NBA Awards Watch: Draymond Green Makes Push For Defensive Player Of The Year
By Ben Nadeau
Defensive Player of the Year
1, Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (Last Week: 1, –)
Now that the Golden State Warriors have lost their first game of the year, some of that well-deserved mass hysteria can be rightfully transferred to the the San Antonio Spurs and Kawhi Leonard. For many, they must be looking at the ageless roster, the 21-5 record, and the overall greatness on full display — as they recently beat down the Utah Jazz 118-81 — and think: how in the hell are they still so perfect?
Much of that recognition belongs to Leonard, who has suddenly catapulted himself into MVP conversations as well. And it’s rather incredible: for as great, wonderful and historic the Golden State Warriors have been, there the Spurs are, lurking just four game behind. I will tell you one thing: that inevitable Warriors and Spurs Western Conference Finals showdown has the potential to be the best series of all-time.
Despite everything that’s happened this year with the Warriors, Stephen Curry, and the countless records they’ve broken, there’s still no way I could confidently bet on anybody else than the Spurs in a seven-game series — now, however, we can thank Kawhi Leonard for that. Mark your calendars for Jan. 25; it’s going down in Golden State.
Leonard’s Line of the Week: 12/12 vs. ATL — 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, 2 TOs
Week Grade: B+
2. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (Last Week: 2, –)
It wouldn’t have been preposterous to slot the Warriors’ big-man in at No. 1 this week, even in lieu of the streak ending. And, perhaps, if Green has another week like the one he just pulled off, this category will officially become a 1A and 1B-sorted list; he’s that good. Green’s “five-by-five” put him in historic company with defensive forces like Hakeem Olajuwon and Andrei Kirilenko, becoming the first player to pull it off since 2013 (Nicolas Batum) and just the second since 2006.
The most wonderful part of it all? Green seems to do it so effortlessly — he guards the opposing team’s best players, chips in offensively when needed, and is the heart and soul — him, not Curry — of the NBA’s best team. How about that for a resume?
Green’s Line of the Week: 12/11 vs. BOS, 2 OT — 24 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks, 2 TOs, 8-20 FG
Week Grade: A
3. Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (Last Week: 3, –)
I’d like to formally apologize to Jimmy Butler in the same way that I have apologized for the other MVP candidates lumped in with Stephen Curry: I know it isn’t fun that you have to compete against Green and Leonard, but life isn’t fair. With many of the Bulls’ stars struggling, it’s fallen to Butler to score in bunches and lock down whatever is in front him — and he’s passing the Chicago Bulls’ Franchise Player Litmus Test with flying colors. Sorry, Derrick Rose.
What that being said, Jimmy, here’s an invite to Paul George’s Having-A-Really-Great-Season-Party-But-Unfortunately-I-Have-No-Chance-In-My-Category get-together. Listen, Butler is great and the reason why the Bulls find themselves near the top of the Eastern Conference right now, but you can’t reasonably expect him to stand a chance against two of the best defenders in the modern era, right?
Butler’s Line of the Week: 12/10 vs. LAC — 14 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 4-14 FG
Week Grade: B+
Honorable Mentions: Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons; 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
Week 5: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Week 6: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Week 7: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
Week 8: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
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