Nuggets center Marcus Camby was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year today in yet another instance in which an average defender is honored for having gaudy blocked shot numbers.
As if no one learned anything from four-time (mediocre) Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace's departure from the Pistons to join the Bulls -- a move that didn't really affect the defense of either team -- Camby is now the latest poster child for highlight defense.
Yes, Camby can block shots and provide weak-side help to make opponents look bad. But when it comes to fundamental principles of defense -- such as, I don't know, defending the pick-and-roll, actually keeping his man from scoring and suitably protecting the paint -- Camby comes up short.
So when you watch the Spurs-Nuggets playoff series and wonder why Denver's team defensive numbers (opponent's PPG, rebounding differential, opponent's FG perc.) are so weak and why Nene -- and not the "league's best defender" -- is guarding Tim Duncan, well, it's because Camby isn't that much of a defensive player.
-- Joe Garza, Mavs Lite
Marcus Camby showcases his average perimeter defense. Could this be a pick-and-roll situation?
haha. great post. give us more editorial insight like this please!
Posted by: aaron | April 27, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Indeed sir. It just goes on to prove that most NBA writers are lazy sheep who go to NBA.com's statistics page and sort by blocks and steals and choose a DPOY based upon that. This would be why the travesty of Ben Wallace winning four DPOYs and Bruce Bowen winning none happened. But, then again, Bowen is a jerk, so forget him. Ha!
Posted by: Scooteronomy | April 27, 2007 at 04:21 PM
Great points ... Henry Abbott had some similar stuff on HoopsHype.com and points out many of the same things.
What does it say about the state of defense in the NBA if Camby is winning one of these awards? The guy has been an average defender throughout his career. Marion got robbed on this one because he is probably the only guy on the Suns who actually knows what defense is in a man-to-man situation.
Posted by: Tha Case Mob | April 27, 2007 at 05:31 PM