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Current offenses are at an all-time high with respect to their efficient and in such an environment defenders are that much more valuable. But the Golden State Warriors have made sure that if any player is one-dimensional (only offense or defense), his weakness will be exploited. That's why two-way players are in demand right now ala Jae Crowder for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If a player is to win Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), he's got to have a respectable offense while his defense stands out. Recent history suggests the out-and-out defenders don't fair too well in the voting for this award.
Draymond Green was named DOPY for 2016-17 after being the runners-up the previous two years. The most recent voting also saw the rise of Utah Jazz's center Rudy Gobert. Where do these guys stack up for next year's award? Does Kawhi Leonard run away it?
We rank the top five candidates for the 2017-18 NBA DPOY award:
Honorable Mention: Klay Thompson
At the mention of his name, everybody talks about his three-point shooting and his ability to score points in a hurry (NBA-record 37 points in a quarter and career-high 60 points in 29 minutes). However, an underrated skill of Klay Thompson is his ability to play some spectacular one-on-one defense.
Now, the Warriors have four All-Stars for their offense to rely on, so he isn't exactly under pressure when it comes to scoring but plays a huge role in the team's system on the other end of the floor. We arguably in the golden age of point guards right now and each night, the Warriors look to Thompson to lock them down.
Standing at 6'7", Thompson's incredibly tall even by an average guard's standards. That coupled with his agility laterally is what makes him the Warriors' defensive weapon on the perimeter.
#5 DeAndre Jordan
Last year, alternating injuries to Chirs Paul and Blake Griffin took a toll on the Clippers in the regular season. That subsequently impacted the defensive prowess of DeAndre Jordan because they were so focused on trying to run some amount of offense through him, which is not his game.
Although the team has lost Paul, the front office has done a good job to acquire sufficient talent in return. A balanced roster, that is also versatile, pivoted around Blake Griffin, possibly playing point forward, should bring Jordan's defense back into the talking points after each game.
A defensive center is only as good as his teammates are on the wing. Fantastic defensive centers look dismal if they are forced to guard on the perimeter. Adding Patrick Beverly, a highly regarded defender, to their roster should also boost Jordan's case to be on this list.
Even last year, which was considered a down season, Jordan was in the top 10 players for defensive rating.
#4 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo has improved in every category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks) through his first four seasons in the league. A strong candidate to win multiple MVP awards, if the Bucks keep their current culture going over the course of his prime, Antetokounmpo could be a strong dark horse candidate this year.
Major reasons for his success across the boards in all stat categories are his ball handling abilities at his height and his insane wingspan. And it's not just about recording numbers, his impact on the floor has been a net positive and is resulting in wins for the team.
Last season, he averaged 1.9 blocks (6th in the league) and 1.6 steals (11th) per game. When it comes to defensive rating, he ranks 11th in the league but there only four wing players ahead of him. In terms of Defensive Plus/Minus, he's already among the top guys in the league, ranking fourth.
So, in major defensive categories, he's either in the top-tier of the league or within sniffing distance of the top guys. And given the jumps, he takes each year, expects another one which will bolster his case this upcoming season.
#3 Kawhi Leonard
With just six years experience under his belt, and just 26 years old, Kawhi Leonard is probably still approaching his prime. He's already been named the DPOY twice, winning it in consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. His defense is not a product of any system or anything like that. Leonard is just gifted with huge hands and has the amazing agility to go with his physique.
Also read: San Antonio Spurs all-time starting five
Leonard finished third last year in DPOY voting, and this year as well he could finish at that position. Offensively there is just too much pressure on him to lead the San Antonio Spurs that what he isn't able to put his entire defensive arsenal on display.
Last year too, he was voted in third because the standard of defensive talent in the league falls off a cliff after the first three players. What hurts his case more is the current hamstring injury he is nursing, which has forced him to sit out the entire preseason.
#2 Rudy Gobert
The Utah Jazz might have lost their best player in Gordon Hayward but the team isn't giving up. The management's offseason moves have given the roster a lot of depth which could make up for Hayward's loss offensively. Defensively, they have no reason to worry about with their man in the middle - Rudy Gobert.
None of the perimeter players on the Jazz are going to make All-Defensive Teams but they are more than able as a team to funnel any penetration towards Gobert and then 'The Stifel Tower' does the rest. Again, very similar to Antetokounmpo, Gobert's insane wingspan coupled with his lateral quickness is key to his spectacular rim protection.
He led the league in blocks last year (2.6 per game), with second-placed Anthony Davis averaging 2.2. Gobert is Top 3 in every Defensive stat there is - Defensive rating (3rd), Defensive Win Shares (1st) and Defensive Box Plus/Minus (3rd).
#1 Draymond Green
The best defender on one of the best defenses in the league. Draymond Green can literally guard all positions from one to five. Being the emotional leader of the team, Green leads with his defense that often spurs the team out of offensive droughts.
And when you get to the numbers and analytics, his impact is unmistakable. He leads the league in Defensive Box Plus/Minus while ranking second in categories like - Defensive Win Shares and Defensive Rating.
Green is a physical specimen. He stands tall at about 6'7" but has the body strength to compete with the imposing centers of the league in the paint. However, he has the agility and lateral quickness to at least stay ahead of guards when he's switched onto the perimeter.
