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It's only December, but Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley is already kicking his Defensive Player of the Year candidacy into high gear.

"I'm the best guard in this league, defensively, man, hands down," Beverley said Tuesday, per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins. "You can ask any team; ask any coach; ask any player. They will tell you the truth. This year, I'm the best defender in the league."



Beverley has long been considered an irritant on the defensive end. He infamously injured Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook in the 2013 playoffs after attempting a steal prior to a timeout:

Beverley explained his defensive mindset in a 2014 interview with Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins:

Basketball players want to be comfortable, they want to be lackadaisical, they want to make the right passes and take the right shots. No. When you play me, I'm going to get right up in your grill and let you know it's going to be a long day. It's going to be physical. It's going to be something you don't like. It's going to be hell.

In the same story, former Rockets teammate Chandler Parsons called Beverley "obnoxious," but he added it's "why we love him so much."

Beverley's value to the Rockets is clear. According to NBA.com, Houston is allowing 101.8 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court, compared to a 105.6 defensive rating when he's on the bench.

The 28-year-old has also been solid defending on the perimeter, courtesy of NBA.com's player tracking data:

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Patrick Beverley—Opponent Shooting Percentage Split FGM FGA Opp. FG% Avg. FG% Difference Overall 68 171 39.8 44.4 -4.6% Three-Pointers 17 69 24.6 34.4 -9.8% Two-Pointers 51 102 50.0 49.8 0.2% Greater than 15 Feet 25 97 25.8 36.0 -10.2% Source: NBA.com

Beverley is even more valuable to the Rockets given James Harden's oft-criticized effort level on the defensive end. While Harden isn't quite the liability on defense he was a year ago, he's still a below-average defender. Having Beverley in the same backcourt helps offset that.

Unseating reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Kawhi Leonard won't be easy. In the event the Rockets remain near the top of the Western Conference standings, though, Beverley will remain in the conversation of contenders for the honor.