Who should be the Defensive Player of the Year?

[JoMal]

...turns out, that would be Kevin Garnett, beating out Camby and Battier:

Celtics? Garnett wins defensive player award
 
 Boston?s Kevin Garnett won the NBA?s defensive player of the year award Tuesday. He beat out Denver?s Marcus Camby and Houston?s Shane Battier.

The 6-foot-11 forward led the Celtics with 9.2 rebounds per game. He added 18.8 points, 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals.

Garnett helped the Celtics to league-best records of 66-16 (.805) overall and 31-10 (.738) on the road. Boston held opponents to just 90.3 points (second in the NBA) after allowing 99.2 points per game a season ago. The Celtics had the biggest one-year turnaround in NBA history.

Garnett received 493 points, including 90 first-place votes. Camby, who won the award last season, finished second with 178 points and Battier had 175 points.

[msc]

Tough to disagree with this selection.  The Celtics have the best D in the league and KG has been the anchor.  Battier should get honorable mention, but Camby's team wouldn't know defensive if it came up and bit them in the arse.  I know it's an individual award, but something doesn't seem right in naming a guy the best defender in the league if he's on a team that plays the second worst D in the league.

[westkoast]

Think this was pretty much a given.  Only way he doesn't get DPOY is if he was to get the MVP award.

Did you guys see the vote break down?  Kobe and Bowen got votes strickly on reputation.  After Shane Battier there was a drop off in top quality defensive players this season.

[JoMal]

Tough to disagree with this selection.  The Celtics have the best D in the league and KG has been the anchor.  Battier should get honorable mention, but Camby's team wouldn't know defensive if it came up and bit them in the arse.  I know it's an individual award, but something doesn't seem right in naming a guy the best defender in the league if he's on a team that plays the second worst D in the league.

Camby blocks shots. Whoopie!

A blocked shot often goes right back to the same team for another try, so who cares.

[Derek Bodner]

Camby is extremely overrated as a defender.  It was a joke he won it last year.  His blocks are great, but mostly for the transition opportunities they provide.

KG was the best defender on the best defensive team, on a team filled with other superstars not particularly known for their defense.  He wins it hands down IMO.

[WayOutWest]

...on a team filled with other superstars not particularly known for their defense.

I shudder to think what KG would have done on a team with defenders like the Spurs or Rockets! 

[Joe Vancil]

I shudder to think what KG would have done on a team with defenders like the Spurs or Rockets! 

Perhaps we can find out.

I suggest the Spurs package Jacque Vaughn, Fabs, and a couple of draft picks, plus cap relief for Garnett. 

All you need to get that to go through is hire the Memphis GM in Boston.

[SPURSX3]

I shudder to think what KG would have done on a team with defenders like the Spurs or Rockets! 

Perhaps we can find out.

I suggest the Spurs package Jacque Vaughn, Fabs, and a couple of draft picks, plus cap relief for Garnett. 

All you need to get that to go through is hire the Memphis GM in Boston.

Can you package Reality in that deal as well?