2017-18 NBA award predictions: Celtics clean up; James Harden gets MVP

NBA Boston Celtics Brad Stevens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
NBA Boston Celtics Brad Stevens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Defensive Player of the Year

Winner: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers 

This award is really up for grabs this season, as Kawhi Leonard hasn’t been healthy, and both
Andre Roberson and Rudy Gobert have missed a large chunk of the season due to injury.

In a season filled with high scoring and efficient offenses, one thing has remained sturdy on the
defensive end: Joel Embiid is a force down low. Embiid is averaging an impressive 1.8 blocks
per game, but this doesn’t even begin to paint a picture of his defensive impact. Embiid is top 5
in defensive rating among starters, as well as sixth in defensive win shares.

Thanks to Embiid, the Sixers are third in the nba in opponent field goal percentage in the paint, and Embiid greatly contributes to their fourth rated total defense. Embiid has been the best (healthy) defender in the nba this season, and his defensive potential is scary.

Runner Up: Al Horford