“Defensive” Player of the First Quarter-Season – Forward, Ed Davis
When the Los Angeles Lakers are ranked last in points allowed per game (110.1) and defensive rating (114.6), there is very little in terms of defensive recognition that should be given out to any of the players. However, Ed Davis deserves some credit for his effort and trying his best to help a team that was on pace to finish as one of the worst defenses ever.
Per 36 minutes, Davis leads the team with 7.3 defensive rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He also leads the team in defensive rating, allowing 111 estimated points per 100 possessions, and defensive win-shares at 0.2 estimated wins contributed.
The aspect of Ed Davis’ game that is so underrated is his ability to move his feet. He has the size and length to bother guards on shots, but he also has quick enough feet to show hard on screens and adequately recover on pick-and-roll coverage. That is the aspect that makes him valuable to the Lakers.
With Ed Davis now in the starting lineup, the Lakers will hopefully improve enough on defense to help them win more games.
Most Valuable Player – Center, Jordan Hill
Kind of weird not to see the Black Mamba here, right? Bryant has improved as the season has progressed, but he was the definition of a volume shooter for so long that it actually hurt the team for a stretch. Jordan Hill, on the other hand, has been the consistent force on a team where chaos has ruled since the beginning of the year.
Hill is having a career year, averaging 13.0 points on 49.8 percent shooting from the field, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game. He is fifth in the league in terms of offensive rebounding and has an improved set shot that allows him to be an offensive weapon aside from his signature put-backs.
He has an offensive rating of 117, which is on par with Dirk Nowitzki for the year and leads the Lakers in total win-shares at 1.6 estimated wins contributed. He is also just behind Kobe Bryant in terms of Player Efficiency Rating at 19.3.
On defense, he is snatching an estimated 21 percent of available defensive rebounds while he is on the floor and is tied for third on the team in terms of defensive rating at 114.
Though his production may not improve as the year goes on, Hill’s consistency and contributions for the first quarter of the season have been a shining spot to a Lakers team that has had an abysmal season.