There are a lot of reasons why Kevin Garnett should be recognized as the league’s best defensive player this season. Maybe he’ll get the nod and maybe he won’t. The case on why he should isn’t difficult to make, though, as we trace the history of the award and other possible candidates. History tends to dictate the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year is a shot-blocker first and foremost. Since the award — voted on by the media — began in 1983 with Milwaukee Bucks uber-defender Sidney Moncrief winning the first two years, 16 of the next 23 winners were shot-blockers — including Marcus Camby last year.
That’s not to say the shot-blocker, who's virtually always an exceptional rebounder as well, doesn’t deserve the award. It’s just easier to distinguish the cause and effect, recognizing that it isn’t just that particular stat that makes the difference, but the intimidation factor as well. When you have guys like Camby, four-time winner Dikembe Mutombo and multiple winners such as Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning patrolling the paint, it does allow the rest of the team to play tougher on the ball because he’s back there as a fierce last line of defense.
The same can be said for on-the-ball pressure, with Hornets point guard Chris Paul leading the league in steals, although that rarely predicates the award-winner.
It would make it easy to tab Camby again considering he’s leading the league blocks again and is right up there in rebounds. Young Magic center Dwight Howard will garner a lot of votes, too, since he’s leading everyone in rebounding and is near the top of the league in blocks.
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.
This year, we’re going a different direction, giving the nod to a team-defense guy who is making everyone around him better: the Celtics’ Garnett. That’s not to say Garnett hasn’t been acknowledged as a great defender before. He was voted first-team All-Defense six years in a row by the coaches until slipping to second team the past two seasons. KG has never been voted the top defender by the media and this time around he should.
Ironically, his overall individual defensive statistics — 1.3 blocks, 1.4 steals and 9.4 rebounds — are below average over the breadth of his career. But the spidery arms, great hands, superior defensive knowledge and instincts of the 6-11, 240-pound Garnett have made the Celtics the best defensive team in the league this season. His help defense has given everybody else on the team more confidence and enhanced the team’s overall defensive IQ.
Heck, Celtics center Kendrick Perkins has more blocks than Garnett. But KG’s presence has given the young starter the freedom and confidence to come from the weak side and becoming an increasingly effective shot-blocker.
It’s hard to say how the rest of the voters will go in this instance. Camby will get a lot of votes again, so will Howard considering how much he and the Magic have risen in the NBA consciousness this season. And certainly neither would be the wrong choice.
Nonetheless, the reason Garnett deserves this is the same reason he will attract a lot of votes for Most Valuable Player too – he does so much to make the other players better with his consistent presence – his overall impact is incalculable.
To be sure, coach Doc Rivers and his staff deserve a lot of credit for transforming this team on the defensive end into a powerhouse that is leading the league in field-goal defense and defensive scoring average But none of it would have been possible without the towering president of “The Big Ticket,” in the middle of the fray to control things.
That’s why in my book, Garnett stands alone as the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year.
I agree Kahn,
KG is the reason Boston's ghosts are stirring.
He has had an affect on the team defense as a whole. He will get in his teammates face if he feels they are giving anything less than 100 percent on either side of the court.
I find it hard to believe Bowen has never won.
LAKERS IN JUNE.
Last edited by BleedPRPL&GLD on April 2nd at 9:58 AM.
Blocks and steals are a HORRIBLE indicator of defensive prowess. I've seen countless comparisons between Chris Paul and Deron Williams that claim Paul is the better defender because he leads the league in steals, which is completely bogus. D. Williams is a much better defender.
The same goes for KG. He doesn't get a lot of blocks. He just forces his man into countless misses.
The FACT that KG's holding his defensive assignments to 13% below the average NBA field goal percentage for power forwards is the type of statistic I'd like to see when picking a defensive player of the year. The FACT that he's the 'quarterback' for the NBA's best defensive team speaks volumes as well.
Forget blocks and steals, great defense encompasses much more than those statistics.
Nba
you don't need much to prove to me tha Bowen is dirty. the makes the 1990's Pistons say Ouch. all the step unders and everything else, if you ask me, they need to start giving him flagrants for that ####. it's uncalled for.
KG should win this award, but I'd give the MVP to Kobe. Let's not forget that Thibedau is a great assistant coach who is instrumental in Celts being the best defensive team. With that said, Celts are great this year becasue of KG. He's the best player/competitor we've had here since Larry
It is not an accident when Bowen steps under jump shooters or undercuts people. He is simply looking for any advantage over his opponent, inside or outside the rules. That makes him a dirty player and is why Popovich keeps his minutes high. I can't believe the refs let him get away with all that hacking and body-checking too, it is the only reason he can stay in games. The guy has meat-cleavers for hands. I know you can get away with getting a guy on the hands, but Bowen gets away with slapping wrists and forearms like nobody's business.
