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The race for the Defensive Player of the Year award is strong midway through the NBA season.
The Phoenix Suns (34-9) hold the league's best record. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors (32-12), Memphis Grizzlies (31-15) and Utah Jazz (29-15) continue to chase Phoenix in the Western Conference.
The Chicago Bulls (27-18) and Miami Heat (28-16) are atop the Eastern Conference, while the Brooklyn Nets (27-16) have struggled this month.
It's time to take a look at the updated Defensive Player of the Year power rankings by Sportskeeda.
No. 5: Mikal Bridges
Previous week’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #5
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 3; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 43; Games won - 34; Games lost - 9
Last Week: PPG - 8.7, APG - 2.3, RPG - 3.3
Overall: PPG - 12.0, APG - 1.8, RPG - 3.9
Last Week: FG% - 35.7%, 3P% - 21.4%, FT% - 100.0%
Overall: FG% - 50.6%, 3P% - 38.6%, FT% - 84.9%
The Phoenix Suns have been consistent all season and have won seven of their past eight games. The standout defensive play of young wing Mikal Bridges has been pivotal to that success.
Although he averages a steady 12.0 points per game, Bridges is known as one of the league's top defensive wings. The versatile small forward stands out with his ability to defend multiple positions at a high level. Bridges is averaging 3.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 38.6% from 3-point range.
No. 4: Joel Embiid
Previous week’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #4
Last Week: Games played - 4; Games won - 3; Games lost - 1
Overall: Games played - 32; Games won - 22; Games lost - 10
Last Week: PPG - 29.8, APG - 4.5, RPG - 9.8
Overall: PPG - 27.3, APG - 4.2, RPG - 10.5
Last Week: FG% - 54.3%, 3P% - 21.4%, FT% - 85.1%
Overall: FG% - 48.4%, 3P% - 38.0%, FT% - 81.4%
The Philadelphia 76ers (25-18) have won nine of their past 11 games and have rebounded fully from their 2-9 slump in November when they went 2-7 with superstar big man Joel Embiid sidelined with COVID-19. The dominant big man has impressed on both sides of the floor and has found himself as a rising candidate in the Defensive Player of the Year rankings.
Philadelphia is in sixth place in the East, but just 2.5 games from the lead. Embiid continues to be brilliant as he averaged 29.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in his last week.
No. 3: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Previous week’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #3
Last Week: Games played - 3; Games won - 1; Games lost - 2
Overall: Games played - 37; Games won - 23; Games lost - 14
Last Week: PPG - 28.7, APG - 7.7, RPG - 10.3
Overall: PPG - 28.5, APG - 6.1, RPG - 11.2
Last Week: FG% - 51.9%, 3P% - 20.0%, FT% - 81.1%
Overall: FG% - 53.5%, 3P% - 28.2%, FT% - 71.3%
The Milwaukee Bucks (27-19), fifth in the East, have stumbled to a 2-6 mark in their last eight games as guard Jrue Holiday has missed time with an ankle injury. They remain within striking distance of the conference lead because of superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The versatile forward is putting up eye-opening numbers as usual, and Milwaukee will need to continue to lean on him. In his last week, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 51.9%.
No. 2: Rudy Gobert
Previous week’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #2
Last Week: Games played - 1; Games won - 1; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 39; Games won - 28; Games lost - 11
Last Week: PPG - 18.0, APG - 2.0, RPG - 19.0
Overall: PPG - 15.7, APG - 1.1, RPG - 15.2
Last Week: FG% - 100.0%, 3P% - N/A%, FT% - 57.1%
Overall: FG% - 71.4%, 3P% - 0.0%, FT% - 68.6%
When the Utah Jazz are firing on all cylinders, it's because of star big man Rudy Gobert. But Utah lost five of its previous six games, including a 1-4 stretch when Gobert was sidelined while in the league's health and safety protocols. He has returned for Utah's past two games.
The defensive anchor is always a force all over the court, as Gobert is currently averaging 15.7 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. Gobert returned from the protocols to put up an impressive 18-point, 19-rebound performance. He continues to be a serious contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
No. 1: Draymond Green
Previous week’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year Power Ranking - #1
Last Week: Games played - 0; Games won - 0; Games lost - 0
Overall: Games played - 34; Games won - 28; Games lost - 6
Last Week: PPG - N/A, APG - N/A, RPG - N/A
Overall: PPG - 7.9, APG - 7.4, RPG - 7.6
Last Week: FG% - N/A, 3P% - N/A, FT% - N/A
Overall: FG% - 53.7%, 3P% - 28.6%, FT% - 59.7%
The Golden State Warriors have gone 3-5 in their past eight games, and losing key defensive and emotional leader Draymond Green to an injury is a big reason for the rough patch. When Golden State is firing on all cylinders, it's been due to the outstanding two-way play of the veteran forward.
Green is one of the NBA's top defensive players, and his play always underscores any success for the Warriors. Green has been sidelined recently with a back injury/calf soreness, and he is expected to miss at least two more weeks. The Warriors will anxiously await the return of their defensive leader. Green has averaged 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 53.7%.
Guess the Lakers players!
