The NBA and writer Steve Aschburner released their latest Defensive Player of the Year rankings this week, and once again, former Spartan and current Memphis Grizzlies All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. is near the top, this time coming in at No. 2 behind Brook Lopez.
Here is what Aschburner had to say about JJJ:
‘If the Ladder had a penalty box, Jackson would be in it. His strengths have turned into weaknesses, his aggressiveness costing him and his team via fouls and the big man’s time on the proverbial pine. His line Sunday at Boston — fouling out in just 20:34 — undercut his plus-7 value in a game the Grizzlies lost by 10. Being overly aggressive can rack up flashy blocks and contests, but being reckless can send opponents to the line for easy points, put them in the bonus early and deprive your own team at both ends (no DPOY winner ever has averaged as few as Jackson’s 27.1 minutes).’
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Story originally appeared on Spartans Wire
