picks and analysis by Devin Gray (@devingray33) and Pat Choi (@patty_choi)
PC - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City
Thunder
Serge Ibaka is the leading candidate for
the Defensive Player of the Year award this season in my opinion. His
individual stats alone are eye popping, Ibaka manages to lead the league in
blocks per game at 3.7 in only 27 minutes of action and averages 7.6 rebounds
per game. He also has had three games of 10 or more blocks: there have only
been three different players to do it in the last five seasons. He’s also a
huge reason why the Thunder are having so much success this year, his
individual improvements have directly improved his teams’ defence. The Oklahoma
City Thunder are number one in blocks per game at 8.2, an improvement from last
year’s 5.9 per game. Also the Thunder have improved in both opponent points
allowed and opponent field goal percentage.
DG - Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
This years vote is an anyone-but-Dwight-because-he’s-such-a-wanker
vote. Tyson Chandler doesn’t wow with numbers and stats and compared to Dwight
Howard’s 20.6 and 14.5, Chandler’s 11.3 and 9.9 don’t look so impressive, but
the impact he’s had on the Knicks has been extremely positive (and Howard’s
overall impact on the Magic this season is questionable). When the Knicks
amnestied Chauncey Billups to make room to sign Chandler they were getting
proven, championship-calibre defense and Chandler hasn’t let them down. A great
help defender, he regularly compensates for the defensive deficiencies of
Anthony and Stoudemire. Third in DPOY voting last year, Chandler earns the nod
this year for taking a notoriously poor defensive Knicks team playing D’Antoni
basketball from 23rd in points allowed per possession last season to fifth this
season.
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