Washington Wizards 2014-2015 Season Review: Regular Season Player Awards
By Ben Mehic
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive Player of the Year
The Washington Wizards were the fifth best defensive team in the NBA this season and a lot of factors played a part in their success on that end of the floor.
First off, we have to give credit when it’s due.
The Wizards have been solid defensively since Randy Wittman took over for Flip Saunders in 2012. Most thought their elite defense would decline after the departures of Emeka Okafor and Ariza, but that hasn’t been the case. In fact, they’ve improved defensively.
Still, John Wall has improved drastically on the defensive end of the floor since entering the league in 2010. Given his consistency and role as the team’s best player, Wall deserves this award.
We’ve seen Wall show flashes of elite defense earlier in his career, but doing it each game was something he had trouble with. While he still occasionally has lapses, John Wall set the tone for Washington defensively by defending the best point guards every single game.
We’re in the Golden Age of point guards and Wall rarely had a night off. Regardless, he put on his work boots and made life miserable for opposing guards.
Wall carried the Washington Wizards throughout the entire regular season, and it always amazes me when he successfully runs back on defense, sending a players shot right into the stands.
He’s not a perfect defensive player, but Wall has finally committed himself. The likes of Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard will continue to get just as much, if not more credit for carrying their respective teams, but neither do what John Wall does defensively.
As Paul Pierce said, Wall might be the most complete point guard in the NBA. Playing high-level defense is a part of what makes Wall an All-NBA talent.
Winner: John Wall
Next: Most Improved Player