Dwight Howard’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year
Every NBA award is based on opinion, but DPOY is one of the most subjective. Everybody has different ideas of what makes someone a top defender. Is it just whoever has the most blocks or steals? How much does rebounding factor into defense? Are the 1-on-1 lockdown defenders in the game being overlooked for the award because they don’t put up impressive stats?
Also consider it has become a lot harder to play perimeter defense in the NBA due to recent rule changes, which makes the case for true defensive stalwarts like Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen even stronger because they’re playing with the deck stacked against them. It takes a lot more stamina, foot speed and smarts to be a good perimeter defender in the NBA than it does to guard the post. In the ’90s it was safe to say that the center position was the hardest to guard, with guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Shaq, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and others being the focal point of their respective teams. Today, the game has changed immensely, as wing players and two-guards have become the main superstars of the League.
Night in and night out, particularly in ‘08-09, LeBron was in charge of stopping the other team’s best scorer, whereas Dwight was told to stand in the paint, wait until someone drives to the basket, and block a shot. Let’s be honest, who was Dwight’s toughest matchup? A nearly 40-year-old Shaq? C’mon. LeBron faced the likes of Kobe, Wade, Roy, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay and Pierce each night. On top of shutting down the other team’s best scorer, LeBron made chase-down blocks a new specialty with a collection of highlight blocks. It seemed as if each time LeBron played, one of his blocks was on that night’s “Top Plays.” LeBron’s defensive presence played a huge role in Cleveland’s 66-16 record, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have won his first Defensive POY.
Steve Nash’s 2006 MVP
Don’t get me wrong, Nash had a great season on his way to his second straight MVP, but let’s just draw some comparisons here: Nash and the Suns finished with a record of 54-28, the third-best record in the League behind the Pistons and the Spurs. Even if the MVP award was to be given to the best player on the best team each year, Nash still wouldn’t be the No. 1 candidate, seeing as his team wasn’t the best.
The MVP is the NBA’s version of “Best Player,” and simply put, Kobe Bryant was the best player in the NBA that season. He finished with remarkable numbers, averaging 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, as opposed to Nash’s 18 points and 11 dimes. Not to downplay Nash’s season, but he had nowhere near the resume that Bryant had. It got to the point where Kobe was being debated as the best scorer to ever play the game. He made it look as if he could really score whenever he wanted, like when he went on a four-game streak of scoring 50-plus points. Not to mention he dropped 62 points in three quarters’ worth of work in a game against Dallas, then dropped the famous 81 points in one game against Toronto. Kobe defined that season, and should have been MVP. Nash’s trophy should be revoked and re-issued to the Black Mamba.
Every NBA award is based on opinion, but DPOY is one of the most subjective. Everybody has different ideas of what makes someone a top defender. Is it just whoever has the most blocks or steals? How much does rebounding factor into defense? Are the 1-on-1 lockdown defenders in the game being overlooked for the award because they don’t put up impressive stats?
Also consider it has become a lot harder to play perimeter defense in the NBA due to recent rule changes, which makes the case for true defensive stalwarts like Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen even stronger because they’re playing with the deck stacked against them. It takes a lot more stamina, foot speed and smarts to be a good perimeter defender in the NBA than it does to guard the post. In the ’90s it was safe to say that the center position was the hardest to guard, with guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Shaq, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and others being the focal point of their respective teams. Today, the game has changed immensely, as wing players and two-guards have become the main superstars of the League.
Night in and night out, particularly in ‘08-09, LeBron was in charge of stopping the other team’s best scorer, whereas Dwight was told to stand in the paint, wait until someone drives to the basket, and block a shot. Let’s be honest, who was Dwight’s toughest matchup? A nearly 40-year-old Shaq? C’mon. LeBron faced the likes of Kobe, Wade, Roy, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay and Pierce each night. On top of shutting down the other team’s best scorer, LeBron made chase-down blocks a new specialty with a collection of highlight blocks. It seemed as if each time LeBron played, one of his blocks was on that night’s “Top Plays.” LeBron’s defensive presence played a huge role in Cleveland’s 66-16 record, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have won his first Defensive POY.
Steve Nash’s 2006 MVP
Don’t get me wrong, Nash had a great season on his way to his second straight MVP, but let’s just draw some comparisons here: Nash and the Suns finished with a record of 54-28, the third-best record in the League behind the Pistons and the Spurs. Even if the MVP award was to be given to the best player on the best team each year, Nash still wouldn’t be the No. 1 candidate, seeing as his team wasn’t the best.
The MVP is the NBA’s version of “Best Player,” and simply put, Kobe Bryant was the best player in the NBA that season. He finished with remarkable numbers, averaging 35 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, as opposed to Nash’s 18 points and 11 dimes. Not to downplay Nash’s season, but he had nowhere near the resume that Bryant had. It got to the point where Kobe was being debated as the best scorer to ever play the game. He made it look as if he could really score whenever he wanted, like when he went on a four-game streak of scoring 50-plus points. Not to mention he dropped 62 points in three quarters’ worth of work in a game against Dallas, then dropped the famous 81 points in one game against Toronto. Kobe defined that season, and should have been MVP. Nash’s trophy should be revoked and re-issued to the Black Mamba.
Last edited:
