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[PhoSita]

We've all seen what Avery has done for this team so far this year.  Since he's come back, the way this team has played defense has changed drastically across the board. 

It's hard to escape the conclusion that he has single-handedly had a huge effect, either in terms of his individual performance or as a trickle-down, everybody-in-their-right-place sort of way, on the play of this team.

Having missed the first third of the season or so, I would not expect Avery to really challenge for any major awards.  But given the way that Avery plays defense and the way we have seen that he can spur an entire team to play elite, swarming, intense, constant defense with unparalleled ball pressure, is there any reason to think he might one day make a serious case for the DPOY?  Maybe not win it over some prolific shot-blocking big (e.g. Ibaka, who actually has less of an impact defensively), but get a good number of votes at least?

Keep in mind our own Rajon Rondo, with his inconsistency on defense, and former Celtic Tony Allen, have both received a significant number of DPOY votes in the past (Rondo actually came in second once, I believe).

[IndeedProceed]

If the Celtics can sustain their pace since AB got back, its a possibility.

But at least in the recent past, its been all about the big fellas, and Serge Illblockya and Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah are all still playing.

Heck, Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant are also playing excellent defense this year.

Honestly Bradley, for all the wonder we know he brings there, is a way long shot.

[mkogav]

I believe Larry Sander will have something to say about that.

[Roy H.]

It's going to be hard for him to win, because as you suggested, DPOY usually goes to a big man.  Ron Artest (2004) was the last non-big to win, and the last time a guard won was in 1996 (Gary Payton).

I do think he can pick up some votes, though.  Danny called Bradley's defensive impact "KG-like", and while that's high praise, it also appears to be at least somewhat accurate in the team-wide impact.

[Who]

I think it's a two horse race between Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler right now.

[Snakehead]

AB is a little tough because KG should also be in the running on his own team.

But I would just love to see him get all-NBA defense first team.

It's going to be hard for him to win, because as you suggested, DPOY usually goes to a big man.  Ron Artest (2004) was the last non-big to win, and the last time a guard won was in 1996 (Gary Payton).

I do think he can pick up some votes, though.  Danny called Bradley's defensive impact "KG-like", and while that's high praise, it also appears to be at least somewhat accurate in the team-wide impact.

Good stats.  Crazy a guard hasn't won in that long.

[BballTim]

We've all seen what Avery has done for this team so far this year.  Since he's come back, the way this team has played defense has changed drastically across the board. 

It's hard to escape the conclusion that he has single-handedly had a huge effect, either in terms of his individual performance or as a trickle-down, everybody-in-their-right-place sort of way, on the play of this team.

 The defense has been better since Avery's been back but the team's defensive improvement began in late November/early December.

[LooseCannon]

Based on past voting, it would not be shocking to have him finish somewhere between 10th and 15th in DPOY voting, perhaps with one voter giving him a first-place vote.

[CelticG1]

He would have to abuse some stars defensively in my mind too.

Do coaches vote on this? If so that could help.

I don't think he has a great chance but he passes the eye test in flying colors and we've seen dramatic team improvement whether coincidence or not.

I bet in the end advanced stats could be somewhat in his favor but he isn't a household name yet which will def hurt him.

He def could change that in the coming years tho.

[mctyson]

If he continues to play the way he is playing, and the C's continue to hold teams to around 90 points a game, and the C's keep winning, and he is NOT on the All-NBA Defensive 1st Team...that's when you know the voting is corrupt.

[pearljammer10]

If he continues to play the way he is playing, and the C's continue to hold teams to around 90 points a game, and the C's keep winning, and he is NOT on the All-NBA Defensive 1st Team...that's when you know the voting is corrupt.

Haha. I bet rondo makes it over Bradley.

[kozlodoev]

I think it's a two horse race between Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler right now.

If this award is to mean something, Noah should win by a landslide.

Zero chance that Bradley could win it this season with missing half the games due to injury. Does he stand a chance in future years? Maybe. But for a guard who doesn't rack up the steals, I wouldn't be holding my breath. And that's ok.

[OsirusCeltics]

Between Avery Bradley and Chris Paul

[RyNye]

The problem is that the voters for these awards are too concerned with flashy numbers, like blocks or steals per game. Although getting a lot of blocks or steals CAN be a good sign of good defense, it doesn't mean it always IS.

I mean, it is one thing if you get 3 blocks per game, and another if you get 3 blocks and 5 fouls per game. Look at players like Stiemsma, last year, who was good at blocking shots, but overall was not a great defensive force. Fab Melo is another example of this, though he is still raw and developing.

So the most deserving player for DPOY will probably never win as long as Ibaka is grabbing headlines with his shot-blocking, even if the rest of his defense is still pretty mediocre.

At the moment, the players who deserve it most are KG (for the first 1/3rd of this season, we were the league's best defense with him on the floor, and the league's worst with him off of it; that ALONE should, in a just world, make him automatic DPOY), Tim Duncan, and Tyson Chandler. Honorable mentions to Roy Hibbert, Tony Allen, and Avery Bradley.

[Snakehead]

The problem is that the voters for these awards are too concerned with flashy numbers, like blocks or steals per game. Although getting a lot of blocks or steals CAN be a good sign of good defense, it doesn't mean it always IS.

I mean, it is one thing if you get 3 blocks per game, and another if you get 3 blocks and 5 fouls per game. Look at players like Stiemsma, last year, who was good at blocking shots, but overall was not a great defensive force. Fab Melo is another example of this, though he is still raw and developing.

So the most deserving player for DPOY will probably never win as long as Ibaka is grabbing headlines with his shot-blocking, even if the rest of his defense is still pretty mediocre.

At the moment, the players who deserve it most are KG (for the first 1/3rd of this season, we were the league's best defense with him on the floor, and the league's worst with him off of it; that ALONE should, in a just world, make him automatic DPOY), Tim Duncan, and Tyson Chandler. Honorable mentions to Roy Hibbert, Tony Allen, and Avery Bradley.

You are right on here.

The best shot blocker is the best defender to the voters, which just isn't the case.

KG was a better defender than Ibaka but didn't have the blocks.