NBA Mid-Season Awards: Is Defensive Player of The Year Award Tyson Chandler's to Lose?

Tyson Chandler, Larry Sanders, Serge Ibaka and Tony Allen are the league's premier defenders.

New York City.  The Big Apple abuzz as the fans flock to the MSG to see their Knicks who are having one of their best seasons in a long time.  Some might give the credit to Carmelo Anthony, some the coaching of Mike Woodson or the bench depth.  While all of these are contributing factors, Tyson Chandler is New York's unsung hero.

The DPOY award goes to the player whose defense most contributes to their teams success.  The New York Knicks currently sit comfortably in the 2nd spot in the East, much do to their defensive anchor; Tyson Chandler.  Before Chandler signed as a free agent, NYK was one of the worst defensive teams in the league, and remained in that position after Chandler joined under the D'Antoni system.  With D'Antoni being fired, Mike Woodson stepped in and started to draw up defensive sets that allowed Chandler to show what he was signed for.  This season, New York is a great defensive team, all do to Tyson Chandler who holds down the middle, and blocks and alters shots.

Serge Ibaka is the second coming of Dikembe Mutombo.  Both Congonese, both incredible shot blockers.  Ibaka leads the defense of one of the premier teams in the league, and averages almost 3 bpg.  Ibaka has an uncanny ability to send opponents shots into the bleachers, and puts the thought in opponents heads, modfiying their shot taking and confidence.  Oklahoma City Thunder has the number 6 Defensive Rating in the NBA and this is almost all due to Serge Ibaka's incredible shot altering and defensive presence.

The Milwaukee Bucks have made incredible leaps in the past year, as has their young big Larry Sanders.  Leading the league in blocked shots with 3.05 bpg, and his defensive progress is one of the major reason for the teams recent success.  Larry Sanders plays only 25 minutes per game, but still leads the NBA in blocks, showing off his defensive and shot blocking prowess.

"Grit! Grind!"-Tony Allen on his style of play.  Allen's tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies is riddled with defensive plays and highlights and yes, lots of grit, and lots of grind.  The Grizzlies 2-guard is definitely not the flashiest player, nor is he very flashy at all, but he always plays to the best of his abilities and plays hard and passionately.  While Allen doesn't lead the league in steals or blocks, his defense changes the game more than anybody else's.

The Verdict:

While this is a four horse race, and will be fairly close in the end, it will be a photo finish between Tyson Chandler and Larry Sanders.  Chandler and Sanders are the players whose defense has the most effect on their team, and have helped their teams make the greatest strides since upping the ante on defense.

NBA Mid-Season Awards: Can Anyone Take MVP From LeBron?

Olympic Teammates During The Off-season, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul Are Now Fighting to Win the MVP

The NBA MVP is not awarded to the best basketball player in the league, but rather to the one that contributes most to a highly successful team.  Following the criteria of selecting an MVP which includes the players’ leadership, team record and statistical numbers, the race to the honour is narrowed down to a handful of stars in a  tightly contested battle for the most prestigious award in the NBA.

Only a small few players can flaunt the honour of contending, let alone winning the Most Valuable Player award.  This year, those small few include the likes of Oklahoma City Thunder’s  forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers’  point guard Chris Paul and of course, the best baller on the planet, reigning MVP, Miami Heat’s forward LeBron James.

At mid-season,  Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and the Miami Heat occupy 3 of the top 4 spots in the league, so the 3 superstars are doing something right.

 

If the season were to end today, Chris Paul would have led the Clippers to the 3^rd best record in the Western Conference, and in the entire league, upping their winning percentage from .606 to .708, a significant difference in the span off a few short months.  As Paul has led the Clippers to an outstanding record, he has season averages of 16.6 ppg, 9.7 apg, 3.5 rpg and a league leading 2.56 spg in only 33.5 minutes of playing time.  Added onto these statistics, Paul is 7^th in the league in Player Efficiency with a PER of +23.3.  Not only does Paul have exceptional statistical impact on his team’s success, before the trade that sent him to Tinseltown, the Clippers had a disappointing record of 32-50.  When he arrived in LA, he made them an immediate playoff team and title contender.

Kevin Durant is the high scoring sensation, leading the charge for one of the elite teams in the league.  Sitting in 2^nd place in the entire league, this young star has done a superb job of carrying the heavy weight of a franchise on his long, scrawny shoulders.  Leading the league in ppg with an average of 29.6, as well as averaging 1.6 spg, 1.2 bpg, 4.5 apg and 7.4 rpg.  KD is also 2^nd in the league in Player Efficiency with a rating of +31.22.  KD is the youngest scoring champion in NBA history, and has been the scoring champ for 3 years in a row, and is due to get another at the end of this season.  At age 24, Durant is already considered one of the best players in the NBA, widely thought of as 2^nd best (behind LeBron), and is more than ready to get his first MVP nod this year.  Kevin Durant is also about to join an elite club of very few players to average 50% from the field, 40% from the arc, and 90% from the charity stripe.

Then we get to the King, LeBron James.  LBJ is the best basketball player in the world right now, he can do everything on the court, and does on a nightly basis.  If MVP was based purely on skill level LeBron’s trophy cabinet would be overflowing with honours.  Unfortunately this is not the case.  LeBron led his Miami Heat team to a championship last season, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to win MVP, Finals MVP, A Championship and an Olympic Gold Medal.  Leading the league in PER with a rating of +31.28, and shows off his overall abilities by ranking 4^th in points, 16^th in steals, 28^th in rebounds, 11^th in assists and shooting 54.7% from the field.  LeBron is the obvious favourite to win, but crazier things have happened.  Being in the company of Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, an upset might be brewing.

The Verdict:
While LeBron is the clear choice to win this award, he will not be taking home a trophy at season’s end.  Neither will Chris Paul.  Kevin Durant is having one of the best, if not the best year of his very short, and very successful career.  When it comes time to decide a winner, Durant will be rewarded for his hard work and numbers.  Kevin Durant: 2013 NBA MVP.