Asked after the demolition of Toronto if he considers himself a DPOY?

[dabom]

Asked after the demolition of Toronto if he considers himself a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the typically reticent Leonard lit up.
“Yeah, most definitely,” said Leonard, who also owns five consecutive 20-point scoring games. “There aren’t too many guys who can defend the one (point guard) through four (power forward) and stay in front of them and really bother them. We’ll see what happens.”

Thursday night, with James back in the building for the first time since June, Leonard will have a chance to prove it.


http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Matchup-with-James-gives-Spurs-Leonard-golden-6128753.php


Kawhi can get the DPOY if he destroys Lebron. Here's to hoping. :worthy::worthy::worthy::worthy::worthy::worthy::w orthy:

[100%duncan]

Meh, it's a joke of an award anyway

[benstanfield]

Deandre Jordan will get it

[Malik Hairston]

DeAndre Jordan is a lock because it's a hype-based award and Tom Rivers has been campaigning hard for him..Pop will discuss Kawhi's defensive impact, but there's no way he would ever publicly campaign for a player to win a meaningless award like the pathetic Tom Rivers, tbh:lol(or else Tim might have a few DPOYs that he should have won)..

Realistically, Jordan is a good defender, but nowhere near DPOY-caliber, tbh..Draymond Green and Kawhi should both be ahead of him, and even Duncan, too..

[ChumpDumper]

Kawhi is not tall enough to win.

[MarCowMar]

The DPOY has been a joke of an award for a long time. It basically goes to the player who swats the most balls into the stands.

Noah
Gasol
Chandler
Howard
Howard
Howard
Garnett
Camby
Wallace
Wallace
Artest
Wallace
Wallace
Mutumbo

[100%duncan]

Bowen and Duncan not having at least 1 is proof enough that this award is for dumbasses

[MarioSpeedwagon]

The DPOY has been a joke of an award for a long time. It basically goes to the player who swats the most balls into the stands.

Noah
Gasol
Chandler
Howard
Howard
Howard
Garnett
Camby
Wallace
Wallace
Artest
Wallace
Wallace
Mutumbo
Most of the guys are or were tremendous defenders when they won

[SpurPadre]

Kawhi' s gotta be the first Spur ever since the Admiral era to prop himself up like that.

[ElNono]

max player saying max player things, tbh

[Robz4000]

DeAndre Jordan is a lock because it's a hype-based award and Tom Rivers has been campaigning hard for him..Pop will discuss Kawhi's defensive impact, but there's no way he would ever publicly campaign for a player to win a meaningless award like the pathetic Tom Rivers, tbh:lol(or else Tim might have a few DPOYs that he should have won)..

Realistically, Jordan is a good defender, but nowhere near DPOY-caliber, tbh..Draymond Green and Kawhi should both be ahead of him, and even Duncan, too..

HH spitting truth bombs, tho its hard to look at his profile pic...

[outmap]

The DPOY has been a joke of an award for a long time. It basically goes to the player who swats the most balls into the stands.

Noah
Gasol
Chandler
Howard
Howard
Howard
Garnett
Camby
Wallace
Wallace
Artest
Wallace
Wallace
Mutumbo

Mutumbo and Wallace were great defenders. Artest and Garnett deserved it those years.
I don't think Camby, Chandler and Noah deserved it, they were good help defenders though.
Howard winning was a joke.

[Cry Havoc]

Via rotoworld:


Kawhi Leonard tied his career-high with five steals vs. the Raptors, while making 10-of-19 FGs and 4-of-4 FTs to finish with 24 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and one block in 39 minutes.

Advice: Toronto's opponents are averaging 6.9 steals this season, the third-fewest of any team, which makes Leonard's thievery even more impressive. He now has a career-best five straight games with 20+ points and is in an amazing groove after a slow period following his serious hand injury. LeBron James' FT shooting and turnovers are pulling down his value, and Kevin Durant is injured, leaving Leonard as the most valuable fantasy SF in the league.

I know it's only fantasy, but that's still pretty incredible. :tu

[MateoNeygro]

Meh, it's a joke of an award anyway

It's a joke of an award until our guy wins it. Then everyone loses their minds.