KG really is playing the best D this year. Mutumbo, Camby and Howard have more blocks, could even be considered more "intimidating" inside the paint (although KG's inside presence is obviously plenty intimidating), but neither accepts the kind of defensive responsibility KG does. His rotations are impressive, and he can guard just about anyone, is constantly in the passing lanes as well. Intensity and responsibility are contagious. Camby, Mutumbo and Howard are only intimidators inside 5', KG is all over the floor altering/influencing shots and passes. KG is also much better than both at keeping his man out of prime offensive position (which forces bad shots and passes). His versatility and intensity are unmatched.
I don't believe they don't give the DPOY award to Bowen because they think he is dirty. Look at some of the people you have named who have gotte it. Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest. And if I am not mistaken, Ben Wallace got it also. Bowen pales in comparison to the antics of these guys. But they were all great defenders.
I think the reason he has not gotten it is because he does not get blocks and rebounds. He guards the guards mainly. He guards the best player night after night. And most of those guys are moving at full speed the entire time. And yet, he consistantly holds them to under thair average.
And what superstar wants to be shown up by a journyman player who wasn't even drafted out of college? It is much easier to accuse him of dirty tactics. But those "dirty tactics" are exactly the same thing every other perimenter defender does. He just does it better.
And the fans of those other teams and players, being the sheep, they so often are, follow right along with the party line. And while screaming about Bowen's "dirty play", they can ignore the "dirty play" of their own teams and players. The hypocricy exhibited when discussing Bowen is amazing.
Spurs fans are accused of being blind to his tactics. Well, so are all the other fans when it comes to their own players. If what Bowen does is dirty, then they are all dirty. The pushes from behind, the slaps and hacks at the arms, the elbows to the face, the tugging on the clothes, and yes, the sticking the foot under the other player. They all do it. It is standard operating procedure in the NBA.
I think Bowen should be suspended next time he pulls one of his flagrant fouls, especially if he kicks somebody!!! Have any of you seen the Youtube video where he jumps and kicks Wally Szerbiak in the face! As far as I know, he has jumped and kicked at least two players in the face!! He has kicked a player in the back after both of the players went to the floor. He kicked Amare in the back of the leg and he has kneed Steve Nash in the groin. The guy has kicked way to many people to not be called a dirty player. It seems like he gets caught doing these types of Flagrant fouls every year. Honestly think that if he kicks another player again he should be suspended for about 4 or 5 games.
I know the NBA is physical and there have been dirty players in the past, but kicking players is pretty bad in my book and Bowen has done it quite a few times. I probably would not even call him a dirty player if he had not kicked that one player when they were both on the ground and if he had not kicked those two players in the face.
CP3 sidenote: I don't think you can say Williams is the better defender so unequivocally. There are many things that factor in to being a great defensive PG. Williams is stronger and bigger, probably does a more effective job of keeping his man in front of him, forcing him to pass. But isn't that what a PG is supposed to do, pass? In that way, Williams is a better one-on-one defender, but not necessarily a more effective team defender.
Let's not marginalize what Paul does. He is plenty disruptive on defense, which is what I want from my PG (assuming he is not letting his man drive freely to the paint, which is not one of Paul's weaknesses). CP3 is strong and quick but does not have the height to bully players defensively, so he has to rely more on his teammates for support (of which only Chandler is a good defender, as opposed to both Boozer and Kirlinko). Since basketball is a team sport, you have to look at impact a player has on the entire team, not just one player. You cannot underestimate the devastation associated with getting steals and TOs (everyone who plays ball knows how disheartening it is to see the ball suddenly going the other way). When Paul gets steals, it usually sparks a fast break (which denies the other team points while increasing NO points). The net effect for the other team is worse passing and thus, shot selection.
In my mind, both are great defensive PGs. Paul has less TOs as well, which could also be thought of as a defensive stat (since it denies the other team easy points).
KG should would the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the MVP. KG has always been a true professional, and a true team player. There is not a finer all around player in the NBA, and he's been doing the same thing year in and year out for so long. Bottom line......he took the Boston Celtics from the bottom of the east to the top of the NBA in just a matter of months. Unfortunately I can not denie Bryant is a talented player, but at the same time he is a low character jerk/selfish player and he does not make the players around him better, I'm sure he is truely disliked in his locker room and around the league. If KG doesn't win MVP then it should go to LeBron, no one has to carry their team like he is required to do every night.
Chris Paul shouldn't even be in the defensive player of the year discussion. Rajon Rondo has had career games against this man, because defense is an area of weakness for him.
Paul is a great player and does have terrific instincts, but one on one defense has to be a critical element when considering defensive player of the year, and Chris Paul simply struggles in this category.
