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NBA Roundtable: 2017-18 award predictions, superlatives

By Nicholas Gonzalez

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was converted to black and white) Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was converted to black and white) Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 2: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with his player Rudy Gobert #27 in the first half of their preseason game against the Sydney Kings at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 2: Head coach Quin Snyder of the Utah Jazz talks with his player Rudy Gobert #27 in the first half of their preseason game against the Sydney Kings at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 2, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year award pick…

Gonzalez: Kawhi Leonard – I was originally going to have Rudy Gobert finally win it, but then I had second thoughts. The reason for the latter is because losing Hayward who is a solid perimeter defender and replacing him with Ingles who isn’t, mean Gobert will have bigger shoes to fill down low. So Kawhi Leonard takes DPOY, as that is your safest bet. I don’t think I need to do crazy explaining, Leonard is the best out and out defender in the NBA. He’s just that good. This won’t be the last time he wins the award either.

Dunn: Rudy Gobert. Draymond Green was great, but Gobert should have won this award last season as well. The Utah big man anchors the best defense in the league and is the association’s premier rim protector. The Jazz are officially Gobert’s team now, and he’s primed for his best pro season yet. Green and a healthy Kawhi Leonard pose the biggest threat to Gobert earning the hardware.

Macri: Since picking Rudy Gobert is too easy given Kawhi’s injury issues, let’s go outside the box: Jaylen Brown. This preseason, he’s been playing defense like he’s in an altered version of the movie SPEED, and if he gets more than six inches away from the man he’s guarding, he explodes. Brown’s going to start and will guard the opposing team’s best wing every night. That might be enough to overcome the lack of counting stats.

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