. The Pacers are anchored by big man Roy Hibbert, who despite a relatively slow start to the season statistically has been a force defending the paint and has become one of the league’s most impactful defenders. While the Pacers’ defense is team-oriented and they have gifted defenders on the wing such as Paul George, it is Hibbert that controls the interior and is the key to the Pacers limiting their opposition to a league-low 42 percent shooting percentage. The Pacers allow just 90.7 points per game, which is the second best in the NBA, and their 99.8 defensive rating is the best in the league.

Hibbert has become one of the league’s true interior defensive anchors this season, he has the second-highest defensive rating in the league with 96.9 and his huge 7’2” frame has helped him amass 2.6 blocks per game, good for fourth in the league. He plays relatively limited minutes with just 27 per game, but his impact is huge and he managed to play in 79 of the Pacers 81 games this season. Taking into account both team and individual defensive performance this season, Hibbert should be the favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Marc Gasol anchors the best defense in the West. Photo Credit: Mark Runyon, Basketball Schedule, Flickr.com

2. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies, as mentioned earlier, clearly have of the league’s top two defenses, if not the best, and the key to their defensive structure is All-Star center Marc Gasol. Gasol is the anchor in the paint and the defensive communicator on the floor for the Grizzlies, who allow a league low 89.3 points per game. Their 100.3 defensive rating is good for second in the league and Gasol’s individual rating of 98.5 is the fifth-best in the NBA.

Gasol, who is not a noted athlete relies, on his strength, positioning and smarts on the defensive end to shut down the paint on opposition big men. He still manages 1.9 blocks per game, which is in the top 10 in the league, but more than his shot blocking it is his ability to force opponents out of post position or use his big body to keep teams off the offensive glass. The Grizzlies benefit from some impressive perimeter defenders and a great team defensive concept, but it is Gasol that controls the interior and allows the system to function as well as it does. Gasol’s game has gone up another level this season and a Defensive Player of the Year award would be a fitting reward if he were to win.

Tim Duncan may finally win his first Defensive Player of the Year award. (Photo: Keith Allison).

3. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs

Among all the accomplishments that Tim Duncan has amassed throughout his illustrious career, the most puzzling omission from his trophy cabinet is a Defensive Player of the Year award. Duncan has been one of the league’s best defenders since he entered the league and has consistently anchored one of the league’s top defenses in San Antonio. Duncan has again been among the league’s best defenders this season and may finally be in position to win seemingly the only award that has ever eluded him. Duncan has experienced a resurgence this season, performing better than he has in years, and it is no surprise that along with that came another dominant season for the Spurs.

The Spurs team defensive rating is 101.6, which is good for third in the league, while Duncan actually leads the league with 95. He has blocked 2.7 shots per game, which is good for seventh in the league, and more importantly is a monster on the defensive glass, accounting for 39.6 percent of defensive rebounds when he is on the floor. Duncan and the Spurs continue to be one of the best defensive teams in the league and no one should argue if Duncan is finally given the recognition of winning the award when he has probably deserved it numerous times throughout his career.

Sanders has been a defensive stalwart in Milwaukee. Photo Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com

4. Larry Sanders, Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee big man Larry Sanders has come a long way this season and, as well as being mentioned for the Defensive Player of the Year award, will likely see some votes for Most Improved Player. The long, athletic Sanders has become a prolific shot blocker and his 2.8 blocks per game is good for second in the league. He has become a game changer for the Bucks, who are not a renowned defensive team and lack any real defensive wing players. Sanders has done a great job deterring opponents from coming into the paint despite the fact he gets, at times, very little help from teammates. Even with the Bucks’ struggle defensively, Sanders has a 98.5 defensive rating, which is seventh best in the league. His impact on the team is immense and opposition field-goal percentages plummet when he is on the court.

While his defensive impact is as good as any in the league, Sanders is probably the least likely on this list to win the award simply based of Milwaukee’s poor defense overall. It is a fair point to make and the fact the other contenders for the award are on some of the league’s best defensive teams will give them an edge but Sanders deserves recognition for the defensive force he has become in the 2012-13 season.

Joakim Noah is a fierce competitor on the defensive end. Photo Credit: Keith Allison (Flickr.com)

5. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Spending an entire season without former MVP Derrick Rose was never going to be an easy task for the Chicago Bulls. The team has rallied in Rose’s absence and has relied on their outstanding defense to once again make the playoffs in the East. Center Joakim Noah became a first-time All-Star this season and has anchored one of the best defenses in the league in Chicago. Noah is an outstanding defensive rebounder, averaging 7.2 per game, to go along with 2.1 blocks, which is good for sixth in the league. He is a high-energy, high-intensity player that puts his body on the line defensively, hustles for loose balls and scraps for every rebound.  He has a defensive rating of 98.6, which is sixth-best in the NBA, and the Bulls are again one of the top teams in all defensive statistics.

Noah will garner some attention for the award, but he played just 66 games this season and the Bulls defense was slightly behind the likes of Indiana and Memphis. Noah looks likely to become a staple in All-Defensive teams and may win the Defensive Player of the Year award in the future, but will likely fall just short this season to the likes of Hibbert or Gasol.

Honorable Mention: LeBron James, Miami Heat; Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies; Paul George, Indiana Pacers.