What some players do in the heat of the moment are Bowen's standard operating procedure. That is why he has been called out more than any other player and has the reputation of being dirty, it is not b/c he does not play for everyone's team. It goes well beyond Bowen's ability to escape the notice/whistle of refs. Sure, some of what he does is common to most good defensive players, using his body to bump guys off spots, grabbing jersey, slapping; but some of his other tactics are largely unique, like stepping under jump shooters, kicking, throwing elbows, and other well-documented cheapshots. I have seen him casually take out a guy's legs or walk under him while jumping on too many occasions, with the same aloof look on his face, like he didn't mean to do it. The refs are so gullible. When he kicked Nash in the fireman he should have been suspended the rest of the season. Such disregard for his fellow man as well as the game, it is a disgrace.
Hey man. No offense, but in case you haven't noticed, Patriots fans are being vindicated in a lot of ways, as this media driven hypocrisy continues to lose momentum.
There was no denial by Patriots fans as it relates to "spygate", there was only reasonable deduction suggesting the offense was blown out of proportion and the act likely repeated many times by other organizations.
simpletruth...how about that fake behind the back pass and go in for a lay up move....sweet! One of the best things (out of many this season) has been the way Rondo has stepped up. I agree, what a pick for the Celts. Come to think Ainge has drafted very well since he took over the team. You think Rondo is the fastest PG not named Barbosa in the game?
Nba is the worst, I find Spurcse to be completely unbiased & one of the very few people on here who is seeing things realistically. You on the other hand are not being unbiased or realistic about things. I have seen these tactics throughout the NBA (even in soccer) but Bowen is the only 1 being singled out. Why, because he is such a great defender & knows when to get close to the line w/o stepping over it. I call that being a smart player. You know, actually thinking for yourself instead of following everyone else. You should try it sometime. Many of these (superstar) athletes that he defends are not used to it & all they can do is cry & complain about it because they’re not used to it.
Marksz06, I would like to see you jump as high as Bowen & be able to control your body in mid air. Good luck!, you will need it. I have also seen many players accidentally hit other players while in mid air. As far as the (floor) incident, if that was a kick, that was a very week kick, especially since Bowen was constantly turning his body left & right trying to follow the ball. Did you happen to see the guy on the floor punch Bowen in the groin?
Lol... I can't believe that's the first time I looked the stuff up. I always knew Bowen was a mean defender... but WOW!
The number of videos out there of him doing dirty #### in-game is hard to believe. Not cool.
On topic... Of coarse KG deserves DPOY. Who else in this league can guard spots 1-5 and do 4 of those extremely well. His stats aren't tops in any single category, but his stats are still pretty good for all of them. His ability to front and deny passes is great. He does not let his man dribble past him very often. He changes shots. He brings energy and intelligence to the court. He's the captain of the defense and makes players around him look great. What more could you ask for?
It's easy to find them when you single 1 guy out, especially 1 who is hated. Try finding them against someone who is well liked & all you'll see are his good plays & not his bad.
NBA, your posts are not exactly unbiased either. I can pretty well predict that you are going to come back at me whatever I say about Bowen or Manu or the Suns series last season. Bowen is dirty, Manu flops. the league cheated the Suns. You have your opinion, and I have mine.
And you have the great stock answer for it all. Just tell anyoane who disagrees with you that they are in denial or that they are like Pats fans.
The "I hope it makes you fell better about having him on the Spurs" is pretty condescending. but then that is part of your thing. To be condescending to other posters.
Someone called you pompous the other day. I though they were harsh because I enjoy most of your stuff. But you know, sometimes I have to agree.
I have an honest opinion that Bowen is not a dirty player. I don't need any excuse to be glad he is on my Spurs. And if he was on your favorite team you would love him. Just like Suns fans hated Shaq with a purple passion, now they love him.
I believe that people have taken a couple of incidents and blown them all out of porportion. They talk like he does those things all the time. Like he kicks people in every game.
And that what he does on a game to game basis is standard operating procedure in the league. It is not cheating. It is playing hard. And yes, they all do it. Just not as efficiently.
If you don't agree, that is your progative. It is mine to think you are wrong.
Oh, I am sure you will come back with a very clever and sarcastic response that will really "put me in my place." But this is it for me.
I will not discuss these subjects with you again. I would like to remain on good terms with you and I will find that hard to do if I let you keep pushing my buttons.
Rondo is more key to the Celtics than a lot of people realize. When they lost to the Wizards back-to-back he was hurt, and in the Jazz home loss his minutes were limited in the 4th quarter comeback by the Jazz.
