Defensive Player of the Year

[#1P4P]

I love Smart and It’d be awesome if he won DPOY, but this talk about him being able to guard 5’s “well” I’m not buying. Sure if a big puts the ball on the court for more than a dribble or two Smart can slap it away, but let’s be honest, he’s not stopping guys like Jokic, Embiid, Durant, Giannis, Towns, Bam,  once they get the ball on the block. Tatum and Timelord are more capable of covering 1-5 than Smart is.


“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots. “Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”  – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Towns, and Bam aren’t stopping each other either.

Even against those elite NBA scorers, who no one else is stopping (especially in the post), Marcus performs well. He applies all the tools to make it a difficult experience for the opponent. Which is why, the gameplan has never been to attack Marcus Smart in the post.

Smart is making his case as a player that can guard all 5 positions, which is a great asset that few have the versatility to do at his level. I think his best argument is to accentuate being the captain of the best defense in the NBA.

[Goldstar88]

I love Smart and It’d be awesome if he won DPOY, but this talk about him being able to guard 5’s “well” I’m not buying. Sure if a big puts the ball on the court for more than a dribble or two Smart can slap it away, but let’s be honest, he’s not stopping guys like Jokic, Embiid, Durant, Giannis, Towns, Bam,  once they get the ball on the block. Tatum and Timelord are more capable of covering 1-5 than Smart is.


“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots. “Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”  – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Towns, and Bam aren’t stopping each other either.

Even against those elite NBA scorers, who no one else is stopping (especially in the post), Marcus performs well. He applies all the tools to make it a difficult experience for the opponent. Which is why, the gameplan has never been to attack Marcus Smart in the post.

Smart is making his case as a player that can guard all 5 positions, which is a great asset that few have the versatility to do at his level. I think his best argument is to accentuate being the captain of the best defense in the NBA.

Obviously they can’t be 100% stopped, but you have to agree that Smart is not going to have much of a chance if those guys get the ball in the paint. I think Tatum with his size and added strength has a chance and Timelord does bother them.

[gouki88]

I love Smart and It’d be awesome if he won DPOY, but this talk about him being able to guard 5’s “well” I’m not buying. Sure if a big puts the ball on the court for more than a dribble or two Smart can slap it away, but let’s be honest, he’s not stopping guys like Jokic, Embiid, Durant, Giannis, Towns, Bam,  once they get the ball on the block. Tatum and Timelord are more capable of covering 1-5 than Smart is.


“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots. “Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”  – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Towns, and Bam aren’t stopping each other either.

Even against those elite NBA scorers, who no one else is stopping (especially in the post), Marcus performs well. He applies all the tools to make it a difficult experience for the opponent. Which is why, the gameplan has never been to attack Marcus Smart in the post.

Smart is making his case as a player that can guard all 5 positions, which is a great asset that few have the versatility to do at his level. I think his best argument is to accentuate being the captain of the best defense in the NBA.

Obviously they can’t be 100% stopped, but you have to agree that Smart is not going to have much of a chance if those guys get the ball in the paint. I think Tatum with his size and added strength has a chance and Timelord does bother them.

I'm not so sure, Smart is stronger at holding his ground than Tatum (and Timelord too, really) and is very adept at poking the ball away or drawing offensive fouls.

Sure, he's not going to be somebody you want taking that match-up time and again. But his ability to switch onto bigs, even just to box them out when his man is being defended by one of our bigs, is huge.

[Goldstar88]

I love Smart and It’d be awesome if he won DPOY, but this talk about him being able to guard 5’s “well” I’m not buying. Sure if a big puts the ball on the court for more than a dribble or two Smart can slap it away, but let’s be honest, he’s not stopping guys like Jokic, Embiid, Durant, Giannis, Towns, Bam,  once they get the ball on the block. Tatum and Timelord are more capable of covering 1-5 than Smart is.


“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots. “Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”  – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Towns, and Bam aren’t stopping each other either.

Even against those elite NBA scorers, who no one else is stopping (especially in the post), Marcus performs well. He applies all the tools to make it a difficult experience for the opponent. Which is why, the gameplan has never been to attack Marcus Smart in the post.

Smart is making his case as a player that can guard all 5 positions, which is a great asset that few have the versatility to do at his level. I think his best argument is to accentuate being the captain of the best defense in the NBA.

Obviously they can’t be 100% stopped, but you have to agree that Smart is not going to have much of a chance if those guys get the ball in the paint. I think Tatum with his size and added strength has a chance and Timelord does bother them.

I'm not so sure, Smart is stronger at holding his ground than Tatum (and Timelord too, really) and is very adept at poking the ball away or drawing offensive fouls.

Sure, he's not going to be somebody you want taking that match-up time and again. But his ability to switch onto bigs, even just to box them out when his man is being defended by one of our bigs, is huge.

I’m not sure how much stronger he is than Tatum or Timelord at this point. Both guys bulked up during the off-season quite a bit. With that said, Smart holding ground is not going to help him when a big gets fed the ball in the paint and they elevate and shoot right over the top of him. Tatum and Timelord are half a foot taller with 7’+ wing spans and they are superior athletically.

[LilRip]

Another thing ti add: Marcus makes the catch difficult. Hard for those guys to score on him when they can’t even get the ball

[nickagneta]

I love Smart and It’d be awesome if he won DPOY, but this talk about him being able to guard 5’s “well” I’m not buying. Sure if a big puts the ball on the court for more than a dribble or two Smart can slap it away, but let’s be honest, he’s not stopping guys like Jokic, Embiid, Durant, Giannis, Towns, Bam,  once they get the ball on the block. Tatum and Timelord are more capable of covering 1-5 than Smart is.


