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NBA Awards Watch: Week 1

By Ben Nadeau

May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry with the 2014-2015 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy at the Oakland Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry with the 2014-2015 NBA Most Valuable Player trophy at the Oakland Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23, right) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23, right) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23, left) during the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Until Anthony Davis starts winning MVPs, this is his award to lose. Last year, Davis averaged 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and nearly three blocks per game as his long wingspan and terrifying vertical proved to be a stone wall for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Thanks to Davis, the Pelicans hobbled into the playoffs, held their own against the eventual champions, and turned a few heads in the process. Davis undeniably belongs in the MVP conversation, but he’s not a likely candidate to win until his team secures home court advantage in the first round.

Given these outrageous, unwritten standards that go along with winning the MVP, it looks like Davis may have to settle for another year as the undisputed DPOY.

Against Golden State, however, something was off with Davis, as he was getting beat off the dribble, wasn’t closing out well, and looked willing to shoot jumpers against the smaller Draymond Green en route to an astonishingly poor 4-for-20 shooting night.

It’s not easy to make conclusions after just one game, especially against the Warriors, so we’re willing to give The Brow the benefit of the doubt here for now.

Davis’ Line of the Week: 10/27 vs. GS — 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 steals, 3 blocks, 5 turnovers, 4-20 FG%
Week Grade: B-

2, Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
If blocks are Davis’ domain, then steals are Kawhi Leonard’s forte as he averaged a league-high 2.3 per game last season. Now with the arrivals of David West and LaMarcus Aldridge to San Antonio, their offense is absolutely stacked to the max, which will allow Leonard to take a backseat on that end in order to continue feasting defensively.

The former NBA Finals MVP seems like he’s been on the edge of superstardom for the last three years and adding another DPOY award would be a nice way to solidify it.

3. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert is being hailed as the next big thing defensively after an impressive 2nd half explosion for the Utah Jazz last season. Gobert didn’t get the startling nod until they traded Enes Kanter in February, so he never had a real shot at winning over the aforementioned Davis or the eventual winner, Kawhi Leonard.

Now that he’s officially anchoring one of the best defenses in the league, it’s Gobert’s turn to prove that belongs in the conversation with the rest of the elite centers. With the suffocating defense of Derrick Favors next to him, this duo could lead the Jazz to their first playoff appearance since 2011.

Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls; Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons; Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors; Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers; Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers.

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