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Pelton: NBA All-Defense picks: Should Green or Gobert win DPOY?

All the attention on this season's MVP race has obscured an equally impressive battle on the ballot. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert have both submitted seasons worthy of winning Defensive Player of the Year honors, and have done so with styles that highlight new and old ways to dominate defensively.

The 7-foot-1 Gobert, aka the Stifle Tower, aka the French Rejection, is the traditional force protecting the rim. According to SportVU tracking data on NBA.com/Stats, Gobert has defended the most shots inside 5 feet of any player (10.2 per game) while also allowing the lowest percentage of anyone who has faced at least 400 such shots.

Right behind Gobert in terms of opponent shooting at the rim? Green, who has faced fewer shots inside 5 feet (7.1 per game) because he's equally capable of chasing the NBA's new-wave stretch 4s around the perimeter.

Both Green's Warriors (second) and Gobert's Jazz (third) are among the NBA's top defensive teams on a per-possession basis. So who's the pick?

Using a combination of scouting and the limited defensive statistics that are available, I've made my selection for DPOY along with the rest of my All-Defensive teams, chosen by position.
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Center

First team: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

Yes, everyone knows Gobert is a great rim protector. In the modern NBA, however, that's not enough to be a great defender. Roy Hibbert has actually held opponents to a similar percentage around the rim this season, but can't get off the bench for the Denver Nuggets (who have some of the NBA's worst rim protection) because of his other limitations.

So while Gobert might not be as versatile as Green defensively -- nobody is -- give him credit for being capable of playing the pick-and-roll multiple ways and contributing even when defending stretch 5s.
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Unfortunately.. Green is his DPOY.

Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app
 
White Chocolate said:
Unfortunately.. Green is his DPOY.

Sent from my iPhone using JazzFanz mobile app
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I thought Pelton was big into stats and numbers. I guess not. That or he's lying to himself and others. Because statistically speaking Rudy is the DPOY. It's not close. And I'm so tired of hearing that Rudy "isn't as versatile" "he doesn't guard 1-5". No s***. What coach in their right mind would take 7'2 shot blocking machine with a 7'8.5 wingspan and tell him to go guard a PG this quarter?
 
SCS said:
I thought Pelton was big into stats and numbers. I guess not. That or he's lying to himself and others. Because statistically speaking Rudy is the DPOY. It's not close. And I'm so tired of hearing that Rudy "isn't as versatile" "he doesn't guard 1-5". No s***. What coach in their right mind would take 7'2 shot blocking machine with a 7'8.5 wingspan and tell him to go guard a PG this quarter?
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Exactly...No doubt Draymond is a great defensive player (just as Kawhi Leonard is too) but these guys don't have the overall defensive impact on the game like Gobert does. Good individual defenders like Draymond and Kawhi stop opposing PLAYERS from playing their normal game. Gobert stops opposing TEAMS from playing their normal game.
 
Nobody comes close to Rudy's impact on the defensive end.

Woopity ****in doo for Green being more versatile. Rudy is the clear DPOY.
 
I have a feeling the DPOY award will go down just like Rudy's all-star bid. Deserving, but ultimately will go to the tenured players.
 
akirac73 said:
Exactly...No doubt Draymond is a great defensive player (just as Kawhi Leonard is too) but these guys don't have the overall defensive impact on the game like Gobert does. Good individual defenders like Draymond and Kawhi stop opposing PLAYERS from playing their normal game. Gobert stops opposing TEAMS from playing their normal game.
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FACT
 
SCS said:
I thought Pelton was big into stats and numbers. I guess not. That or he's lying to himself and others. Because statistically speaking Rudy is the DPOY. It's not close. And I'm so tired of hearing that Rudy "isn't as versatile" "he doesn't guard 1-5". No s***. What coach in their right mind would take 7'2 shot blocking machine with a 7'8.5 wingspan and tell him to go guard a PG this quarter?
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Look this is just homerism. Green's stats are equally awesome, Look at this table, Gobert and Green are there together collecting 1st and 2nd places in all key indicators.


The truth is that both Gobert and Green are fantastic defenders and worthy DPOYs, Gobert is a titan at the rim but Green defends even more shots all over the floor and allows lower percentage. Really they are both fantastic, sadly only one will get it and it is quite likely it is Green because he's been second for a while and awards tend to be somewhat belated.

It's frustrating because Gobert really deserves it too, but let's not pretend he is getting shafted if he loses. It's a toss up really.
 
Peloton is dead to me. Rudy is not just one of the best players in the west he is top 15 in the NBA. Problem is these east coast dicks do not watch western games an do not see how Rudy impacts every single game.

I would never trade Rudy for Draymond "cost us a ring nut kicking" Bitch. Ever.
 
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