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Los Angeles Clippers: DeAndre Jordan’s Quest For DPOY

By Ben Woodward

April 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) blocks a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) blocks a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Following a season that brought the Los Angeles Clippers to a third place finish in the Western Conference, the Clips are poised for a season that could very well involve a trip to the NBA Finals.

Their best regular season finish in the West since moving to Los Angeles in 1984, the Clippers enjoyed a strong playoff push last season, eventually losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals, four games to two.

So what’s one of the biggest reasons that the Clippers have seen such success in recent seasons? Mostly because they have one of the best all-around centers in the NBA wearing their jersey. With the state of the league in its current state, the center position is more valuable than ever before.

Our very own Shane Young recently ranked the starting centers in the league from worst to best. Shane also makes the point that a true NBA center may be a necessary piece to a championship team.

Scrolling through the rankings, you’ll pass guys like Javale McGee at No. 17. A defense-first center that takes high-percentage shots, McGee is a guy most teams would love to have in their rotation but he will not be impressing the league with any regularity.

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    • Onward you go and you’ll pass big ol’ Roy Hibbert at the 10 spot. A gigantic body with a natural ability to protect the rim, Hibbert is another guy that you can feel confident sticking down low and banging around with any guy the NBA has to throw at him. Leaving much to be desired with his offensive skill and his motivation to play well, Hibbert isn’t a guy that teams are lining up to offer riches and spoils for.

    One thing you have to understand about ranking players is you’re never going to please every single reader. So here’s where I make my only complaint with Shane’s center rankings. He’s got DeAndre Jordan in at No. 9 behind Chris Bosh and seven other guys.

    DeAndre has the same freakish athletic/leaping ability as Dwight Howard, and better rebounding skill than any center on the list. I realize he has to play at this level to be considered for the title of “Best Center In Basketball,” however last season DeAndre led the league in total rebounds. He finished second in total blocks behind only Serge Ibaka. Throw in his ridiculous 67 percent shooting from the floor and, in my opinion, you have the best center in the league.

    So here we arrive at a not-so-bold statement for the upcoming season — DeAndre Jordan will win the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014-15. Why? Because he’ll continue his domination in the paint, pulling down rebounds, blocking shots and beating most of his matchups down the floor in transition. Not to mention his coach thinks he should have won it, but that doesn’t hold much weight I suppose.

    I predict DeAndre Jordan will average right around 12 points per game, while pulling down somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-15 rebounds a night. His blocks per game average could even make the jump to a solid three per night.

    DeAndre Jordan is one of the primary reasons why the Clippers allowed the fifth-lowest opponent field goal percentage last season (44 percent). His defensive rating has improved by at least one point each year he’s been in the NBA.

    With Doc Rivers still firmly at the helm of the Los Angeles Clippers, DeAndre Jordan will continue to fly; literally and figuratively. He may with DPOY this year, and he may win it multiple times over the next four to five years. The 26-year-old is an absolute animal in the paint, and he’s entering his prime with a championship-caliber team.

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