Our NBA bubble awards: Crowning the small sample size winners

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 06: Gary Trent Jr. #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a three point basket against the Denver Nuggets with teammates Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 06, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Defensive Player of the Bubble – Kyle Lowry

Honorable Mentions: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jusuf Nurkic

This award quickly came down to choosing the best Toronto Raptors defender. Much like how the Milwaukee Bucks were the best defense in the regular season and could make up an All-Defensive team on their own, the Raptors have been phenomenal in the bubble.

As much as people will not think of him as a defensive force, Kyle Lowry has a case as the best defensive player in the bubble so far. He is third in the bubble in defensive rating, fourth among guards in defensive rebounds, sixth in steals and fifth in defensive win shares (minimum 20 mins. per game).

If it is tough to name award winners in an eight-game sample, defensive awards may well be the toughest. Team defense has been tough to translate from the regular season. It is easy to hone your offense on your own, while the season is on pause. Defense is down across the league because it is a function of team, effort and conditioning and that will take time.

That being said, the Toronto Raptors are on another level in that regard. They have shown the most consistent effort on that side of the ball and when they do they look like a top tier contender. Lowry plays a special brand of dogged, tenacious defense. He hustles on every play and will do whatever it takes to win any game. The argument could be made for a number of Raptors. The leader makes the most sense here.