What are the chances that Horford gets DPOY?

atlantabbq99 · Post #1 » by **atlantabbq99** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:53 pm

I'm not going to put this up on the General Board, but...

He is currently anchoring the best defense in the NBA

DirtybirdGA · Post #2 » by **DirtybirdGA** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:56 pm

Maybe all defense, I was thinking Millsap may get on there though.

MaceCase · Post #3 » by **MaceCase** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:06 pm

From a C voters typically look for big block/rebound numbers but Al isn't too far off from Marc Gasol's numbers when he won it in 12'/13'. Still has to pick up the rebound numbers some though.

atlantabbq99 · Post #4 » by **atlantabbq99** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 7:40 pm

MaceCase wrote:From a C voters typically look for big block/rebound numbers but Al isn't too far off from Marc Gasol's numbers when he won it in 12'/13'. Still has to pick up the rebound numbers some though.

Also remember that when KG won DPOY, he was 20th in rebound, and 25th in blocks. His numbers were just average, but the Celtics had the #1 ranked defense that year. Same with Marc Gasol as you said.

MaceCase · Post #5 » by **MaceCase** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 8:18 pm

atlantabbq99 wrote:
MaceCase wrote:From a C voters typically look for big block/rebound numbers but Al isn't too far off from Marc Gasol's numbers when he won it in 12'/13'. Still has to pick up the rebound numbers some though.

Also remember that when KG won DPOY, he was 20th in rebound, and 25th in blocks. His numbers were just average, but the Celtics had the #1 ranked defense that year. Same with Marc Gasol as you said.

Well 9 rebounds and a block and a steal is still very respectable for a PF no matter where they were ranked overall that particular season especially given that KG already had a long defensive reputation preceding that point as evidenced by his 7 or so All Defense selections. 8 rebounds seemed like the bottom end of the spectrum for me when Gasol got it but Al isn't even hitting that mark on a per36 basis while also not having the steals to boost him in the boxscore categories like Marc and KG. This isn't even bringing in the advanced metrics into fold that put both Marc and KG in a different stratosphere from where Al is at this point. Without the reputation or the numbers this will be a hard sell, I don't think that simply being on the best defenses gets you the credit of being solely responsible for it. If Al can get his numbers up, which shouldn't be too hard considering he's at career lows, he becomes a stronger candidate.

azuresou1 · Post #6 » by **azuresou1** » Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:26 pm

0%

I love Al but he's not even a bigger defensive presence than Millsap

Post #7 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:59 am

azuresou1 wrote:0%

I love Al but he's not even a bigger defensive presence than Millsap

SLAM ONline agrees, making the case that it's Millsap, not Horford, who should be in consideration as the league's best defender:

Atlanta’s Thief
Paul Millsap is quietly putting together one of the most impressive defensive seasons in the NBA.

Paul Millsap drew praise a year ago for stretching opposing defenses with his three-point shooting...Meanwhile, Millsap has quietly put together one of the most impressive defensive seasons of anyone in the NBA this year.

Through Atlanta’s first 42 games, Millsap ranks second in the League in defensive win shares behind only Draymond Green. He also boasts the NBA’s fourth-best individual defensive rating of 98.3.

Simply put, the nine-year pro is a huge reason for Atlanta’s third-ranked defense, which has largely helped the Hawks surge to the top spot in the Eastern Conference...

“He does a lot of things. I think his hands and his instincts are just really unique. He gets deflections; he gets steals within our principles, within our basic fundamental defensive scheme,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said...

Millsap has used those instincts to swipe the eighth most steals (71) of any player in the NBA this season. He’s the most efficient frontcourt thief in the league.

Millsap is a terror to opposing ball handlers when he’s helping on pick-and-rolls.

If he finds himself on the strong side of the screen, he has the speed and size to both close off the shooter in the corner and threaten to bump the rolling big man.

Millsap has a legit shot at 2nd team All Defense this year.

jackwindham · Post #8 » by **jackwindham** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:31 am

Casual fans know about the rise of the Hawks, but all they ever talk about is the offense. Nice to hear the defense being mentioned for a change.

Post #9 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:07 am

jackwindham wrote:Casual fans know about the rise of the Hawks, but all they ever talk about is the offense. Nice to hear the defense being mentioned for a change.

Indeed. As a long time Die Hard Fan, it's the defense that has me MOST excited. The improvements on that side of the ball are the reason I think we might actually be able to stick around in the postseason for more than a few weeks.