Filed under: Bucks, Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, NBA Awards, Thunder
The first time the Milwaukee Bucks played the Orlando Magic this season, center Andrew Bogut had 31 points and 18 rebounds, dominating the game from start to finish.The second time on Wednesday night, he had six points and seven rebounds, fouling out in frustration. The difference wasn't his play. The difference was the defense against him, specifically the guy playing opposite him.
Dwight Howard didn't play the first time -- and it made all the difference.
There is a reason Howard is the early favorite to win his third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award.
"There is no one in the league who has a bigger impact on a game than Dwight,'' crowed Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. "He anchors everything we do.''
Howard's dominance -- he has led the NBA in both blocked shots and rebounding the past two seasons -- has allowed Van Gundy to turn the Magic into one of the league's best defensive teams, even with a roster filled with below-average defensive players.
"We don't have a whole lot of answers for him (Howard),'' said Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles. "But nobody else does, either.''
Although perimeter players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James can smother opponents, the award has been dominated by rebounders and shot blockers, which is something that Howard still does. Only Ron Artest (2004) and Gary Payton (1996) have won the award from outside the paint in the last 20 years.
Let's look at the early contenders for the award in 2011. (Stats are updated through Wednesday night's games. Click the player's name to see his full stat-line.)
Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/06/nba-defensive-player-of-the-year-dwight-howard/
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