Prior to tipping off the Golden State Warriors‘ second round series against the Utah Jazz, forward Draymond Green was put under the limelight again, discussing his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy against one of the frontrunners in the race — Jazz center Rudy Gobert.
“I can’t play defense against his defense,” said a nonchalant Green, according to Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News. “It don’t matter.”
Gobert and Green are dead-locked with the best individual defensive rating in the NBA this season (98.9). The Stifle Tower leads the league in blocks with 2.6 per game and Green tops the NBA charts with 2.06 steals per game.
The Jazz center is an undeniable presence around the rim, not only swatting a career-high 214 blocks, but affecting shots with his activity and zone denial.
Green's best claim for the award rests in his unique ability to defend positions one through five competently, as well as being able to turn a lockdown switch and make key defensive contributions down the stretch of a game.
Utah's brawn will present a different challenge for the Warriors this series, switching from defending a dynamic backcourt to a stand-and-bang inside game with plenty of outside shooters that can knock them down in a consistent basis if left open.
Golden State's shot-making will be yet another phase that the Jazz will need to endure throughout the series, with the Warriors capable of going on long runs fueled by their defense.
Both teams will be highly dependent on their defensive MVPs to come through for them during this best-of-seven series, which will make in-game and game-to-game adjustments all that much more interesting to watch.
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