Defensive Player Of The Year....

[honestfool84]

I think Pop should campaign for Bruce. I get the feeling the award would mean a lot to him (it's not like he could ever be an All-Star or anything). It's the one part of the game he truly excels at and he gets no recognition for it.

Pop should have one of his interns put together a presentation with stats and video demonstrating what Bruce brings to the table.

OOOR, us fans should make a complication, and send it to the spurs FO, or 'somehow' send it to the league.

yes, yes? yes.

that would be awesome.

[JamStone]

And has KG ever even made all defensive first team?

Ummmmm, six times first team all defense, two more times second team all defense. KG has always been an elite all around defender. This year, not as much as previous years, but he's still very good.

[1Parker1]

UMMMMMMMM, I didn't know that, which is why I asked the question in the first place...

[DAF86]

Manu for DPOY!!!...

If bowen didn't win before i don't think he'll ever win.

I think the award will go to any of these 3:

Marcus Camby- He's the best defensive numbers
Kevin Garnett- He's the reason the celtics defense is so good and could get it as a reward for this season tournaround. ('cause he's not getting the MVP)
Shane Battier-He recived a lot of media hype during the streak for his defensive performances.

[timvp]

I'd be most pissed off if Shane Battier won it, since he's basically doing what Bowen has done for the last six years but not as well.

Ditto. Battier is so overrated this season it's not even funny. He had that one game against Kobe but that was obviously just an off game for Kobe. Kobe has, can and will light Battier's azz up again.

As a perimeter defender, I don't think Battier is even top ten in the NBA. His foot speed is only about average. He can get blown off the dribble by anyone who has quickness.

I'll give Battier credit for working hard defensively and being a versatile defender (he can guard power forward pretty well when needed), but he shouldn't be anywhere near the DPOY award.

I know Bowen won't win it. For like the fifth year in a row, rumors of Bowen losing a step will make it impossible for him to win it. What's lame is even Spurs fans start perpetuating those rumors after Bowen has his three or four bad defensive games per season.

I wouldn't really have a problem if KG won it. The Celtics have been the best defensive team all season. Camby or Paul winning it for their numbers wouldn't really bother me. Shane freakin' Battier winning it would bother me though. He's like slower, heavier Bowen who had one fluke game. I didn't have a problem when Ron Artest won it because Artest is actually a damn good defender. Battier? Eh good but not great.

[FromWayDowntown]

Did anyone see the Celtics' Artest-like statistics for KG?

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/...Them-Out-.html

Not quite on the level of Carlisle's campaign for Artest a few years ago, but the numbers are similar to those that Pop railed against back then.

[diego]

i dont get all the hate for camby. its not his fault karl and the nuggs dont have a system, or that duncan and bowen have been overlooked millions of times. hes always been a very good shotblocker and good rebounder. i dont consider him the best defender in the league, but he is quite good and you can see how he affects parker and manu's penetration.

[ploto]

Voters will want to recognize Houston in some way and Battier will win it. The main difference between him and Bowen is that Shane has better defensive rebounding numbers, and that has hurt Bowen in the past voting.

[timvp]

Voters will want to recognize Houston in some way and Battier will win it. The main difference between him and Bowen is that Shane has better defensive rebounding numbers, and that has hurt Bowen in the past voting.

Actually, the main difference is Bowen is top two perimeter defender while Battier is more like 10-15.

[Spurminator]

i dont get all the hate for camby. its not his fault karl and the nuggs dont have a system, or that duncan and bowen have been overlooked millions of times. hes always been a very good shotblocker and good rebounder. i dont consider him the best defender in the league, but he is quite good and you can see how he affects parker and manu's penetration.

Ask a Nuggets fan what they think of Camby as a two-time DPOY.

[ploto]

Actually, the main difference is Bowen is top two perimeter defender while Battier is more like 10-15.

Bruce 2.9 RPG CAREER

It is the main reason Bruce does not win.

[timvp]

Voters mistakingly think defensive can be found in numbers.

Agreed.

[ShoogarBear]

+1

If the head coaches vote for the All-Defensive Teams, why doesn't the NBA just make them vote for the DPoY also? It boggles the mind.

Head coaches also voted Larry Hughes 1st team All-Defense one year, and usually voted Duncan 1st team All-Defense ahead of DRob, so nobody's perfect.

[timvp]

What's hysterical is everyone praised Battier for being some sort of Kobe stopper after Kobe had that one bad game against him. "OMG did you see Battier! He face guarded Kobe! DPOY!"

Kobe's five previous games against Battier, Kobe averaged 40+ points per game. In their 24 lifetime matchups, Kobe has scored 45 or more points six times, including a game of 56 and two games of 53. Yeah, give this Kobe stopper the DPOY

Oh and Bowen has never given up 45 points to Kobe in their 28 regular season meetings.

[timvp]

Include the playoffs and Kobe hasn't scored 45 points on Bowen over the span of 45 meetings.

[DAF86]

Actually, the main difference is Bowen is top two perimeter defender while Battier is more like 10-15.

I agree, but that's subjective.

[diego]

Ask a Nuggets fan what they think of Camby as a two-time DPOY.

i'm not saying he deserves dpoy, i'm saying he's a good defender playing in a bad system. are you telling me you wouldnt trade oberto/thomas/horry/bonner for camby? i'd do it in a heart beat, and our defense would improve a lot. , if he wasnt so fragile i'd probably trade all four of them plus ian and splitter for him.

[O-Factor]

If no one has stood out this year defensively, maybe Bruce will win it for his body of work. You see that with awards sometimes.

[hsxvvd]

What's hysterical is everyone praised Battier for being some sort of Kobe stopper after Kobe had that one bad game against him. "OMG did you see Battier! He face guarded Kobe! DPOY!"

Kobe's five previous games against Battier, Kobe averaged 40+ points per game. In their 24 lifetime matchups, Kobe has scored 45 or more points six times, including a game of 56 and two games of 53. Yeah, give this Kobe stopper the DPOY

Oh and Bowen has never given up 45 points to Kobe in their 28 regular season meetings.

Ruben Patterson for DPOY!

[PM5K]

So what's the most Kobe has scored against Bowen and what's his average?

Just curious since you started throwing out stats TimVP...

[phxspurfan]

I think KG will win it this year if the Celtics lead all top 3 defensive categories. He has to be the biggest catalyst on that team, in terms of defensive effort.

[Agloco]

.....Honestly do you think they would leave out Bruce this year?

It's like Sean Elliott today when he was talking about, "Lets give Camby DOP because his team gives up 100+ points a game."

I think Bruce has a chance this year.....

Bruce has a chance every year. Problem is, one person always has a better chance than him.

[Allanon]

I just read some KG DPOY article with a paragraph basically saying Bowen doesn't win because he's perceived to be dirty.

"The Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, a fierce one-on-one defender will get his share of votes because he’s so talented and popular overall. Generally speaking, it’s difficult to single out individual defenders. Over the years, other than Moncrief, the awards have gone to great one-on-one defenders such as Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest. There are those who believe the Spurs’ Bruce Bowen has deserved it for years but can’t get the necessary votes because there is a perceived notion of dirty play on his part."

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs...of_KGs_defense

[BonnerDynasty]

DPOY = anyone who can shut down Kobe AND outscore him.


Bruce The Big Dirty Boweeeeennnn

[Louie Vega]

.....Honestly do you think they would leave out Bruce this year?

It's like Sean Elliott today when he was talking about, "Lets give Camby DOP because his team gives up 100+ points a game."

I think Bruce has a chance this year.....

Just like Manu was an All Star this year? Not gonna happen.