NBA SIMS LEAGUE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH - Week 4
| PLAYER | TEAM | WHY | STATS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | PER 40.24 |  Western 10-9 | Defensive player of the year time and Wemby is right up there as you would expect. The man is averaging 18 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game with his incredible length and athleticism, and is basically a one man show on the court no matter who else you put round him. But will he play enough games to qualify for the award by the end of the year? | 12.7 DREB 2.5 STL 3.6 BLK +19.1 |
 | PER 35.63 |  Eastern 16-4 | When you think of defence, KD doesn't normally jump to mind, but he is averaging a well respected 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game and using his length on any opponent he's tasked to defend. He's also propelling the Knicks to a top record, but you'd normally suggest he's going about that on the other end more than defensively. | 5.6 DREB 1.2 STL 1.2 BLK +17.0 |
 | PER 32.95 |  Eastern 9-12 | Lebron has only played one week, but he's been hoisted straight into this ranking, as long as he too plays enough games down the stretch. He opened with 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2.3 blocks per game right off the bat and changed the dynamic of the Wizards on both ends of the court straight away. If Wemby can't go, then maybe Lebron does, but he too is already on thin games played ice. | 7.6 DREB 1.4 STL 1.8 BLK +13.4 |
 | PER 32.36 |  Western 13-5 | Giannis is always here, but you have to say his statistical output has taken a hit this year when you look back over the past. `0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.7 blocks and maybe this is because he's now playing SF and not PF which used to put him at the coal face? The positional change is likely to cost him the award this season, even if it's the best thing for the Spurs. | 8.0 DREB 1.1 STL 1.6 BLK +22.7 |
 | PER 30.46 | Western 10-9 | Kawhi, like so many, likely won't hit the games required threshold again this year, but for now we can talk about his elite defensive impact that he brings alongside his scoring. When he plays, he's one of the best 2way talents in the game and 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block from the SF spot it good sledding. | 5.9 DREB 2.0 STL 0.8 BLK -4.5 |
 | PER 29.68 |  Eastern 10-11 | Towns burst onto the scene last year suddenly showing an array of defensive stats that previously weren't a thing for the offensive big man. He's slowly becoming an anchor though, and unlike others on this list, he is playing games and definitely on track to hit the threshold required to win. 13 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.7 blocks per game are great numbers, too, so he'd still be deserving even if others are ruled out. | 10.4 DREB 1.9 STL 1.7 BLK +6.3 |
 | PER 29.19 |  Western 13-7 | The Joker definitely isn't someone you'd normally suggest is in the top defenders in the league, but then he is big and his IQ is off the charts, so he always knows where to put himself even if he's not the most gifted athletically. That said, he's averaging 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.3 blocks this year which is more than warranting being on this list and he's a near lock to play the games required if you look at current health and historical injury data. | 10.2 DREB 2.1 STL 1.4 BLK +3.8 |
 | PER 26.71 |  Eastern 12-8 | Like the Joker and KD, Lauri definitely doesn't come up in conversation when you think about the best defenders in the league but here he is and it's hard to argue against. His superior size and length see him nabbing 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1.2 blocks per game which puts him right up there really, but maybe less impact overall when isolated and that might end up counting for something. However, he's healthy. | 8.2 DREB 2.0 STL 1.3 BLK +4.8 |
 | PER 26.53 |  Western 11-7 | Embiid has only suited up for a single week this season but he's on this list until he can't be. 12 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game in his lone week and he's a difference maker if he plays. But that's a very big IF. | 10.9 DREB 1.5 STL 1.0 BLK +0.6 |
 | PER 22.26 |  Western 10-9 | Williams is always going to struggle to put a full season on his body but this year he's shown to be one of, if not THE premier glitchy big men going round and is propelling unexpected winning numbers for the Mavs on the back of it. 16 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game when he's playing, but he too might struggle to meet the games played limit down the stretch. | 12.0 DREB 1.6 STL 1.7 BLK +4.9 |
| Comments (3) | |||
| Joshua 12/19 08:01 am | Lebron doing it all at age 40 | ||
| Dylan 12/18 11:28 pm | Lets go BIG PURR | ||
| Nels 12/17 05:17 am | Gobert deserves a mention over Giannis | ||