<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Garnett, who earns his ninth All-Defensive Team selection, and Bryant, who earns his eighth selection, each received 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods. Also selected to the First Team are 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets , who ranked first in blocks (3.61 bpg) and second in rebounds (13.1 rpg), and Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs . Duncan earns his 11th consecutive selection, while Bowen earns his eighth and Camby his second. The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets , Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets , Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic , Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons and Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns . Paul and Howard are each making their first appearance on an All-Defensive team. Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 14 (5); Jason Kidd, Dallas, 13 (4); Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 13 (3); Rajon Rondo, Boston, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 8, (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 8, (3); Ron Artest, Sacramento, 8 (2); Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 8 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 6; Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers , 4 (1); LeBron James, Cleveland, 4 (1); Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 4 (1); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 3 (1); Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1 (2); Brandon Roy, Portland, 2; Paul Pierce, Boston, 2; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 1; Andres Nocioni, Chicago, 1; Baron Davis, Golden State, 1; Caron Butler, Washington, 1; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 1; Dikembe Mutombo, Houston, 1; Josh Howard, Dallas, 1; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 1; Ronnie Brewer, Utah, 1.</div>Link Congrats to Kobe, again! That's the MVP Unanimous ALL NBA 1st team All NBA 1st team defense.
Wasn't there an article about Paul being the worst defensive point guard, despite averaging so many steals?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Joker @ May 12 2008, 08:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wasn't there an article about Paul being the worst defensive point guard, despite averaging so many steals?</div> Yeah...but still, he led the league in steals. Gotta give him some credit for being a good pickpocket.
Kinda surprised he made first team over Shane Battier. Kobe was stellar the first couple months then fell off in my opinion. Either way, he's worthy of it, so I'm glad to see him get it.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ May 12 2008, 07:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Garnett, who earns his ninth All-Defensive Team selection, and Bryant, who earns his eighth selection, each received 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods. Also selected to the First Team are 2007 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets , who ranked first in blocks (3.61 bpg) and second in rebounds (13.1 rpg), and Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs . Duncan earns his 11th consecutive selection, while Bowen earns his eighth and Camby his second. The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets , Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets , Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic , Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons and Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns . Paul and Howard are each making their first appearance on an All-Defensive team. Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 14 (5); Jason Kidd, Dallas, 13 (4); Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 13 (3); Rajon Rondo, Boston, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 8, (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 8, (3); Ron Artest, Sacramento, 8 (2); Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 8 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 6; Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers , 4 (1); LeBron James, Cleveland, 4 (1); Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 4 (1); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 3 (1); Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1 (2); Brandon Roy, Portland, 2; Paul Pierce, Boston, 2; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 1; Andres Nocioni, Chicago, 1; Baron Davis, Golden State, 1; Caron Butler, Washington, 1; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 1; Dikembe Mutombo, Houston, 1; Josh Howard, Dallas, 1; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 1; Ronnie Brewer, Utah, 1.</div>Link Congrats to Kobe, again! That's the MVP Unanimous ALL NBA 1st team All NBA 1st team defense. </div> Hope he could add Finals MVP and NBA 08 Champ to that list...
This was expected. Congrats to Kobe, lets hope he can continue to add awards to the list this postseason (Finals MVP, NBA Champ).
The All-Defense team is arguably the most ridiculous of the many idiotic NBA awards. I don't think Kobe was the best defensive guard in the league, but then again, I've thought the same thing for several years now.
Don't the coaches vote for this award? That says something... I don't know how you can question the legitimacy of these ALL-NBA teams. If it is the media that votes, then you can throw it away, but I think the coaches no more than the fan. (this isn't a dig at you, Chutney, this is in general).
If it is the coaches, then I'd have to question their judgments as well. I'm focusing strictly on the results here. Coaches obviously have more basketball knowledge than me, but if they're giving votes to Chris Bosh (who's the worst post defender on the Raptors), then I have to wonder if they're good enough judges. You don't have to be an expert analyst to realize that it makes no sense whatsoever.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ May 13 2008, 12:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If it is the coaches, then I'd have to question their judgments as well. I'm focusing strictly on the results here. Coaches obviously have more basketball knowledge than me, but if they're giving votes to Chris Bosh (who's the worst post defender on the Raptors), then I have to wonder if they're good enough judges. You don't have to be an expert analyst to realize that it makes no sense whatsoever.</div> He does have some of the empirical numbers on his side though (was reading an on/off court impact article from Hollinger where he proposed a third-tier award; not that I always agree with him). I think he's definitely above average, but the All-Defensive team is really based off reputation though. Battier got somewhat dissed last season for example.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The All-Defense team is arguably the most ridiculous of the many idiotic NBA awards. I don't think Kobe was the best defensive guard in the league, but then again, I've thought the same thing for several years now.</div> I agree, like huevon said it's more of a reputation thing.............Jordan didn't deserve a good amount of his all first team defense awards...........but he had a rep of being a great defender, so he got them.......
Does Phil Jackson usually place Kobe on the opposing team's best scorer? The way that the Rockets would do with Shane Battier, or Detroit with Prince, or San Antonio with Bowen, or Miami with Marion? I've seen Kobe try on defense, and he's great at it when he does. I remember one game AI had like 50 points and Kobe guarded him in the 4th and scored 0. But most of the time I don't see Kobe playing that kind of tenacious D.
^^^that's the case with any great perimeter player....Jordan rarely did it (that was pippen's job, and later in his career Harper would help out also)....Kobe and Lebron don't do it most of the game either...but like you said they can lock into people during important stretches....
Kobe always talks about playing defense, he loves guarding the opposing teams best perimeter player, especially in the clutch. He isn't a better defender than Battier when it comes to consistency, but when Kobe does lock down a man, they usually won't score.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ May 13 2008, 04:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe always talks about playing defense, he loves guarding the opposing teams best perimeter player, especially in the clutch. He isn't a better defender than Battier when it comes to consistency, but when Kobe does lock down a man, they usually won't score.</div> Yeah it kind of reminds me of how he picks up his defensive intensity in the Olympics since he doesn't carry as much offensive responsibility.
This was a funny blog read about Baron Davis receiving a vote. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No surprise: I love the NBA All-Defensive Team. Love the idea, love the voting, love to analyze it and memorize it and oh yes, it just was announced today. I also think it’s hilarious that Baron Davis got one coach’s vote. I don’t care if it was for eighth team, that just shouldn’t happen. (It wasn’t Don Nelson since coaches can’t vote for their own players.) But I was thinking more could be done in this fashion. I’m always typing about how good defenders are so important to winning basketball and how Bad Defenders kill you. Hmm, I thought to myself. How hard would it be to put together a No-Defense NBA All-Star team, just like the All-Defense, except in reverse? You know, weight it to main players–if you don’t play much and stink on defense, you don’t get much run on this list, just like it works for All-Defense.</div> Source: SJMN
