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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Defensive Player Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

November 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots the basketball against Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks the shot of Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Utah Jazz won 99-71. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Rudy Gobert

Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard are still probably the two most dominant defenders in the NBA, but 2016-17 may mark the return of the big man for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Why? Because Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz defense are going to make opposing offenses squeamish.

Last season, an epidemic of injuries once again dashed Utah’s playoff hopes, resulting in a 40-42 finish, another trip to the draft lottery and a team defensive rating of 101.6 (eighth in the league).

There’s no doubt that Gobert (21 games), Derrick Favors (20 games), Dante Exum (82 games) missing significant time took a slight toll on Utah’s defense and their playoff hopes in general.

The season before, when the Jazz first plugged Dante Exum into the starting lineup and replaced Enes Kanter with Rudy Gobert at center, Utah had the stingiest defense in the NBA after the trade deadline, smothering opponents to the tune of 94.8 points per 100 possessions.

Obviously that 29-game sample size is impossible to sustain over the course of a full 82-game season, but with the Jazz fully healthy and the addition of a defensive-minded point guard like George Hill, Quin Snyder’s team could very well have the best defense in the NBA this year.

Assuming Gobert and Favors are healthier this season, the Stifle Tower’s shot-blocking prowess and status as the team’s interior anchor will make him the standout performer on a smothering Jazz defense. He’ll get the lion’s share of the credit, which may be enough to launch him past Kawhi and Draymond in the DPOY conversation.

Next: NBA Predictions: 2016-17 Win Projections For All 30 Teams

Last season, Gobert averaged 11.0 rebounds (seventh in the league) and 2.2 blocks per game (third). If he stays healthy and the Jazz take their expected leap back into elite territory on the defensive end, this 24-year-old Frenchman has a very good shot of winning the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year Award.