Kawhi should easily repeat as DPOY

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

Grizzlies look horrible on offense. It's cringeworthy.

[SpursFan86]

People acting like Gobert only gets hype because of his blocks

I guess Utah just magically transformed into one of the best defenses in the league...coincidentally at the same time Gobert started getting major minutes

[SAGirl]

Yea Draymond was the favorite, then Doc was hyping up Deandre so he was getting the media buzz then Kawhi had the game against Curry which basically won him DPOY.

Next decent SF on the schedule is Rudy Gay in a week.

Rudy always gets his TBH. He's just a good passer no. 1, 2nd he gets his open 3s out of the motion of the offense or Cousins doubles, so he's not jacking as many forced up shots as Durant and Carmelo. He gets his transition buckets just because, and he has a midrange game that does not depend on him posting up Kawhi. He's also tall and strong, and atheltic enough so that Kawhi doesn't bother him as much for some reason. I dont expect him to go at Kawhi one on one, he's a sneaky guy who will use screens to get himself free, and do other stuff. He's got decent explosion too, that if Kawhi helps on someone else for example, he will get himself free. For some reason Rudy always gets his against us tBH.

[cjw]

dont tell me u got lebron no.1, even that is debateable that kawhi is no.1

h2h matchups kawhi has no problem containing him while putting up his own seasonal avgs, i dont think lebron has ever shut down kawhi besides ting the bed at kawhis aura anywhere in the proximity on the court

Uh what? This makes no sense. Just stop. Do you remember how off the charts was in the '14 Finals? Had the Heat not lost by a huge margin, Lebron put up MVP-worthy stats.

The only way Kawhi is the best SF in the game is if you consider Lebron a PF.

[SAGirl]

People acting like Gobert only gets hype because of his blocks

I guess Utah just magically transformed into one of the best defenses in the league...coincidentally at the same time Gobert started getting major minutes

Gobert is the real deal. Love him.

[apalisoc_9]

People acting like Gobert only gets hype because of his blocks

I guess Utah just magically transformed into one of the best defenses in the league...coincidentally at the same time Gobert started getting major minutes

Who is saying that here?

1. Leonard
2. Gobert
3. Draymond

Are clearlybthe top 3 three defenders in the league. Obviously you have ty analyst with antiquated takes but those three should be clear cut but for some reason Gobert isn't and some idiots still argue Davis, Jordan over Draymond

[Splits]

antiquated!!

[SpursFan86]

Who is saying that here?

Bro, aren't you old to know that this award never goes to the best candidate, but goes to a big name player with a good blocks average. Gobert is exactly the kind of guy who won the award under Stern. Maybe silver changed the at ude but it's a media award with a clear bias toward bigs

2ndPFGOAT as well but he's obviously a troll so that's my fault for responding seriously to him.

[daslicer]

One thing I have observed this year is the refs give Kawhi more leeway to reach and play physical on defense than in years past which is great.

[SpursFan86]

One thing I have observed this year is the refs give Kawhi more leeway to reach and play physical on defense than in years past which is great.

One of the beauties of him winning DPOTY last year. Refs allow him to get away with more because of that reputation.

[YGWHI]

I can't believe this team somehow managed to replace Bowen with an even better defender at the 3.

Amazing.

[Proxy]

I mean.... it's a media award, right? ST didn't care much for the DPOY when TD missed out, but now it's important.

I think having these iconic defensive stops on Durant and Melo would have as much, maybe more to do with him repeating than actual statistics. If Kawhi is gaining leeway from the refs to add to that reputation, then I'm all for it.

[AFMadison]

at the media trying to prematurely and out of left field install Anthony Davis as some kind of compe or for the award this season..Even Zach Lowe in his last and Final podcast for Grantland stated that he began to regret his AD for DPOY pick after watching Leonard terrorize Durant in the season opener..Kawhi's nighly wreckage on that front can't simply go unnoticed..It is staggering ownage of his match-up that he is now even going for the outright humiliating blocks of opponent shots (averaging 2 BLKs per game )..

Loved how Kawhi and Lebron went after each other last year, Kawhi won that matchup but missing those final free throws kind of stole the show. Can't wait to see those two get after this year.

[spurraider21]

[SpursIndonesia]

rim protector vs perimeter defender?

who is goberts compe ion on the low posts to rach up his defensive stats or shut down? all the bigs today are pure

kawhi is out there shutting down the best perimeter players and mostlty players on the top10 list, compared to some clown waiting in key waiting to be funnel a player to block?

Are you re ed or something ? Great perimeter defender can only affects one opponent at the time, great paint defender like Gobert simply shuts down the paint, only allows ty midrange jumpers if the team smart enough to close in all opponent 3 point shooters.

