NBA: Top 10 candidates for 2018-19 Defensive Player of the Year award

6. Al Horford, Boston Celtics

In truth, the NBA’s reigning No. 1 defense sports multiple DPOY candidates, but because Marcus Smart comes off the bench, Al Horford gets the nod here. He was the Boston Celtics‘ only representative on the All-Defensive teams (Second Team), but if he can just increase his averages in the rebounding, steal and block columns, he’ll be in the running.

Last year, Horford didn’t quite get the recognition he deserved because he only averaged 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.6 steals per game. However, his positional versatility and ability to defend on the perimeter off of switches was a central reason the Celtics boasted the league’s stingiest defense. His impact on that end extends far beyond the stat sheet.

However, the other hole in Horford’s candidacy is Boston’s defense was still smothering when he sat. That has to change in 2018-19 for Big Al to be a legitimate DPOY candidate, along with his mundane averages on the defensive end.