The Boston Celtics are the best defensive team in the league, but none of their players are into the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Marcus Smart and Rob Williams are one of the best defensive duos in the league. With Smart on the floor, Boston are just allowing 104.2 points per 100 possessions for a net rating of plus-9.0.
Rob Williams also has a huge impact on the Celtics’ defensive scheme with a plus-8.6 net rating and a 104.2 Def Rtg when the dynamic big is taking the floor.
After the Celtics’ 114-103 victory over Detroit, Smart was asked about the lack of discussion around the potential of DPOY candidacy for him and Williams.
“For us to not even be talked about in the discussion — let alone winning it — I think that’s BS,” Smart said, per Mass Live.
“We all know it: It’s a popularity contest. You’ve got me and Rob, and we’re not even in discussion for it on the best defensive team in the league.”
Smart and Williams have stayed on the court together for 1,219 minutes this season with the Celtics dominating on both ends of the floor.
More specifically, the Celtics are on a plus-11.8 net rating when Smart and Williams are playing together. They only allow their opponents to score 101.6 points per 100 possessions when they are taking the floor.
“I don’t see why it’s so hard for a guard to win it,” Smart said. “We talk about what bigs do — I’m not taking anything away from bigs.” Smart claimed. “Most of the time we’re making it so tough that by the time he gets to him the big, all you’ve got to do is send him the other way.”
The last guard to win the award was Gary Payton back in the 1995-96 season. Since 1982, only four guards won the award with Sidney Moncrief having two and Michael Jordan having one. Alvin Robertson and Michael Cooper were the other two guards who won.
In the last five seasons, Rudy Gobert was the recipient of the award three times. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Draymond Green claimed the DPOY award in 2019 and 2017, respectively.
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