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NBA Quarter Pole Awards: Early season MVP and more

By Corey Rausch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics passes the ball against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 20, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 117-109. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics passes the ball against Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 20, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Celtics 117-109. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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NBA (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NBA (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Quarter – Rudy Gobert

Honorable Mentions: Myles Turner, Ben Simmons

Rudy Gobert is back at the top of this list after a slight drop off last season. He was the best defensive player in the league in 2018 and 2019. So far this season he is on that pace again. He is second in the league in defensive rating (min. 25 minutes per game), only barely being edged out by his Utah Jazz teammate Mike Conley. He is third in defensive rebounding percentage and overall rebounding percentage. He is second in block percentage.

Gobert is the foundation of the entire Jazz defense, currently third in the league. When Gobert is at his best it is impossible for teams to score against the Jazz in the paint. As more defensive statistics are developed year to year cases for Gobert’s value get even clearer.

Related Story. NBA Preseason Player Rankings 30-21. light

Myles Turner is deserving of credit for maximizing his roles and compiling the traditional counting stats at a stunning rate. He is averaging 4.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. He has eight games with three or four blocks and five games with five or more. Turner is doing all of this on an average defense with broken bones in his hand. It is truly impressive what he does on a nightly basis.

Ben Simmons is the best perimeter defensive player in the league. The statistics do not make the same case as the other two names on the list but he puts on a clinic against the top offensive option on a nightly basis. This is more about making life tough than showing up in the box score.