2011-2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Odds and Props – Favorites, Contenders and Sleepers to Win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year: For the last three years, the Defensive Player of the Year award has been owned by Orlando’s Dwight Howard. If he can take home the honor one more time, he will tie Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo for the most in NBA history. Historically, big men and post players have dominated the voting. Ron Artest in 2003-04 was the last player that spent some time at the guard position to win the award, and Gary Payton in 1995-96 was the last true guard to pick up the honor.
2012 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Favorites and Contenders
- Dwight Howard, Center, Orlando Magic
Considering he has the award three years in a row, it’s impossible not to make Howard the frontrunner again this season. He ranked second in the NBA with 10.1 defensive rebounds per game and second in blocks per game at 2.4. He also chipped in more than a steal per game. Not to mention the fact that there is no more dominating and disrupting presence in the paint than Howard. His athleticism and leaping ability are unmatched by a player with his size, and he won’t stop policing the middle any time soon. It is going to take a special season for someone to dethrone Howard.
- Serge Ibaka, Power Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
He didn’t start seeing serious minutes until after the All-Star break, but Ibaka still led the NBA with 198 blocks last season. He was tied for second on a per game basis with 2.4 a contest, and this year, he is looking at an expanded role. As the full-time starting power forward from the start of the year, Ibaka’s rebound total should take a major jump from last season’s average of 7.6. If he can couple a bolstered rebound total with another dominating season blocking shots, Ibaka could walk away with the Defensive Player of the Year hardware.
- Kevin Garnett, Power Forward, Boston Celtics
Garnett keeps getting older, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down on the defensive end. On paper, he averages nearly eight rebounds to go along with 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. More importantly, he is the main reason the Boston Celtics had the top-ranked scoring defense last season and the third-best defense in terms of opponent field goal percentage. Garnett is like a middle linebacker, communicating and directing his teammates on the defensive end. He may not wow on the stat sheet, but the results speak for themselves. He always finishes in the top five for the Defensive Player of the Year voting, and that isn’t likely to change this season.
- Tony Allen, Guard/Forward, Memphis Grizzlies
When the Memphis Grizzlies made their surprising playoff run last season, Allen finally got a chance to showcase his defensive skills to the mainstream. He may just be the best perimeter defender in the NBA, and he goes head-to-head with the opponent’s top scorer every single game. His combination of size, speed and strength allows him the matchup with guards like Chris Paul and forwards like Kevin Durant. Allen averaged a respectable 1.8 steals per game last season, but as mainly an on-ball defender of the best players in the NBA, it is going to be tough for Allen to have the numbers to win Defensive Player of the Year. That being said, the voters won’t forget about him completely as long as he is checking the league’s best scorers.
- Andrew Bogut, Center, Milwaukee Bucks
First and foremost, Bogut needs to stay healthy an entire year in order to win the award. However, he is a defensive stud when he is one the court, Bogut led the NBA with 2.7 blocks per game last season and ranked fourth at 8.1 defensive rebounds per game. He already has numbers that warrant serious Defensive Player of the Year consideration, but he isn’t going to get the nod when he is missing 20-plus games. Bogut should be fully recovered from a nasty arm injury, and if he avoids the injury bug this season, he has the talent to win the award this year.
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