NBA 2021/2022 DPOY Prediction?
Ben Simmons simply brings more to the table when it comes to defense and that’s what it should be when considering someone an elite defender. As long as Simmons stays healthy, he’s a legit Defensive Player of the Year contender.
2021-2022 DPOY Favourites
5. Mikal Bridges (Phoenix Suns)
The third-year Suns wing regularly draws the opponents’ most prolific scorer as his defensive assignment. He has dealt with pick and roll ball handlers a league-high 219 times, limiting them to 0.91 points per possession and a scoring frequency of 42 percent.
4. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Anthony Davis, in this spot last week, has missed the past four games and the team’s defense has sagged, contributing to a 1-3 record. But the Lakers lead the NBA in defensive rating (105.5) and James, already carrying such a load offensively, also leads the league in defensive win shares.
3. Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)
Shut down the Pacers for two postponed games. The big man still leads the NBA in blocked shots (3.5) per game and Indiana ranks second in blocks per game (6.2).
2. Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
Gobert remains the favorite for DPOY. Because his work at that end of the floor remains central to what the Jazz are doing.
1. Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
Sticking with Simmons in the first spot at least until we learn if his defense gets respected enough by the Eastern Conference coaches to earn All-Star reserve status. He leads the league in deflections (3.9) and loose balls recovered (1.5) per game.
- Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic contending for the MVP award for a third consecutive season December 30, 2022
- Grizzlies beat the Raptors at their own game, showing how far Toronto is from competing December 30, 2022
- Pelicans defeat Timberwolves with 43 points from Zion Williamson December 30, 2022
- Spurs defeat the Knicks for the fifth loss in a row, 122-115 December 30, 2022
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives the Thunder to a victory over the Spurs December 30, 2022
- Status of Devin Booker’s absence with the Suns December 30, 2022
- Pistons-Magic seats cleared in heated NBA scenes after player knocked out by ‘dirty’ act December 30, 2022
- LeBron scored 27, but Lakers made 26 turnovers, making them fall to the Heat December 30, 2022
- Pistons defeated the Magic 121-101 to end their six-game losing run December 30, 2022
- Jarred Vanderbilt, additional insight into the value December 29, 2022