Three Defensive Player Award and counting for Superman

Magic center, Dwight Howard, now won an NBA record three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year Award. As everyone is expecting that, it had me thinking, is he really dominant defensively? At 6-foot-11, Superman is a freak with his physique and leaping ability. No one will dare enter the shaded area when he is there manning it.

Here's my problem, Dwight Howard doesn't lead the league in any of the defensive "stats."  He ranked second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and fourth in blocked shots (2.38 bpg). The Orlando Magic as a whole only ranked third in defensive efficiency. He does however lead the NBA with 66 double-doubles.

Its really hard to quantify defense because of the lack of real stats as compared with offense. Defense I think is mostly subjective, the way we see the defensive dominance on court.


My point is, D12 spends most of the game under the basket guarding the other big men, and center nowadays, are really just there because of their size and not their basketball skills. (I missed the 90s where centers really dominated the game, e.i. Olajuwon, Robinson, Mourning, Ewing, Mutombo, even the younger Shaq.)  Howard, however, is the most skilled big man and combined with his strength and leaping, obviously has the advantage over the rest.

When I watch videos of this blocks, although I get pump of how he erases shots, I see them mostly being batted away toward the third row (compare to Mourning blocks which were mostly toward a teammate thus gaining possession).


I am not blaming Dwight Howard for defending mostly scrubs inside the painted area, but the NBA's best players are mostly perimeters players (Kobe, LeBron, DWade, Rose). Howard doesn't defend them until they penetrate inside thus just giving help defense.

But anyway, congratulations to Superman. At this rate, he may even surpass Dikembe Mutombo's and Ben Wallace's four DPoYs.