NBA Awards Watch: Week 4

Defensive Player of the Year

1, Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 1, –)
Yeah, blah blah small sample sizes blah blah, but through nine games, Kawhi Leonard is on pace to improve every single major statistical category from points to field-goal percentage, but that’s not why we’re here. Leonard is terrorizing the opposing forwards on a nightly basis and leading the San Antonio Spurs through a pretty easy schedule stretch.

Up this week, the Spurs face the punchless Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans before wrapping up with the surging Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns.

Averaging 1.3 steals and nearly two blocks per game, Leonard’s stats are a lot like the Spurs themselves — at first glance, they may not be eye-popping or earth-shattering, but a closer look reveals that the big-pawed forward is well on his way to a prolific defensive career.

Currently, the Spurs have the best defensive efficiency rating in the league, 93.2, and it’s safe to assume that’s not in thanks to Tony Parker and Tim Duncan at this point.

Leonard’s Line of the Week: 11/11 vs. POR — 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 1 TO, 7-14 FG%
Week Grade: B

2. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons (Last Week: 3, –)
All right, so the Detroit Pistons haven’t had a great trip out West thus far this year, but Drummond is getting nearly impossible to ignore. Drummond still hasn’t had a single-digit rebound game this season and has only been held blockless twice.

Although the Pistons don’t stand much of a chance if their shooters aren’t swishing, Drummond has done his best to keep his team afloat as he’s recorded at least a steal in every game thus far as well.

Statistically, Drummond has put up some nice numbers, but when you go 0-4 for the week with games against the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, those are ones you’ve got to win. He and Gobert should be worried, another slow week in the wins column and the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan will be ready to move in for the kill.

I’m really intrigued to see if Drummond can keep up this pace all year, but if he really is the next Dwight Howard, he’ll hate his coach by the All-Star break.

Drummond’s Line of the Week: 11/14 vs. LAC — 18 points, 19 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 TOs, 6-13 FG%
Week Grade: B

3. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz (Last Week: 2, –)
Ah! Don’t be mad at us, Rudy! Following a slim loss to Cleveland last week, Gobert missed a couple of games thanks to injury, so it’s truly tough to grade his week. Although, upon his return, he played 38 minutes in a win against the Atlanta Hawks and registered his signature double-double — 11 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.

For this week, Gobert is getting bumped down to third because it’s tough to win awards when you’re not playing, but this is mostly semantics. I expect that Gobert will be back in second and challenging for the first place spot in no time.

He’d better watch out though as well, Golden State’s Draymond Green is beginning to lurk a little louder now… but even if he loses, he’ll always have The Stifle Tower as the NBA’s No. 1 nickname.

Gobert’s Line of the Week: 11/15 vs. ATL — 11 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks, 4 TOs, 3-4 FG&
Week Grade: N/A

Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls; Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors; Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat; Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder; DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers; Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers.

Week 1: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Week 2: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Week 3: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Week 4: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Next: Bringing Swagger Back To Boston