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NBA.com ranks Warriors’ Draymond Green as top candidate for DPOY

By Nathan Beighle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on December 04, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on December 04, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA this season, and they’ve only been able to dominate with such ease because of their top-tier defense.

Golden State has the best defensive rating in the NBA, and it’s not even particularly close. A side of the ball in which Draymond Green is the clear leader of, their defense has hit historic levels this season. It’s easy to see why Green is so respected in the league.

Draymond Green is the only player in the NBA that can easily take on all five positions, and the Warriors forward is a frontrunner for DPOY.

Warriors fanbase is shown his determination and grit on almost a daily basis. Formerly a second-round pick, Green already has a Defensive Player of the Year on his resume, and he’ll look to add another this season.

As a team, the Warriors’ defensive rating sits at 101.2. Another top contender for the honor is Rudy Gobert. His Jazz team currently has the 6th-best defensive rating. They’re at 106.4 right now.

Individually, Green isn’t necessarily having one of his best seasons, but that certainly doesn’t mean the impact isn’t there. The 6-foot-6 Green is averaging 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He’s been dominant defensively so far this season.

It’s more so about how he can impact the team’s chemistry and get them into positions along with his stellar individual defense. Ultimately, Green’s numbers won’t be up there with players like Anthony Davis or Gobert. He’s just not the rim protector that those two are.

Although the numbers may not show Green, the team figures do and so does the clear impact he has defensively. NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner agrees as he has Green atop his “Defensive Player Ladder.”

"He’s not a rim protector, nor is he a lockdown on-ball defender. You won’t find Green ranking high among the usual defensive stats such as steals, blocks, contested shots, deflections, loose balls recovered or charges drawn. But Golden State’s status as the league’s stingiest team makes the case for Green — when coach Steve Kerr or teammates otherwise aren’t — as the NBA’s best defensive player. His recent sitdowns to dissect his approach with NBA TV’s Dennis Scott and ESPN/ABC’s Doris Burke were illuminating — he’s almost like the rover in vintage hockey or short centerfielder in softball in taking overall responsibility for messing up the other guys’ attacks. And while Green is a six-time All-Defense pick and the 2017 DPOY, consider this improvement: the Warriors had a defensive rating under 100 in 12 of their first 30 games this season compared to 11 times in 72 games in 2020-21."

Green has transcended the Warriors to the next level, and there should be good reason to believe he’s the most impactful defender in the NBA.

Next. Top 30 Golden State Warriors players in franchise history. dark

If the Warriors league-best defense continues, just as voters do with the Most Valuable Player and how team success impacts that award, the DPOY honor should be Green’s to lose.

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