NBA Awards if Season is Cancelled: How Many for the New Orleans Pelicans?

Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

This is another award that could go several ways.

You have Giannis in Milwaukee leading his team to the best defensive rating in the league.

You have that tall guy in Utah who I don’t really feel like writing about to be honest.

You have Ben Simmons leading the league in steals for Philly and redefining the term “defensive flexibility.”

Even the New Orleans Pelicans’ Jrue Holiday could garner some votes, as he is top-ten in steals and often tasked with playing lockdown defense on the other team’s best player.

It’s a crowded field, but Anthony Davis is the choice if the season were to end today.

Davis is third in blocks, 15th in steals and has led the Lakers to the second best defensive rating in the league overall in the much tougher Western Conference.

The Lakers are elite defensively because of the versatility of of Davis and teammate LeBron.

The Lakers can switch on almost anyone, allowing them to stifle the pick-and-roll and generally make it difficult to get open perimeter looks.

This is largely because of Davis’ ability to guard just about anyone.

The Lakers have become the league’s best rim protectors and swatted a record 20 shots against Detroit this season, with Davis accounting for eight of them.

With Draymond Green and Kawhi Leonard missing time with injuries and load management, and Gobert not likely to get any love from anyone, this award is Davis’ if the season ended today.