The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Predicting the NBA Awards Show winners

By Jared Woodcox

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Donovan Mitchell looks on at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Donovan Mitchell looks on at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert 2018 NBA Playoffs
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 8: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz talks with media after the game against the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 8, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year – Rudy Gobert

This is yet another hotly contested award category where it’s anybody’s guess who will come out on top. However, I’m going to predict that Rudy Gobert will ultimately get the long overdue nod as the best defensive player of the 2017-18 season.

If Gobert had been healthy for all 82 games this season and maintained his same defensive prowess during that time, he would be the runaway winner. However, the biggest obstacle he has to claiming the recognition is the fact that he missed 26 games this year.

Typically, being absent for that significant of a chunk of the year would essentially take a player out of the running for an end of season award, but that just shows how dominant Utah was when Rudy was on the floor. Particularly in the latter part of the season, he was instrumental in leading Utah’s incredible run and locking down their defense.

Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis are both worthy candidates as well. And if Gobert had missed the entire season, I would have been in agreement with either one of them coming out on top. However, missed games didn’t stop Gobert from earning All-NBA Defensive First Team honors, and I don’t think they’ll stop him from winning Defensive Player of the Year.

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