NBA Award Predictions: Rudy Gobert for Defensive Player of the Year
The Utah Jazz finished the season with a record of 50–32. They won a ton of their games on the defensive end due to their offense not being as potent as other teams. Leading the defense for the Jazz is the French Rejection, Rudy Gobert. Gobert won the Defensive Player of the Year award last season and he is due for a repeat.
The Defensive Player of the Year award is given to the best defensive player of the season. The award is widely regarded as a big man’s award, having players like Dikembe Mutombo, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace and Dwight Howard winning it. The all-time winner of the award is Mutombo and Wallace, who both won it four times. Gobert is the first Jazz player to win it since Mark Eaton won it in the 1988–89 season. Eaton won the award also in 1984–85. Eaton, standing at a staggering height of 7’4”, had a career average of 3.5 blocks per game. During his first time winning the DPOY award, he blocked 5.6 shots per game and his second time winning it, he blocked 3.8/game.
Today, the DPOY is mostly based off the defensive analytical side of the game and not just based off blocks. Gobert was the prolific shot blocker that Eaton was but he does have the defensive numbers to back up his case. Eaton gave the Jazz a 6.7 defensive win share in ‘85 and a 6.6 DWS in ‘89. During the ‘85 season, the Jazz were first in defensive rating, allowing 103.4/game. Jazz opponents scored 109.1 points/game, which was good for eighth in the league. Gobert’s defensive ratings are similar to Eaton’s. This season, Gobert is giving the Jazz 5.7 defensive win shares. The defensive juggernaut is also leading the Jazz to a defensive rating of 105.7/game which is good for second. Opponents are scoring 106.5 points/game against Utah, which is fourth in the league. Gobert is blocking 2.3 shots out of the 5.9 that the Jazz average per game. As a team, the Jazz are third in the league in blocks per game. Gobert is third in the league per game in blocks and second in the league in total blocks (187). Gobert ranks top in the top six in these defensive categories: rebounds/game, blocks/gm, defensive rebound percentage, total rebound percentage, block percentage, defensive rating, defensive win shares, defensive box plus-minus. He is also top four in value over replacement player. He is sixth in box plus-minus, second in win shares/48, second in win shares. He is doing all this while averaging career highs 15.9 points and 12.9 rebounds.
If Gobert wins the DPOY award this season (as he should), he would be the 10th player to win the award multiple times. Gobert’s defensive impact is a big part of the Jazz’s style and Gobert is arguably the best defensive big man in the league today.
The Stop and Pop
Basketball Analysis & Media Outlet
Subscribe to the podcast below:
www.spreaker.com/show/the-stop-and-pop