He has great quickness and is a much better passer than Barbosa or CP3 I'd say.
simpletruth:
Rondo's progression this year has been phenomenal. Great players score on great players all the time, there are many factors that play in to this. Since Rondo is not even one of the top 3 threats on Boston's offense, the defensive attention to him is not the same as it would be for some other players. Not to say you don't want to stop Rondo, but the Big 3 is the biggest concern on Boston. But rather than argue with you over your logic and cherry-picked example, I decided to point out how unremarkable the point was in the first place. Am I wrong? I have enjoyed many of your posts, but I don't mind rattling your cage. I am a lot of things, but not pompous.
I would love to see Bowen own up to some of his tactics on Fox's "Moment of Truth." Spurs fans would be all over that change-the-question button. Bowen is a great player, but also a dirtbag (on the court at least).
I've watched about 30 of them (videos of Bowen's missdeeds). During games, it's hard to catch things like that kick to the back of Stoudemire's ankle, or him kicking his leg up at Iverson's as he's falling. They almost never go over that kind of thing during games, and I just don't have time to watch every single commentary show about the games.
I always just assumed the guy had some rivalries and pissed people off easy (bad breath or foul language... didn't know).
I've played a lot of street ball in my time. Easily over 120 games a year for a while. One thing I can tell you is that no one I ever met was oblivious to the unwritten rules of basketball. The biggest one being to never do anything to undercut other players. Elbows and kicks like that one to Nash's back are dirty, but acceptable. Undercutting is not cool. EVER.
You do that stuff on a street court and you're likely to find yourself with a few broken bones in an emergency room.
I'm surprised that the NBA hasn't done more. I mean, WTF?! The dude is taking out major stars. The whole V. Carter fiasco boggles my mind. How many times did he get away with that?
The other teams in the league need to start getting some on-court enforcement going if the NBA isn't doing enough.
Last edited by MarsBarsTru7 on April 2nd at 10:43 PM.
you guys are spot on about Rondo's importancet to the team. He does a great job gettign them into their offense and making sure the right guy get the ball at the right time. That's not easy to do on a team with 3 all stars. His defense has been outstanding too. He already has improved his jumper, but is still not where it should be. He's been a greats surprise. I like hearing this from people outside of Boston especially. When you live here, you live in a fishbowl, and sometimes you're not sure if you're over-valueing your own players. He is the PG ont his team, Sam Cassell is just here for support, I think that is obvious.
My example may seem cherry picked because my opinion is formed from limited information in this case, admittedly.
I have only seen Chris Paul play a number of times, and his one on one defense appeared horrible on each occasion. I consider this a sample of what is most likely a constant (much like a sample election pole).
To this point, I simply pointed out one on one defense is an extremely important element to ones defensive prowess, and Chris Paul appears to be lacking in this area.
Hey, I only have an opinion, as does everyone else on this board.
I am also a huge Leon Powe fan. Talk about a hustler and perhaps the most efficient (effective player based on minutes played) in the game. The list goes on and on really, with Davis and Perkins.
Again, I believe this speaks to the high level of energy KG brought to this team both on the offensive and defensive ends. That floor slap the other night against the Hornets was classic. While West ended up beating KG on that play, he was held to only 14 pts and the Celts went on a back breaking run shortly after.
The more it is discussed, the more it seems inevitable the Celts will roll through the postseason (although you and I both know nothing is guaranteed!)
I guess I see things differently than SA fans, so I will just agree to disagree with them. I know everyone sees thing through their own biased eyes, which I am plenty guilty of, but I like to think I know dirty play when I see it (as opposed to something more innocuous, like level of skill). In my mind, Bowen is dirty. I have seen enough. I agree 100% with MarsBars: Bowen violates the unwritten rule that you do not undercut or put your feet where guys come down. EVERY PLAYER DOES NOT DO THIS, NOT BY A LONG SHOT. Everything else can be chalked up to the heat of the game, even the elbows and kicks, but you do not try to injure people like Bowen apparently does, he clearly uses it as an intimidation technique. If everyone played ball like Bowen does the game wouldn't be exciting b/c guys would be too afraid of career ending injuries, or worse. Just because Bowen does not do it every game, does not make him any less dirty. I will be interested to see what he does in the playoffs this year...
simpletruth: Like I said before I enjoy the posts, I think you are one of the more even-handed commentators on this site. Certainly I would not argue that Paul's one-on-one defense is not beyond criticism. That said, creating TOs and not turning it over oneself is a HUGE thing for the other team to try to overcome. That is why I think Paul is an underrated defender. DPOY consideration? Well, you and I both know how preposterous that is.
Last edited by DrNeverWFU on April 2nd at 1:15 PM.
nba
everyone knows that Bowen is dirtier than $2 hooker on nickel night. all it will take is for some young buck that understands the severity of him sliding under them as they come down and the chance of busting an ankle or ripping a knee and BAM. one to the kisser. Anyone that doesn't see how the man is no Joe Dumars, is blinded by the love of the team.
