Kevin McHale: Joakim Noah should be Defensive Player Of Year

Before the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls face off on Thursday night, Kevin McHale had some praising words for Bulls center Joakim Noah.

“He’s played very well. “He should be defensive player of the year. He’s done a great job with these guys. They’ve been winning a lot just on his energy and effort, his kind of determination and toughness. Those are all qualities everybody appreciates. He’s just more confident in what he’s doing. He’s making plays with the pass. He’s driving and kicking. When he was coming out, I thought he’d be a pick-pop-and-drive playmaking 4. He’s doing more of that now.”

Noah is averaging 12.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks on the season while leading the Bulls as both their talent and emotional leader. Without Derrick Rose, Noah has led the Bulls to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Noah has two of his five career triple-doubles this season.

Follow Mike Pendleton on Twitter @MP2310

Facebook.com/FullScaleSports Twitter:@FullScaleSport

Photo credit: (Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)

Related Posts

• Vince Wilfork asks for release from Patriots
• Steve Smith on facing Panthers: “There’s going to be blood and guts everywhere”
• Bengals release James Harrison