While the Miami Heat, specifically Lebron James, boast of the "most highly evolved offense in the league" the Indiana Pacers have the most impenetrable defense in all of basketball. Something has to give, and in their first meeting, it's the Heat.

The Defensive Player of the Year award has become more and more prestigious, as defense became a more integral part of the game. Defensive players now wear their badges, even though they don't light up the stadium, their teams rise in the win column.

Last season, the award went to Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies. Lebron James himself took second place and griped like a child about it. He also vowed to win it this year.

It's so much easier said than done now. Especially since the main candidates for the award are the stalwarts of the team that almost took them down. They are hungrier than ever, and they have taken defense as their trademark.

Paul George and Roy Hibbert turned into legitimate stars in the course of one series. After getting a whiff of what it feels like to be worldwide hoops sensations, George spent the summer fine-tuning his game while Roy Hibbert took to the gym and made himself more of a beast than he already was.

In SI.com's quarterly awards, they state the argument of why they ranked Hibbert at no.1 and George at no. 2, which is unprecedented, even at the first quarter:   "Hibbert's defensive rating is 90 and George's is 91.3. Those are ungodly, and they represent major net differences compared to when either of them leaves the court. To underscore their collective dominance: George ranks No. 1 in defensive win shares and Hibbert ranks No. 2; Hibbert ranks No. 1 in defensive rating and George ranks No. 4."

Both players have said they are determined to win the award, and will not relent to their teammate. The good thing about defense is that this is entirely possible. Unlike pursuing a scoring title, both players will want the ball in their hands. Defense is a different thing, especially since George is a perimeter player and Hibbert is an interior player. Woe to their opponent's though. Indiana will be "Shutdown City"