[hater]

He had a pretty good game imo

[SupremeGuy]

Meh, it's a joke of an award anyway


Deandre Jordan will get it


DeAndre Jordan is a lock because it's a hype-based award and Tom Rivers has been campaigning hard for him..Pop will discuss Kawhi's defensive impact, but there's no way he would ever publicly campaign for a player to win a meaningless award like the pathetic Tom Rivers, tbh:lol(or else Tim might have a few DPOYs that he should have won)..

Realistically, Jordan is a good defender, but nowhere near DPOY-caliber, tbh..Draymond Green and Kawhi should both be ahead of him, and even Duncan, too..


Bowen and Duncan not having at least 1 is proof enough that this award is for dumbassesAll of this, tbh.

[Uriel]

Glad to see Leonard has some humility. :lol

[100%duncan]

It's a joke of an award until our guy wins it. Then everyone loses their minds.

Then that will be a step towards the right direction :lol

But like I said, Bowen, Duncan, Lebron not getting at least 1 each speaks for itself :lol

[UZER]

Glad to see Leonard has some humility. :lol

Yes not smart enough to have a filter.

[r0drig0lac]

very good, now go get some strippers and let the hype begin

[DesignatedT]

It's a popularity award. It's the rebounding/block shot award.

[MI21]

Seems like Parker has been teaching Kawhi about honesty in interviews :lol

[bd_monster]

I'm loving this confidence. Keep that chip on your shoulder Kawhi!

[MateoNeygro]

Then that will be a step towards the right direction :lol

But like I said, Bowen, Duncan, Lebron not getting at least 1 each speaks for itself :lol

I agree but I know that I'd be very happy if Kawhi won. The recognition is nice.

[Knoxxx]

Leonard is supah beastin'!

[SnakeBoy]

Pop's probably gonna bench Kawhi until he gets over himself.

[SpurPadre]

Pop's probably gonna bench Kawhi until he gets over himself.

Seriously, it's so anti-Spur to display that kind of borderline-cockiness. I don't think he is and he just got caught in the moment but it's strange and not something I'm used to hearing or reading about coming from a Spurs player.

[Chinook]

Don't see anything wrong with it. He's earning the praise.

[loveforthegame]

I like that he's being more vocal. Especially on the court.

He just answered the question here. He didn't degrade anyone while trying to prop himself up.

At least his actions back up the talk.

[BillMc]

I like that he's being more vocal. Especially on the court.

He just answered the question here. He didn't degrade anyone while trying to prop himself up.

At least his actions back up the talk.

This. And he probably said it in his usual matter of fact tone. No shouting needed. What did Teddy Roosevelt say about speaking softly...?

[Budkin]

All of this, tbh.

Seconded, the fact that Bowen never won a single one is criminal.

[Johnny RIngo]

Seconded, the fact that Bowen never won a single one is criminal.

Duncan not having at least two of 'em is a joke. Sits at 0 when he was probably the best defensive player of his era.

[Budkin]

Spurs players never won because they didn't "flex their muscles" after every single block.

[Johnny RIngo]

Spurs players never won because they didn't "flex their muscles" after every single block.

You have other coaches like Rick Carlisle campaigning for his players by calling the voters and sending them sheets with stats printed on 'em. Pop doesn't do that kind of shit.

[T Park]

Bowen and Duncan not having at least 1 is proof enough that this award is for dumbasses

Amen times 1000

[SupremeGuy]

Duncan not having at least two of 'em is a joke. Sits at 0 when he was probably the best defensive player of his era.It's honestly kind of stupid, tbh. Like seriously, best defensive player of his generation and the shitty voters never gave him one? Hell, they even gave kirby an undeserved MVP. I can only imagine if Timmy had played in Boston or LA. He'd probably have a few more MVPs and a handful of DPOYs. Dumbass voters.

[SupremeGuy]

Glad to see Leonard has some humility. :lolI'm surprised too. lol Apparently the one thing that will get him to speak up is his defense. Cool.

[tholdren]

Spurs players never won because they didn't "flex their muscles" after every single block.

No, its typical basketball politics. MVP is highest scorer on the best team. RARELY does the best all around player ever win the awards. You have to have flash for the fans and the media. Which is why I have always loved the spurs giving everyone the ultimate FU - small market, no thugs (although Green is a little annoying) just playing sound basketball with no drama.

[BillMc]

TD must be the greatest defender never to win DPOY. Bruce must be Top Ten.

Kawhi speaking up to avoid the same fate.