This year Kawhi Leonard, the starting small forward for the San Antonio Spurs, won the Defensive Player of the year award. His defensive statistical averages consisted of 2.3 steals , 7.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks a game. Don't get me wrong those are great stats and he had a career season, but how do they compare to LA Clippers center Deandre Jordan's?
Deandre Jordan's defensive stats this season were 1 steal, 15 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game. I don't know about you but when I compare those two guys numbers Jordan's numbers jump out to me. Especially the rebounds, but I know what your thinking what do rebounds have to do with defence? One of the most important part of defence is finishing the defensive possession and grabbing the basketball so the offensive team doesn't have multiple chances to score. Deandre Jordan is the best in the league at finishing the defensive possession by 1.5 rebounds. This may not be a glamorous statistic but without these guys to grab all the boards there would be no winning games. And there is no question than Jordan does this better than Leonard.
Another point is that Deandre is on a team with a better record than Kawhi. This may not totally have to do with defence or these players sole impact but defence is a big part of winning. And since the LA Clippers have a better record it can be assumed that Clippers have better defence, and Jordan fuelling the defensive end with his blocks and just his presence in the paint changes how a team plays. Almost like the team is intimidated. I see Deandre do this to the offensive team but I don't see Kawhi doing this game in and game out, all day everyday. When Deandre Jordan is on the court he is responsible for 57% of his teams blocks.... That is astounding! That is more than half of his teams blocks, if the numbers don't back it up I don't know what does. While Jordan is sending back 57% of shots, Leonard is only sending back 18% of shots. That means Jordan is sending back 39% more shots than Kawhi. Just to put in perspective Jordan sends back a percentage of shots that adds up to Leonard's steal percentage of 39% and block percentage of 18%.
In my mind Deandre Jordan was the obvious defensive player of the year, rather than Kawhi Leonard. As Doc Rivers said (coach of the LA Clippers) " If anybody else gets the award, we need to have an investigation." Which I agree with completely, Deandre Jordan was robbed.
Deandre Jordan's defensive stats this season were 1 steal, 15 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a game. I don't know about you but when I compare those two guys numbers Jordan's numbers jump out to me. Especially the rebounds, but I know what your thinking what do rebounds have to do with defence? One of the most important part of defence is finishing the defensive possession and grabbing the basketball so the offensive team doesn't have multiple chances to score. Deandre Jordan is the best in the league at finishing the defensive possession by 1.5 rebounds. This may not be a glamorous statistic but without these guys to grab all the boards there would be no winning games. And there is no question than Jordan does this better than Leonard.
Another point is that Deandre is on a team with a better record than Kawhi. This may not totally have to do with defence or these players sole impact but defence is a big part of winning. And since the LA Clippers have a better record it can be assumed that Clippers have better defence, and Jordan fuelling the defensive end with his blocks and just his presence in the paint changes how a team plays. Almost like the team is intimidated. I see Deandre do this to the offensive team but I don't see Kawhi doing this game in and game out, all day everyday. When Deandre Jordan is on the court he is responsible for 57% of his teams blocks.... That is astounding! That is more than half of his teams blocks, if the numbers don't back it up I don't know what does. While Jordan is sending back 57% of shots, Leonard is only sending back 18% of shots. That means Jordan is sending back 39% more shots than Kawhi. Just to put in perspective Jordan sends back a percentage of shots that adds up to Leonard's steal percentage of 39% and block percentage of 18%.
In my mind Deandre Jordan was the obvious defensive player of the year, rather than Kawhi Leonard. As Doc Rivers said (coach of the LA Clippers) " If anybody else gets the award, we need to have an investigation." Which I agree with completely, Deandre Jordan was robbed.