https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/5/10/22428481/nba-awards-mvp-nikola-jokic-joel-embiidsome key parts about 76ers players
Quote
Thybulle averages only 20 minutes per game, yet in that time he logs 1.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 3.1 deflections per game. No defender has blocked more jump shots than him, per Second Spectrum. There is no one better at recovering off-ball to get back into a play. He has outlier-level instincts and reaction time. He is one of the best defenders I’ve ever watched in my life and if he someday becomes a 30-minute-per-game player, he’ll be in the conversation to win Defensive Player of the Year. I’ll have more on Thybulle this Thursday on The Void.
Quote
The difference between Gobert and Simmons is that Gobert defines how the West-leading Jazz operate, while Simmons is one of several major parts that power the East-leading Sixers. In reality, what Gobert and Embiid do on defense is far more comparable than Simmons. But generally, rim protectors have a greater impact on how a defense operates. It’s one of the reasons Gobert gets an edge over Simmons on my ballot, and had Embiid not missed so many games he would have drawn consideration too.
Simmons is the best at what he does, serving as an on-ball stopper against the league’s best scorers and an active off-ball nuisance who fully belongs in the conversation for this award. The energy he brings on defense is contagious. When he’s on, it lights a fire in his team. Simmons was once an apathetic defender at LSU and he’s turned himself into one of the league’s best. We’ll touch more on him later.
Quote
I say all that, yet Simmons is absent despite being in the Defensive Player of the Year discussion. His contributions go far beyond the box score. Simmons is averaging only 14.3 points with 6.9 assists, but the quality of shots he creates for his teammates is unlike most players in the league. In transition, Simmons has made 146 passes leading to 3-point attempts, according to Second Spectrum. (T.J. McConnell ranks second with just 84.) While Simmons isn’t a shooter himself, he creates tons of looks for his teammates. But right now, he’s on the outside looking in behind players who have made far greater offensive impacts like Harden, Beal, and Tatum.