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The 2021-22 NBA season continues to be one filled with excitement as pleasant surprises. As the opening month of the year comes to a close, teams are more determined than ever to solidify themselves as contenders throughout the entire NBA.
Teams such as the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards have become the talk of the basketball world with their impressive start to the season. Other teams who started out the season slow, such as the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, have finally started to catch fire and look to be climbing the standings in a hurry. Throughout the league, a number of players have started to step up their efforts on the defensive side of the ball. It's shaping up to be a challenging year when it comes to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award. Let's take a look at the latest power rankings when it comes to the top defenders across the NBA.
#5 Draymond Green
Previous week’s NBA DPOY Power Ranking - N/A
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 14; Games won - 12; Games lost - 2
Last Week: PPG - 7.8, APG - 7.0, RPG - 6.8
Overall: PPG - 8.4, APG - 7.1, RPG - 7.9
Last Week: FG% - 45.8%, 3P% - 40.0%, FT% - 87.5%
Overall: FG% - 56.0%, 3P% - 40.0%, FT% - 53.1%
The Golden State Warriors have continued to be the most impressive team in the NBA throughout the opening month of action. Although Stephen Curry has continued to do his thing, Warriors forward Draymond Green has also started to find his groove as well. Green has never been known for his scoring, but he's become a versatile player who can fill up the box scores in a hurry.
The Warriors find themselves at the top of the NBA with a 12-2 record and Draymond Green's play as of late has been a big part of the reason why. Green has continued to become one of the most valuable defenders in the NBA and went on to average 1.3 steals per game in last week's action. As the Warriors continue to win, the resume of Draymond as one of the top defensive players in the league is only going to continue to get more impressive.
#4 Bam Adebayo
Previous week’s NBA DPOY Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 1; Games lost - 3
Overall: Games played - 12; Games won - 7; Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 20.3, APG - 3.3, RPG - 9.5
Overall: PPG - 19.7, APG - 2.7, RPG - 11.2
Last Week: FG% - 47.5%, 3P% - N/A%, FT% - 83.3%
Overall: FG% - 50.3%, 3P% - N/A%, FT% - 84.0%
It's been a great opening month of play for the Miami Heat as they find themselves near the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference. Bam Adebayo continues to be a force in the middle of the paint as he's thrived with his play on both sides of the ball. Although Adebayo has sat out a couple of games this year, he's been a disruptive force whenever he's on the floor.
Miami just dealt with a brutal roadtrip last week that featured the Heat missing a number of key players. That didn't stop Adebayo from producing, as he went on to average 20.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game over the course of four games. For one of the game's top young centers, Adebayo offers an impressive amount of versatility on the defensive side of the floor. He's going to be firmly in the conversation throughout the year as one of the NBA's top defenders.
#3 Giannis Antetokounmpo
Previous week’s NBA DPOY Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 2; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 13; Games won - 6; Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 24.0, APG - 6.0, RPG - 12.0
Overall: PPG - 26.5, APG - 6.0, RPG - 11.3
Last Week: FG% - 41.9%, 3P% - 25.0%, FT% - 58.6%
Overall: FG% - 49.0%, 3P% - 27.9%, FT% - 67.8%
It's been a rough start to the 2021-22 NBA season for the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. The team has dealt with a number of lingering injuries to some of their key players. But that hasn't stopped Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from putting up some terrifying numbers. Giannis continues to do everything in his power to keep the Bucks on the right track.
In his last week of play, Giannis went on to average 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. The Bucks will look to bounce-back in the upcoming month of the NBA regular season and slowly start to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings. Throughout the entire season, Giannis is currently averaging 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game as he continues to make his case for Defensive Player of the Year.
#2 Rudy Gobert
Previous week’s NBA DPOY Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 1; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 14; Games won - 9; Games lost - 5
Last Week: PPG - 14.0, APG - 0.0, RPG - 12.7
Overall: PPG - 14.9, APG - 0.9, RPG - 15.4
Last Week: FG% - 64.0%, 3P% - N/A%, FT% - 62.5%
Overall: FG% - 70.6%, 3P% - N/A%, FT% - 65.7%
After finding himself near the top of the Defensive Player of the Year power rankings for consecutive weeks, Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert lands at second overall this week. Gobert continued to be a force on the defensive side of the ball with his length and shot blocking ability. The Utah Jazz will continue to be one of the more dangerous teams in the Western Conference, and the physically imposing big man will be a major reason why.
After a tough previous week for the team that saw the Jazz go 1-3 in their last four games, Utah responded with a big win last night against the Philadelphia 76ers. Gobert continues to be an impactful force as a defender, and he's going to be right in the mix for the Defensive Player of the Year award again. Throughout the regular season, Gobert is averaging 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game for the Utah Jazz.
#1 Anthony Davis
Previous week’s NBA DPOY Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 15; Games won - 8; Games lost - 7
Last Week: PPG - 28.0, APG - 4.0, RPG - 12.0
Overall: PPG - 24.2, APG - 2.9, RPG - 10.9
Last Week: FG% - 51.8%, 3P% - 33.3%, FT% - 77.8%
Overall: FG% - 51.1%, 3P% - 20.0%, FT% - 76.3%
We have ourselves a new leader in the clubhouse when it comes to the Defensive Player of the Year power rankings. Although Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert has been sensational this year, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis has turned it up a notch in a big way lately. After finding himself right behind Gobert in the power rankings for consecutive weeks, Davis has finally made the jump to earn the number one spot. The Lakers have slowly started to take steps in the right direction, and the play of AD has been a major reason why.
During the last week of play for the Lakers, Anthony Davis went on to average 28.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. Davis has been stepping up his play in a big way as the team prepares for the return of teammate LeBron James. If Davis can keep this type of play up, he's going to become a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
