Golden State Warriors Weekly: A Much-Needed Dub

Don’t Sleep On The Aussie:

Bogut has been a force in the paint for the Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

When the Defensive Player of the Year Award conversation starts, the most common names in the ring are usually Roy Hibbert and Dwight Howard. LeBron James, Paul George, Joakim Noah and Tony Allen aren’t far behind. Even Serge Ibaka, Anthony Davis and DeAndre Jordan get thrown a bone every now and then. But nobody ever really talks about Andrew Bogut, the only piece that kept the Warriors’ defense from being historically bad during Iggy’s absence.

Bogut’s game isn’t flashy or particularly graceful, especially on offense, but the big man gets results. In the last week, Bogut is averaging 9.3 points, 15.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He’s shooting 61 percent from the floor on the season and has the league’s fourth-highest defensive rating (95.8). He’s in the top 10 in rebounds, rebound percentage, blocks and block percentage. He has a higher defensive rebound percentage than marquee names like Dwight Howard and Andre Drummond and he’s eighth in the league in defensive win shares.

It’s hard to consider him a serious Defensive Player of the Year candidate since the Warriors’ defense was so appalling without Andre Iguodala on the floor, but Golden State’s big man was the only thing keeping that D from approaching black hole territory. He probably won’t get much attention unless/until the Warriors climb higher into the playoff picture, especially with the Splash Bros. getting all the attention on the offensive end, but a healthy Bogut is a formidable one when it comes to protecting the paint.