K-Mart Gets Some Defensive Recognition

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard once again won the Defensive Player Of The Year award – for the third consecutive season. But Denver Nuggets’ Kenyon Martin received a little recognition.

The defensive captain and anchor of the Nuggets defense received two votes for third place in the defensive honors. No doubt he would have received more if he wasn’t hampered by injuries throughout the season and only played 48 games.

It also doesn’t help his stock that the Nuggets are one of the worst defensive teams – statistically speaking. Denver gave up 102.7 points a game throughout the season, but got surprisingly better after trading Carmelo Anthony and when Martin was finally healthy.

One has to wonder why the other defensive anchor of the Nuggets team Arron Afflalo didn’t receive any votes, especially considering that Keith Bogans received a solo first place vote and the Oklahoma City Thunder’ Thabo Sefolosha received four third place votes.

Hopefully, Afflalo, Wilson Chandler and possibly Nene will receive recognition when the votes are made for All-Defensive teams.