Kawhi defensive greatness is amplified with the availability of great perimeter opponents at the wing position, but a defensive anchor like Gobert is the strong base for any team defense night in & out.

[SpursIndonesia]

People acting like Gobert only gets hype because of his blocks

I guess Utah just magically transformed into one of the best defenses in the league...coincidentally at the same time Gobert started getting major minutes

This ! He is not some one like Jordan who has blocks here and there because he is super athletic or long, but he reads the plays very well and stop the attack altogether. In yesterday game against the Pacers, Myles Turner feasted against any Utah bigs beside Gobert, and Paul George attacked the mismatch at the PF spot every time Rudy was taken out the game, but when Gobert was in, basically no fly zone, no shots allowed inside the paint, resulting a blow out win in an away game.

[KL2]

Are you re ed or something ? Great perimeter defender can only affects one opponent at the time, great paint defender like Gobert simply shuts down the paint, only allows ty midrange jumpers if the team smart enough to close in all opponent 3 point shooters.

Kawhi defensive greatness is amplified with the availability of great perimeter opponents at the wing position, but a defensive anchor like Gobert is the strong base for any team defense night in & out.

I don't think you realize how great Leonard's defense is, he's on pace to be the greatest perimeter defender ever. He disrupts entire offenses by taking out key stars, shuts down passing lanes, shuts down the pick and roll, he's an elite post defender, and an elite help defender boosting all of his teammate's ratings. Not to mention his rebounding is also elite, great at boxing out. The Spurs would get killed on the boards without him like they used to.

[All Mighty Janitor]

Are you re ed or something ? Great perimeter defender can only affects one opponent at the time, great paint defender like Gobert simply shuts down the paint, only allows ty midrange jumpers if the team smart enough to close in all opponent 3 point shooters.

Kawhi defensive greatness is amplified with the availability of great perimeter opponents at the wing position, but a defensive anchor like Gobert is the strong base for any team defense night in & out.

This not true, especially of Kawhi. He team defense is amazing. He shuts down the side of the court he is on. People who he is not directly guarding don't want to dribble close to him. And, if the beginning of this season is any indication, he's protects and blocks shots at the rim as well. His ability to steal the ball from people without being out of position and without fouling is incredible. And this is while being able switch onto other positions so he can always greatly affect games with his defense.

[Mr. Body]

Refs are letting Kawhi be even more physical, which is crazy.

[rasuo214]

Refs are letting Kawhi be even more physical, which is crazy.

Best thing about Kawhi winning DPOY. Hopefully he continues to get that leeway, especially against the stars (Lebron, Curry etc.).

[apalisoc_9]

Are you re ed or something ? Great perimeter defender can only affects one opponent at the time, great paint defender like Gobert simply shuts down the paint, only allows ty midrange jumpers if the team smart enough to close in all opponent 3 point shooters.

Kawhi defensive greatness is amplified with the availability of great perimeter opponents at the wing position, but a defensive anchor like Gobert is the strong base for any team defense night in & out.

Exhibit of A of an idiot who hasnt caught up to how the modern game is played

[100%duncan]

I can't believe this team somehow managed to replace Bowen with an even better defender at the 3.

Yup.

[kawhidoyoudothistome]

Are you re ed or something ? Great perimeter defender can only affects one opponent at the time, great paint defender like Gobert simply shuts down the paint, only allows ty midrange jumpers if the team smart enough to close in all opponent 3 point shooters.

Kawhi defensive greatness is amplified with the availability of great perimeter opponents at the wing position, but a defensive anchor like Gobert is the strong base for any team defense night in & out.

When Kawhi's on the floor, I believe the Spurs are a completely different team defensively. He really messes up a team's rhythm, similar to that of Gobert, possibly even more so since Kawhi usually shuts down the other team's best player outright. One of the reasons why he's the front runner so far.

[SpursIndonesia]

Exhibit of A of an idiot who hasnt caught up to how the modern game is played

Say whatever you want, but Kawhi's defense doesn't help the Spurs all that much when we played against the Clips last summer, exactly because that team doesn't have a perimeter threats that he usually is being effective of. All credit to TD for being an effective help defender well into his twilight years as NBA players, but if it was Gobert instead of him on that fateful game 7 last shot, the end result might have been completely different.

[SpursIndonesia]

When Kawhi's on the floor, I believe the Spurs are a completely different team defensively. He really messes up a team's rhythm, similar to that of Gobert, possibly even more so since Kawhi usually shuts down the other team's best player outright. One of the reasons why he's the front runner so far.

Not saying he is not a great defender, i just refuted TDMVPOY assertion that perimeter defense is all that much important compared to shut down paint defense. I do think that it is the other way around, though not that asymmetrical. Perimeter defense becomes very important when you can limit or even shut down opponent superstars, but it is not as general as shut down paint defense IMHO.