Detroit Pistons: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards
By Amaar Burton
Defensive Player of the Year: Stanley Johnson
As a rookie two years ago, Stanley Johnson made a name for himself among NBA fans by playing some impressive defense against LeBron James during a first round playoff series between the Pistons and Cavaliers.
Although the Pistons were swept in that series, Johnson, who was just 19 years old at the time, helped limit LeBron to 22.8 points per game and 21.1 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Fast-forward to this summer, when first-year Pistons coach Dwane Casey praised Johnson as the best matchup in the league when it comes to defending LeBron.
“Stanley Johnson is the best matchup for 23 in Cleveland there is. Physically.”
— Jamal Spencer (@JamalSpencerTV) June 20, 2018
Casey clearly excited about Johnson to throw that kind of praise out there about defending LeBron.
Johnson hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since being drafted No. 7 overall by Detroit, averaging just 7.0 points per game and failing to secure the full-time job as the Pistons’ starting small forward.
If Casey thinks that highly of Johnson’s defensive ability, however, it bodes well for the third-year pro being showcased as Detroit’s defensive stopper in a role similar to Andre Roberson (Oklahoma City Thunder), Marcus Smart (Celtics) or Lance Stephenson (Los Angeles Lakers).
The Defensive Player of the Year award used to skew heavily toward shot-blocking centers, but as the NBA has evolved in recent years, perimeter stoppers have become a bigger part of the conversation. Kawhi Leonard and Draymond Green, who are both built similarly to Johnson (6’7″ and 245 pounds), have combined to win three of the league’s last four DPOY trophies.
Odds: Unlikely, with a healthy Kawhi Leonard in the same conference doing the same thing