NBA: Handing Out Awards For First Round Of 2017 NBA Playoffs

Mar 6, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder keeps an eye on the action in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 88-83. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 22, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) fight for a loose ball in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the First Round: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Defense wasn’t exactly a controlling factor during the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. For as many high-scoring games as there were, however, there was also a powerful measure of intensity in every one of the postseason series.

Although there were a fair number of candidates for this award, the final battle comes down to a pair of teammates: Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Green plays a bigger role on defense than Thompson in the sense that he covers more ground and wears more hats. Thompson, however, was tasked with defending both Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum throughout the series.

It only helps Thompson’s case that he had the best Defensive Rating of any player who averaged at least 30.0 minutes per game during the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

Green, however, was tasked with doing what he always does on defense: everything. He stifled the pick and roll, switched onto players at all five positions, and produced averages of 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game.

You can’t go wrong with either Green or Thompson, but the former gets the nod based on the versatility and security he provides.