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Golden State Warriors: 5 Midseason Takeaways

By Gerald Bourguet

January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 126-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 126-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Golden State Warriors
Jan 20, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) attempts to block a shot by Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Draymond Green, DPOY

Draymond Green should’ve won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2014-15, but after back-to-back wins for Kawhi Leonard, it appears the honor is there for the taking in 2016-17. It’s been a long time coming, but Green should be the favorite for DPOY this season.

KD’s defensive versatility has been the big story this season, but everyone’s favorite “love him or hate him” player has quietly gone about his business, averaging 10.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

Green leads the Warriors in rebounds, assists and steals, and he’s second to only Kevin Durant (1.7 per game) in blocks. His value to the league’s top ranked defense has never been more apparent without a bonafide rim protector like Andrew Bogut patrolling the paint, and the fact that the Warriors still somehow sport the league’s stingiest defense should not be overlooked.

However, Draymond doesn’t just deserve this award because he was robbed two years ago, when he earned the most first place votes but lost the overall award because East coast voters couldn’t stay up late enough to watch the Warriors play. Their top ranked defense is 3.1 points per 100 possessions worse with him off the floor, per NBA.com, and there’s only one player who has a similarly strong case for DPOY this year.

The emergence of the “Kawhisland,” a practice by which opponents separate Kawhi Leonard from the play to feast on the Spurs’ other defenders, has actually hurt San Antonio’s defense with the Claw on the floor. That plus voter fatigue leaves an opening for a new award winner.

Green’s biggest competition right now would have to be Rudy Gobert, the seven-foot anchor for the Utah Jazz and their second-ranked defense. The French Rejection is averaging 12.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, and Utah’s defense is 4.4 points per 100 possessions worse with him off the court, but Green is long overdue for recognition as perhaps the NBA’s most versatile defender.

As the best defender on the league’s best defense, as the anchor who’s kept an elite defense intact despite the departure of Bogut, and as someone who, quite frankly, should’ve already won this award once, Draymond Green should be the frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year this year. Voters are usually a year late anyway, which means the 24-year-old Gobert still has plenty of time to win one of his own too.

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