Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers has called DeAndre Jordan their Minister of Defense for his terrific impact in the defense end.
With only two regular-season left, Jordan leads the league with 14.9 rebounds per game, and comes fourth in blocks with 2.2 swats per contest.
Although San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard is playing great defense game, leading the league with 2.4 steals per game, traditionally, rebounders and rim protectors tend to win the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award.
The DPOY 2015 is expected to be announced in the next few days.
Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah won the award last season, and Houston Rockets big man Dwight Howard has lifted the recognition in three consecutive seasons (2009, 2010 and 2011).
While, Jordan is strongly positioned for the DPOY 2015, Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis may have a say, considering his league-high 2.9 blocks per game.
Should Leonard scoops the DPOY, then it will be a major breakout with the recent past, considering the fact that the last perimetre player to win the award was then Indiana Pacers Ron Artest (now known as Metta World Peace) in the 2003-04 season.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich came up in his Leonard’s defense, explaining that “He is really playing confidently, but he hasn’t forgotten to predicate his game on the defense and on the boards.”
“It kind of fuels him offensively. Our guys know how to give him his room. We are learning it better and better,” said last year’s Coach of the Year Popovich.
Golden State forward Draymond Green and Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert have had tremendous defensive efforts in the season.
