The Boston Celtics own the best defensive rating (105.6) in the NBA, and their dominance on that end of the court has been instrumental in their remarkable midseason turnaround that's raised expectations ahead of the 2022 playoffs.
The Celtics play great team defense, but they also have plenty of fantastic individual defenders. The two best on the team are starting point guard Marcus Smart and starting center Robert Williams III.
Williams is averaging almost 10 rebounds per game, is tied for the league lead in blocked shots, and players are shooting 6.4 percent worse than their normal field goal percentage when guarded by him (which also leads the league).
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The 24-year-old center has garnered some Defensive Player of the Year Award buzz of late, but if you ask him, he thinks Smart should be atop voters' lists.
"I think Smart deserves it, to be honest," Williams told reporters Friday. "A lot of my defensive grit and my will to fight out there I get from just watching him. Even in practice, him being vocal. On the court, he’s a great defensive anchor for us, but he’s a better leader. And he doesn’t even know it. He’s always talking, putting guys where they need to be. Just me, I feel like Smart should be the number one (candidate) for that. We try to help each other when we’re out there. I try to learn from him as much as possible. I feel like if anyone deserves (DPoY), it's him.”
Smart has been one of the league's premier perimeter defenders for several years. He was an All-Defensive first team selection in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Smart is a worthy candidate for this award, but he's a longshot to win it. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who won the award last season, is the betting favorite to repeat. Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson and Williams are other contenders.
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The Celtics have not had a Defensive Player of the Year winner since Kevin Garnett in 2007-08. It wouldn't be surprising if that changed over the next couple years.
