Marcus Smart - 2022 DPOY - 2023 NBA Hustle Award Winner

[Green89]

You forgot one, Shak:

[Parliament10]

I had no doubt Smart was going to win.

He's earned it and it's well deserved.

Mikal Bridges?

Come on!

Bridges is just as deserving as Smart, or really close at least. No need to slander other teams players, IMO.

I’d guess either Bridges, Bam, or Rob win it next year.

Agreed.
Bridges was alright, too.

[Parliament10]

[playa-hater]

Spoiler:

You need to stop holding back and let us know what you really think about Smart

[Fierce1]

I had no doubt Smart was going to win.

He's earned it and it's well deserved.

Mikal Bridges?

Come on!

Bridges is just as deserving as Smart, or really close at least. No need to slander other teams players, IMO.

I’d guess either Bridges, Bam, or Rob win it next year.

Slander?

Smart has been known as a defensive specialist for years.

Suddenly a guy like Bridges becomes a candidate for DPOY because his team went to the finals?

That's why I don't think Bridges deserves to be DPOY.

He hasn't earned it, yet!

[Fierce1]

Would Bridges even be a finalist for DPOY if the Suns are a lottery team?

Last I checked Bridges never got a vote for DPOY from 2018 to 2021.

Smart has always gotten a vote for DPOY in the past.

Mikal Bridges must first prove that he can defend on an elite level year after year before he's considered a legit DPOY player.

[Slax]

5 of the first 6 DPOYs were guards. Only 2 of the last 34 -- Payton and Smart.

Smart, now 28 yo, was only 2 yrs old when Payton, then 27, won DPOY.

I've always been curious why that is. Has to be some sort of cultural change in how the media or league started to understand what good defense means and which players had more impact, right? I don't really think the style shift from the 80's to the mid 90's suddenly made big men way more impactful and guards way less impactful.

[radcot]

Can't remember any Celtics player (or non-Celtics for that matter) since Russell who has made more defensive plays that took my breath away than Marcus Smart.

[JJHondo17]

Who's DPOY??? Smartacus, that is all.

[Hal14]

Would Bridges even be a finalist for DPOY if the Suns are a lottery team?

Last I checked Bridges never got a vote for DPOY from 2018 to 2021.

Smart has always gotten a vote for DPOY in the past.

Mikal Bridges must first prove that he can defend on an elite level year after year before he's considered a legit DPOY player.

No.

It's defensive player of the YEAR. Year as in the 2021-2022 season.

Prior seasons have nothing to do with it.

Someone could be the worst defender in the league for 10 years in a row. But if in that season, they are the best defender, they should win it.

Maybe you should watch some more Suns games. Mikal is a damn good defender, has been his whole career - especially this season.

[La Flame]

Would Bridges even be a finalist for DPOY if the Suns are a lottery team?

Last I checked Bridges never got a vote for DPOY from 2018 to 2021.

Smart has always gotten a vote for DPOY in the past.

Mikal Bridges must first prove that he can defend on an elite level year after year before he's considered a legit DPOY player.

No.

It's defensive player of the YEAR. Year as in the 2021-2022 season.

Prior seasons have nothing to do with it.

Someone could be the worst defender in the league for 10 years in a row. But if in that season, they are the best defender, they should win it.

Maybe you should watch some more Suns games. Mikal is a damn good defender, has been his whole career - especially this season.

Smart is the anchor. That's the difference. Communication and leadership of the defense. Also previous years will pretty much always matter, even though they shouldn't

[sam_I_am]

Would Bridges even be a finalist for DPOY if the Suns are a lottery team?

Last I checked Bridges never got a vote for DPOY from 2018 to 2021.

Smart has always gotten a vote for DPOY in the past.

Mikal Bridges must first prove that he can defend on an elite level year after year before he's considered a legit DPOY player.

No.

It's defensive player of the YEAR. Year as in the 2021-2022 season.

Prior seasons have nothing to do with it.

Someone could be the worst defender in the league for 10 years in a row. But if in that season, they are the best defender, they should win it.

Maybe you should watch some more Suns games. Mikal is a damn good defender, has been his whole career - especially this season.

Smart is the anchor. That's the difference. Communication and leadership of the defense. Also previous years will pretty much always matter, even though they shouldn't

Mikal is deserving of consideration but Marcus is best defender on best defensive team in NBA. Not only is he best but he is the key cog. Having a PG like Marcus who can bother the Curry’s in this league and who can switch and defend Durant, Embiid and Giannis is what makes our team defense historically good. It’s pretty simple why he deserved it.

[Hal14]

I'm sure someone probably already posted this in here, but if anyone has a problem with Smart winning this award, send them this:

Watch on YouTube

[Shak_Celts]

They are saying Gobert was robbed. I really don't know why bigs get all the praise defensively when most of them have ONE job, defense, that is basically all the have to focus their energy on. Give me the guys who can match guys like Gobert defensively but also have real offensive responsibilities. Embiid and Giannis have to expend so much energy on offense and then defense too! Gobert mainly has to get putbacks, lobs, or spoonfed dunks. He barely has to waste any energy on offense. What he does offensively is what those other guys do, but they do 10x more!

I guess it's not that serious, but I firmly believe bigs get too much praise.
It's no coincidence that there are only a few players who are considered top-notch defenders and also top-notch offenders. The amount of energy that takes is massive! Two-way players are heralded for a reason (not Hauser types hehe)!

I'm not saying Gobert/bigs arent great defenders or not worthy of praise, I'm just confused as to why they get most of it.

[Marvel]

Marcus can check guys 1 - 5. Green is the only other guy i can think of that can do that. Cobra all day.

[zoyathedestroya]

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Some of the nerds on the bird app are salty about Smart winning -- Haralabob, Haberstroh, and Nate Duncan to name a few.

[Shak_Celts]

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Some of the nerds on the bird app are salty about Smart winning -- Haralabob, Haberstroh, and Nate Duncan to name a few.

It's as if they believe people are saying/thinking guys like Gobert are trash when they don't win it every year! Ugh! STATS, mats, bats or birthday hats, IDGAD, Smart is deserving and he's the winner!! It's ovah!! WE DO NOT CARE!!

[zoyathedestroya]

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[Fierce1]

Would Bridges even be a finalist for DPOY if the Suns are a lottery team?

Last I checked Bridges never got a vote for DPOY from 2018 to 2021.

Smart has always gotten a vote for DPOY in the past.

Mikal Bridges must first prove that he can defend on an elite level year after year before he's considered a legit DPOY player.

No.

It's defensive player of the YEAR. Year as in the 2021-2022 season.

Prior seasons have nothing to do with it.

Someone could be the worst defender in the league for 10 years in a row. But if in that season, they are the best defender, they should win it.

Maybe you should watch some more Suns games. Mikal is a damn good defender, has been his whole career - especially this season.

Smart is the anchor. That's the difference. Communication and leadership of the defense. Also previous years will pretty much always matter, even though they shouldn't

Exactly!

Bridges simply hasn't earned it yet.

[Feed Your Head]

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