Tony Allen: Players who can challenge Dwight Howard for next NBA Defensive Player of the Year award
When Tony Allen signed for the Memphis Grizzlies last summer, nobody knew what to expect from the gritty shooting guard.
Tony’s emergence on the scene started when Rudy g*y, the regular starter for the Grizzlies suffered a shoulder injury and O.J. Mayo, the reserve, who was slated to replace g*y was banned for 10 games by the NBA.
This gave Allen a window to prove his worth and boy did he do it in style. He gradually grew into a leader in the locker room; aligned himself with the coaches to an extent that in practice, he was like one of them, always willing
and encouraging his teammates to work harder.
He is one player, who has helped shape the Grizzlies into a determined defence minded side that went to turn a few necks in last season’s playoffs.
After a slow start to the season, Memphis put on a Grizzly show in the second half of the season and qualified for the playoffs as the eighth seeds in the Western Conference. However, paired against the San Antonio Spurs, the Grizzlies
weren’t really expected to make a mark once they got in the post season.
That though was an ill advised assessment.
Keyed by the vigour of Allen, Memphis sent the first seeds crashing out of the playoffs and almost reached the Western Conference Finals, narrowly losing out to the Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City Thunder in the game-7.
In the midst of this remarkable run by the Grizzlies, stood Allen. He played with a remarkable intensity, one that was infectious in the entire Memphis dressing room.
Allen posted an average of 1.9 steals per game in the playoffs and although his points and rebound averages were not that illustrious, he was relentless on the paint. His defensive efforts were so pronounced late in the season
that Kobe Bryant, the guy who can give any defensive system in the league its worst nightmare on any given night, named Allen the toughest defender he came across last season.
Allen is now considered as an integral part of the Grizzlies and is sure to get a lot more time on the floor throughout the season. With Rudy g*y returning to the side next season, the offensive burden of Allen will be reduced
and if he producing performances anywhere near to what he did last season, then Dwight Howard might be having a run for his money in a bid to win the fourth consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
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