Magic's Dwight Howard repeats as DPOY, LeBron finishes 4th

by John Bena (aka CavsBlogger) on Apr 20, 2010 2:02 PM CDT in Cleveland Cavaliers in the News

Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard was named the 2010 NBA Defensive Player of the Year today, successfully defending an honor he won for the first time last season.

Howard became the first player in NBA History to lead the League in Blocks and Rebounds in the same season twice, doing it in back-to-back years.

Howard averaged 13.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season, powering the Magic to the league's second-best record behind Cleveland. Only Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ben Wallace each led the NBA in those categories once in the same season.

LeBron James, who finished 2nd to Howard last season, was 4th this time around. Atlanta's Josh Smith was 2nd, with Charlotte's Gerald Wallace finished 3rd.

James received 4 first-place votes.

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Say what you want about Howard

He’s earned it

by WaveOcean on Apr 20, 2010 2:13 PM CDT reply actions

Congrats Dwight!

by talonk on Apr 20, 2010 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

It seems

Captain Obvious has struck again.

O Hai Thar!

Addicted to 4chan/chan4chan. Seeking halp.

chan4chan + Cavaliers basketball > Girls + Smex

by Lex L. on Apr 20, 2010 6:51 PM CDT reply actions

What the hell is wrong with these voters?

Lebron is an ok offensive player but is by no means anything resembling a good defensive player. Yeah he gets from behind blocks every once in awhile but he gets beat all the time off of the dribble. I would say Andy V. is a million times better defensive player.

The love affair these voters have with trying to hype up LeBron as a so called “complete” player makes me want to puke!

by ap3604 on Apr 20, 2010 7:21 PM CDT reply actions

‘injury’ guy comes up with another stellar addition to the site.

It would seem to me, that you feel threatened by the Eric Ghiaciuc acquisition.

by johnnyphoenix on Apr 20, 2010 8:19 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

maybe if you don’t respond to him he will go away.

I teach good life choices. That’s why I almost didn’t graduate High School.

by bross09 on Apr 21, 2010 12:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Hey johnnyphoenix

Sorry about this comment and the injury thread. I guess I just hate the hype the media gives LeBron but I learned alot of different ideas today that helped put things in perspective. I’ll try to be smarter in my comments from now on =]

by ap3604 on Apr 21, 2010 2:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Edit

By “this comment” I meant “my above comment”

by ap3604 on Apr 21, 2010 2:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I think that’s a fair result. I cant see anyone arguing against giving DPOY to Dwight. He’s the DPOY as clearly as Lebron is the MVP.

by CavsLebronFan on Apr 20, 2010 11:43 PM CDT reply actions

Have to agree with that.

If they had a stat for “changed direction of shot” or “made opponent miss shot” he would have been unanimous.
It is going to be a stellar series between Orlando and Cleveland this year.

"Is it normal to wake up in the morning in a sweat because you can't wait to beat another human's guts out?"
Joe Kapp

by lifelongvike on Apr 21, 2010 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Fair Result...

but depends on your definition of what makes a great defensive player. If its a guy that camps down in close to the basket and uses his great height and leaping ability to grab rebounds and blocks shots, then he’s your guy.

But if your talking about someone that can shut down a great perimeter player and/or the opposing teams best shooter, or chase down and block shots from behind no matter their size and speed, then your answer might be different.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Apr 21, 2010 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

Not to disagree with you, but Howard’s role is to camp in the paint, defend and rebound. He does this extremely well.

LeBron can play amazing one on one defense, but he doesn’t do it for the full 28 minutes he plays. He’ll do lock down on a few select plays (usually end of quarters/games), but he does not defend the whole game ala Artest/Jordan. He does however make incredible blocks and help defense (steals) when he is not playing lock-down. For that reason alone he deserves 1st team, but I still believe Dwight is the DPOY.

by talonk on Apr 21, 2010 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Howard knows his role and plays it well. No doubt that he effects games and game planning. However, he is not asked to play the perimeter and would not be effective if he was.

Guys like Captain Jack, G Wallace, Artest, LeBron etc. often chase the other teams best scorers and may, depending on the individual game, effect it defensively just as much as an “interior” player. There is, after all, more to defense than blocked shots and rebounds. Steals are important and you could argue that a blocked or altered 3 pt. shot is “better” than a block at the rim. No?

If you need to defend Gasol, Howard is your man. If you need to defend Kobe or Ray Allen, he is not.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Apr 21, 2010 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh..and I can’t help but remembering LeBron’s block of Dwights shot in the first Olrando game this year. The DPOY didn’t know what hit him.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Apr 21, 2010 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Steals are important and you could argue that a blocked or altered 3 pt. shot is "better" than a block at the rim. No?

No, altering interior shots and forcing the opposition to miss high percentage shots is much better. If they make the the 3, tip of the cap, but giving up no easy baskets is much better.

by rockemsockem on Apr 21, 2010 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Look. Defensive played on the perimeter can be just as important, if not more so, than defense around the rim. In the NBA, you better be able to defend the 3 pointer or do you not remember the Orlando series last spring?

Defense around the rim may be important against certain teams but I think it depends on whom you are playing. Generally, to say one is more important than the other as a blanket statement makes little sense.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Apr 22, 2010 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I see

where you are coming from, and I agree with you on certain points, but in my mind Dwight Howard is still DPOY.

I agree that you can certainly die to the three, you will always die if your opponent is getting high quality looks at the rim. Only good 3pt shooting teams will kill you from the perimeter, EVERY team will kill you if you give them quality shot selection. Also, the main reason for Orlando shooting the three so well is the fact that their #1 man to shut down plays in the post, allowing for quality 3pt looks. If you focus on the Orlando perimeter players and let Dwight kill you in the post, you lose by more points, which is why teams still focus on Dwight.

by Joe Bills on Apr 22, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I am also fine with him getting DPOY

Just saying that it is myopic to only consider the number of rebounds and blocks around rim as the sole criteria for the award. He may win it every year for a long time.

I'm Polish...what's your excuse?

by Juannieboy on Apr 22, 2010 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

In order to win championships, it is important to have a big man who not only rebounds and blocks shots to teammates (instead of knocking them out of bounds), but to also have a defender who guards the opponent’s best offensive player, whether that be below or beyond the 3 point line…and no one will ever do that better than Russell and Havlicek…

by BirthTimes on Apr 22, 2010 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions