Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

[AlexBrady]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Doesn't matter what you or I believe, friend. He's already there and his winning this award (again) and (eventually) getting another 1st Team All-Defense only cements that point.

He might be your current "favorite," but you clearly overrate players that you deem worthy.

Just suggesting that Robinson, Howard (at least once or twice), Garnett and Gary Payton are "undeserving" proves that, IMO.

from Spurs Nation/Bills Backer HQ

If being "there" means being a lockdown defender against all comers then not yet. Leonard's defense is highly effective though. I think I'm giving a realistic appraisal of the aforementioned player's true capabilities.

If you're not going to offer alternate picks, is this list really anything other than a chance to throw shade?

Here they are.

1985-1986 Michael Cooper- Quickness and long arms. Tough one on one and a great screen dodger.

1991-1992 Dennis Rodman- Could lock up men at three different positions.

1995-1996 Scottie Pippen- Played stifling defense at the wings and against certain points. Had the on court responsibility of directing the double teams and rotations. No other man had this workload.

1998-1999 Darrell Armstrong- Stifling defender at the point. Didn't gamble for steals, instead relying on anticipation.

1999-2000 Shawn Marion- A youngster but already versatile enough to guard three spots at an outstanding level.

2000-2001 Shawn Marion- Again. Had the young legs. This was the time when Marion's defense was toughest.

2004-2005 Bruce Bowen- Powerful and relentless.

2005-2006 Shane Battier- Fundamentally sound. Combined strength with quickness. Ron Artest, Andre Iguodala, and Tasyshaun Prince were close behind and would have been better choices than Ben Wallace.

2006-2007 Shane Battier- At the top of his game and the top of the league.

2007-2008 Ron Artest- Power personified. Unlike now, he still had the old quickness.

2008-2009 Andre Iguodala- Played like a latter-day Scottie Pippen.

2009-10 Thabo Sefolosha- Length and quickness. Anticipation. Overlooked part of OKC's blasting onto the playoff scene.

2010-11 Tony Allen- Tougher than a junkyard dog.

2011-12 Tony Allen- Again. Tough, scratching defense.

2012-2013 Joakim Noah- Toughness and quickness. Didn't miss a baseline rotation and active on defense of screen/rolls.

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Whatever for the individual awards in team sports anyway. So overblown/talked about/meaningless when it comes down to it.

We know he's one of the top defenders in the game.

[DJ_Solis]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

I actually like a lot of those alternative picks you presented. I noticed that you replaced a lot of big men with perimeter players. Do you think that big men have been overvalued as defensive presences over the years? Or that perimeter defenders are rarely given enough credit for contributing to a good team defense?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[redsox4evur]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Whatever for the individual awards in team sports anyway. So overblown/talked about.

We know he's one of the top defenders in the game.

Is basketball really a team sport though? You look at the NBA champions from 2000 until now and they all have had at least 1 superstar with the exception of the 04 Pistons, which I disagree with but I will give it you guys. And even looking at the teams that lost in the Finals going back to the finals most of those teams had at least 1 superstar with the exception being that Pistons team again. You don't see teams like the Hawks, Celtics, etc. winning a championship or even making the Finals.

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

I would take the great rim protector over the perimeter guy when talking all time. I think he would have an overall bigger impact on the game.

I know a lot depends on the teams involved and match ups, just saying... in most cases.

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Is basketball really a team sport though? You look at the NBA champions from 2000 until now and they all have had at least 1 superstar with the exception of the 04 Pistons, which I disagree with but I will give it you guys. And even looking at the teams that lost in the Finals going back to the finals most of those teams had at least 1 superstar with the exception being that Pistons team again. You don't see teams like the Hawks, Celtics, etc. winning a championship or even making the Finals.

What about the Spurs ?

[redsox4evur]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

What about the Spurs ?

They have had Tim Duncan since 1997. One of the most least talked about superstars.

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

They have had Tim Duncan since 1997. One of the most least talked about superstars.

He hasn't been a superstar for a while though now. And they still won/been in the running for championships after that, right ?

[redsox4evur]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

He hasn't been a superstar for a while though now. And they still won championships after that, right ?

I gave the Mavs credit for Dirk when they made it against the Heat so I'm doing the same for the Spurs. And if you wanna argue the later ones I will go Kawhi, who became a superstar in that finals by shutting Lebron down.

[23]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Whatever for the individual awards in team sports anyway. So overblown/talked about/meaningless when it comes down to it.

We know he's one of the top defenders in the game.

Well the Spurs have been #1 in defense all season long without ever moving from that spot, and he's a big reason why.

That's why I'd give it to him over Draymond. I don't get what the problem is you're having?

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Smh @ GP 'only playing for steals'....just saw that

[The 24th Letter]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

24th, I'm appalled that you might suggest that Kawhi doesn't deserve some love for MVP. Curry had a historical great season and so did his team, but Leonard his the best two-way player in the NBA and was the clear, cut best player on a great Spurs team.

from Spurs Nation/Bills Backer HQ

Only because it's a done deal at this point, he should definitely finish second in my book

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

I don't know about Leonard's offence being good/proven enough to call him a superstar yet.

Well the Spurs have been #1 in defense all season long without ever moving from that spot, and he's a big reason why.

That's why I'd give it to him over Draymond. I don't get what the problem is you're having?

Said before I have zero problem with him winning the award. Just saying that the individual awards in teams sports are overrated in general.

[23]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

I don't know about Leonard's offence being good/proven enough to call him a superstar yet.


Said before I have zero problem with him winning the award. Just saying that the individual awards in teams sports are overrated in general.

He still has growing to do. He's only 25, but he was leading the league in 3pt% this year for quite awhile. The guy improved alot and is hardly done.
If you just wanna see him chuck it every game at the detriment of his team you'll never see that with the Spurs.

The Spurs stayed on top defensively and only lost 1 of 41 games at home.

If not for the Warriors, this would be deemed quite a season for them as its been the best of any Spurs team in their history.

To top it all off, you're discounting and discrediting things like "anyone can get a block" and "these awards are overrated" in a year where they've been historically good.

I just can't subscribe to what you're selling in this particular year. It's just a bad time to make these comments.

[bakan723]

Re: Defensive Player of the Year: Kawhi Leonard

Block comment had nothing to do with Leonard and I'm not trying to discount anything the Spurs have done this year. (they did go out and get Portland's best player also)

And I've always said that about individual awards in teams sports, btw.