Breaking: Marcus Smart Named DPOY

[Hsker4Life]

From an admittedly biased Suns fan who thinks Bridges should have won it, I am just happy to see a non-big won. And he’s obviously a tremendous defender.

[Godymas]

He isn’t even a better defender than Caruso

[Impuniti]

It should’ve been Bridges tbh.

100% this. Not even sure Smart was the best defensive player on his team this season, let alone in the NBA.

[letskissbro]

Lmao NBA awards are a joke. The fact that future generations of fans are gonna rely on them for forming their opinions on retired players is pitiful. Smart wasn't even in the conversation until he did a whole media tour campaigning for himself.

[IceColdCubano]

Bam should have won this or at least finished in the top 3. The was some serious snub.

[Nate505]

My homer opinion thinks it should have been Gobert, but I get the voter fatigue and the fact the Jazz just weren't as good this year as they were last year. My non-homer opinion says Bam, but I don't think Smart winning is some travesty or anything. He's really good.

[MarcusBrody]

Not an unworthy selection but I certainly don't consider him the best defender in the NBA.

Basically how I feel. I do think that Smart is a very good defender, but I don't think he is the most impactful defender in the NBA. Or really in the top 4 for this year to be honest.

I really think that Gobert was the best defender in the NBA this year. The difference in Utah's defense was just astronomical when he was there vs. when he wasn't. I know that people are essentially penalizing him for Utah's playoff flameouts, but if it's just this regular season I think he's the clear answer.

After him I'd put Draymond, Jarrett Allen, and Bam above Smart and then I'd have to think about others. I actually don't think Giannis was amazing defensively this year (though also very good).

Most impact metrics don't put Smart at the top of the Celtics roster, though he is the one who is most "visible" in his defending. Still, he is an excellent defender so I'm not too worried about this.

[Scoonie]

Marcus Smart is a huge disruptive force on defense, and he guards all 5 positions. In terms of overall defensive impact, he absolutely deserved to win.

[DaPessimist]

It's a team award, and the Celtics clearly had the best defense in the 2nd half of the season.

I think they should just change the award to Defensive Team of the Year.

[Wolfgang630]

Good for him

[mattg]

Smart is a very good defender, but he's not even the best defensive player on his own team this season so it's a pretty awful DPOY selection, arguably one of the worst in history.

[Big J]

This is just turrible. The only people who actually agree with this choice are Celts fans.

[Phystic]

Deserving guard wins DPOY for the first time since 1995 and half the posters in this thread are hating and saying he doesn’t deserve it.

Never change GB.

Smart is a helluva player and I of course haven't seen as much if him as Mikal but Mikal guards the the #1 option on a night in-night out basis unless that #1 option is a big center and even then he still matches up against them during the game. I don't even know if Smart is the best defensive player on his own team (Williams). I'm biased of course but I just feel if the players voted, we would have a different result. You have biased garbage media voting for these awards including homer Bill Simmons who of course will vote for his guys. This whole system needs to thrown out and left only to coaches and players.

Stats say otherwise.

Players shot .4% better than their FG% when guarded by Bridges.

Players shot .5% worse than their FG% when guarded by Smart.

Likewise, I’m not sure Bridges is the best defensive player on his own team either. Ayton held opponents to a lower FG% and defended more shots per game than Bridges, so we can honestly play the same game.

Personally, Gobert probably deserved it over both players, but considering he’s won it 3x, I’m sure voter fatigue played a factor. Certainly not complaining though.

I have no real issue with Smart winning necessarily, but Bridges plays more of a denial type of suffocating defense.

I'll be honest I don't do much with advanced stats, not sure if there is a stat that tracks that type of thing. Or PPG against him.

[metalinguss]

Of course Mikal wouldn't win. Watch Monty come in second for COTY too. Typical garbage media voting.

It's okay. The title is all we care about. This will only motivate Mikal and the Suns to lock it down even more this postseason.

If the title is all you care about, why bother reacting.

[Antinomy]

This wasn’t the year to give it to a guard.

We’ve seen guys like Tony Allen, Andre Iguodala & Jrue Holiday cause nightmares defensively & never get it.

Bridges played in every game & contributed heavily to a 64 win team.

Didn’t wanna give CP3 or Booker MVP.

Didn’t give Bridges DPOY.

Monty Williams probably loses to Jenkins or Spo.

Cam Johnson probably loses to Herro.

Never seen a more underrated 60+ win team.

[Joshyjess]

This is just turrible. The only people who actually agree with this choice are Celts fans.

Well, that and the people who voted for him. But keep on posting, your really funny!

[10DayContract]

Is he eligible for a max contract now?

[cl2117]

Love it. Great to see a guard win it, especially in today's NBA where it's so much harder to guard guys on the perimeter.

Understandable that people have other guys ahead of Smart, plenty of great options, but don't think it's fair to say undeserving. He's the best defender on the team with the best defense in the NBA. Guards 1-5, he's the QB of that defense even when he's not on the court and he's up there in all the "hustle" stats as well.

Any of Bridges/Gobert/Bam/J. Jackson were worthy as well, but love to see my guy get the nod.

[chilluminati]

I feel like there an argument for at least 2-3 other dudes each year. ALL of them deserve that award, the NBA and voters end up splitting hairs on the award because half of the voters probably just don't understand what they're voting for.

Congrats Marcus, big W for the guards.

[DroseReturnChi]

this is a joke right? after kyrie smoked him. smh give it to simmons.