NBA announces its All-Defensive-First Team- LeBron James leads the voting; Serge Ibaka makes a cut
With the playoffs in full flow, NBA has announced its All-Defensive teams. Reigning Most Valuable Player of the league, LeBron James headlined the team with 53 points which included 24 first place votes.
Other players that have been given the honour to be a part of the All-Defensive first team, include the likes of Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka, who has famously come to be known as ‘ I-Block Ya’ throughout the league for his ability to protect the rim. He stood second in the voting with 47 points and he averaged 3.65 blocks per game.
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, despite sitting out the closing stages of the season, stood third in the voting with 41 points. He averaged a league best14.5 rebounds in the game. Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers who was instrumental got taking the franchise to the second round of the playoffs for only the third time in franchise history stood fourth in the voting. He received a total of 35 points and led the league with 2.53 steals per game.
The fifth player who made it to the first defensive team this year is Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies, who displaced Kobe Bryant at the shooting guard position. Allen helped his team hold their opponents to only 96 points per 100 possessions during the regular season.
Out of the five players voted for the All NBA first defensive team, Ibaka and Allen have been nominated for the first time whereas James, Paul and Howard have achieved this feat previously as well.
James who headlined the voting by being the only one having more than 50 votes helped his Miami team to a win loss record of 46-20.
He also helped Miami achieve the second best record in the Eastern Conference and was instrumental with his tied team best rebound average of 7.9 rebounds per game. James also led his team in steals per game at 1.9.
Along with the First team, the All NBA Second Defensive Team has also been named which include the likes of Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Luol Deng and NBA`s defensive player of the year, Tyson Chandler.
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