“Let’s think about it,” Smart said. “As a guard, especially on the team that switches a lot, especially on the No. 1 defensive team, you are worried about every single player. And here’s the thing: When you see Defensive Player of the Year, that means he can guard all five spots. “Nothing against Rudy, but Rudy can’t guard all five spots. I can guard all five spots and I have been doing it. I’ve done it very well.”  – via Tim Bontemps @ ESPN

Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, Towns, and Bam aren’t stopping each other either.

Even against those elite NBA scorers, who no one else is stopping (especially in the post), Marcus performs well. He applies all the tools to make it a difficult experience for the opponent. Which is why, the gameplan has never been to attack Marcus Smart in the post.

Smart is making his case as a player that can guard all 5 positions, which is a great asset that few have the versatility to do at his level. I think his best argument is to accentuate being the captain of the best defense in the NBA.

Obviously they can’t be 100% stopped, but you have to agree that Smart is not going to have much of a chance if those guys get the ball in the paint. I think Tatum with his size and added strength has a chance and Timelord does bother them.

I'm not so sure, Smart is stronger at holding his ground than Tatum (and Timelord too, really) and is very adept at poking the ball away or drawing offensive fouls.

Sure, he's not going to be somebody you want taking that match-up time and again. But his ability to switch onto bigs, even just to box them out when his man is being defended by one of our bigs, is huge.

I’m not sure how much stronger he is than Tatum or Timelord at this point. Both guys bulked up during the off-season quite a bit. With that said, Smart holding ground is not going to help him when a big gets fed the ball in the paint and they elevate and shoot right over the top of him. Tatum and Timelord are half a foot taller with 7’+ wing spans and they are superior athletically.

Smart has a lower center of gravity and just as strong if not stronger thighs and core. It allows him to push much bigger guys around much easier than Tatum and Timelord. Also, Smart's boxing out skills are much better than Tatum and Timelord.

[Moranis]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

[gouki88]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think he's suffering the LeBron-esque award fatigue

[Goldstar88]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think KD is the best player in the world and I’m not even a fan of KD. He’s that special offensively and not exactly a slouch on D, either.

[gouki88]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think KD is the best player in the world and I’m not even a fan of KD. He’s that special offensively and not exactly a slouch on D, either.

Eh. Durant scores less and with less efficiency, and their passing is a wash - Giannis gets more assists per possession but also more turnovers. Giannis also generates second-chance looks, which Durant does not, and puts way more pressure on the opposition with drawing fouls. I don't think there's much of any gap on offence, and with how often Durant is injured I definitely do not have him above Giannis (or Jokic)

[Moranis]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think KD is the best player in the world and I’m not even a fan of KD. He’s that special offensively and not exactly a slouch on D, either.

Eh. Durant scores less and with less efficiency, and their passing is a wash - Giannis gets more assists per possession but also more turnovers. Giannis also generates second-chance looks, which Durant does not, and puts way more pressure on the opposition with drawing fouls. I don't think there's much of any gap on offence, and with how often Durant is injured I definitely do not have him above Giannis (or Jokic)

yep and the Nets just aren't very good.  First time Durant has played without another top 75 player and his team is failing. 

[gouki88]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think KD is the best player in the world and I’m not even a fan of KD. He’s that special offensively and not exactly a slouch on D, either.

Eh. Durant scores less and with less efficiency, and their passing is a wash - Giannis gets more assists per possession but also more turnovers. Giannis also generates second-chance looks, which Durant does not, and puts way more pressure on the opposition with drawing fouls. I don't think there's much of any gap on offence, and with how often Durant is injured I definitely do not have him above Giannis (or Jokic)

yep and the Nets just aren't very good.  First time Durant has played without another top 75 player and his team is failing.

For a moment I thought you meant in the league, and was very confused. But yes, with Kyrie playing part-time and Harden having left, his supporting cast has become very weak compared to what he grew used to in Cali.

[Moranis]

Giannis should be both MVP and DPOY.  He is BY FAR the best player in the world as well as the best defender (Jokic edges him offensively, but the difference defensively more than makes up the slight offensive difference). 

That said, I'm not sure Giannis wins either.

I think KD is the best player in the world and I’m not even a fan of KD. He’s that special offensively and not exactly a slouch on D, either.

Eh. Durant scores less and with less efficiency, and their passing is a wash - Giannis gets more assists per possession but also more turnovers. Giannis also generates second-chance looks, which Durant does not, and puts way more pressure on the opposition with drawing fouls. I don't think there's much of any gap on offence, and with how often Durant is injured I definitely do not have him above Giannis (or Jokic)

yep and the Nets just aren't very good.  First time Durant has played without another top 75 player and his team is failing.

For a moment I thought you meant in the league, and was very confused. But yes, with Kyrie playing part-time and Harden having left, his supporting cast has become very weak compared to what he grew used to in Cali.

ysah I meant all time.  Durant's rookie year, the year he missed between GS and BKN, and right now are the only teams he has been on without at least 1 other All Time top 76 player.  He has never had to carry the load before and he has not measured up doing so this year. His team in fact isn't very good at all.  I do think it is a knock on him historically especially with his comments a couple weeks ago about how the defense focused on him and they couldn't adjust as a team.