Spurs Brazil
04-09-2011, 11:58 AM
The instructions: Voters are asked to fill out three teams and urged to select players at the position they play "regularly."
First team
F: LeBron James
F: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Dwight Howard
G: Derrick Rose
G: Kobe Bryant
Second team
F: Kevin Durant
F: Amare Stoudemire
C: Pau Gasol
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Chris Paul
Third team
F: Paul Pierce
F: Zach Randolph
C: Tim Duncan
G: Russell Westbrook
G: Tony Parker
The thinking: Just as it was at All-Star time for East and West coaches, nothing is tougher for All-NBA voters than trying to wedge in all the worthy forwards.
Just look at the list of names I couldn't find room for: LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh and even Carmelo Anthony.
The first and second teams generally sorted themselves out. Dirk edged Durant for the only first-team spot in question thanks largely to Durant's statistical dips from last season and the clearly larger load Nowitzki has to carry. On the second team, Stoudemire's unforgettable first half -- when he looked like MVP material -- and the stints at center that Gasol was forced to take on while Andrew Bynum was injured were keys to landing them spots alongside no-brainers Durant, Paul and Wade.
Narrowing down the third team, though, was as agonizing as ever.
There might have been room for both Randolph and Aldridge had we omitted Duncan, but the only team in the league to win 60 games (only Chicago can still join them) deserved two All-NBAers in my view, especially after seeing the mighty Spurs promptly lose four straight games as soon as Duncan twisted an ankle. Parker narrowly edged Manu Ginobili as the second Spur, which is bound to surprise those who haven't been watching closely enough to see Parker hit a level of steadiness at 28 that meant as much this season as Manu's flair for the spectacular. Filling the solitary Boston berth, meanwhile, was only slightly easier, with leading scorer Pierce edging Celts defensive anchor Kevin Garnett and floor leader Rajon Rondo (who took himself out of the running with his second-half fade).
Moving to the third team, New York's ups and downs since acquiring Melo and Denver's takeoff without him undoubtedly cost the league's No. 4 scorer on this scorecard. But even after excluding Anthony -- as well as Bosh since he's merely Miami's No. 3 option and Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah because of their time lost to injuries -- you still had Randolph, Aldridge, Griffin and Love bidding for one spot. Randolph's best all-around season, leadership and dependability in the wake of Rudy Gay's season-ending shoulder injury ultimately won out, although it can be argued that Aldridge did as much yeoman stepping up in Portland after Brandon Roy went down.
All that congestion, furthermore, naturally meant no shot for the likes of Al Horford (who might have had his best season despite playing out of position), Bynum (after he missed 27 games) and Monta Ellis (whose numbers weren't quite gaudy enough to convince me). Or for All-NBA regulars such as Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Joe Johnson.
Hit the link for the other awards: http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-110408-10/nba-awards
First team
F: LeBron James
F: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Dwight Howard
G: Derrick Rose
G: Kobe Bryant
Second team
F: Kevin Durant
F: Amare Stoudemire
C: Pau Gasol
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Chris Paul
Third team
F: Paul Pierce
F: Zach Randolph
C: Tim Duncan
G: Russell Westbrook
G: Tony Parker
The thinking: Just as it was at All-Star time for East and West coaches, nothing is tougher for All-NBA voters than trying to wedge in all the worthy forwards.
Just look at the list of names I couldn't find room for: LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh and even Carmelo Anthony.
The first and second teams generally sorted themselves out. Dirk edged Durant for the only first-team spot in question thanks largely to Durant's statistical dips from last season and the clearly larger load Nowitzki has to carry. On the second team, Stoudemire's unforgettable first half -- when he looked like MVP material -- and the stints at center that Gasol was forced to take on while Andrew Bynum was injured were keys to landing them spots alongside no-brainers Durant, Paul and Wade.
Narrowing down the third team, though, was as agonizing as ever.
There might have been room for both Randolph and Aldridge had we omitted Duncan, but the only team in the league to win 60 games (only Chicago can still join them) deserved two All-NBAers in my view, especially after seeing the mighty Spurs promptly lose four straight games as soon as Duncan twisted an ankle. Parker narrowly edged Manu Ginobili as the second Spur, which is bound to surprise those who haven't been watching closely enough to see Parker hit a level of steadiness at 28 that meant as much this season as Manu's flair for the spectacular. Filling the solitary Boston berth, meanwhile, was only slightly easier, with leading scorer Pierce edging Celts defensive anchor Kevin Garnett and floor leader Rajon Rondo (who took himself out of the running with his second-half fade).
Moving to the third team, New York's ups and downs since acquiring Melo and Denver's takeoff without him undoubtedly cost the league's No. 4 scorer on this scorecard. But even after excluding Anthony -- as well as Bosh since he's merely Miami's No. 3 option and Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah because of their time lost to injuries -- you still had Randolph, Aldridge, Griffin and Love bidding for one spot. Randolph's best all-around season, leadership and dependability in the wake of Rudy Gay's season-ending shoulder injury ultimately won out, although it can be argued that Aldridge did as much yeoman stepping up in Portland after Brandon Roy went down.
All that congestion, furthermore, naturally meant no shot for the likes of Al Horford (who might have had his best season despite playing out of position), Bynum (after he missed 27 games) and Monta Ellis (whose numbers weren't quite gaudy enough to convince me). Or for All-NBA regulars such as Deron Williams, Steve Nash and Joe Johnson.
Hit the link for the other awards: http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-110408-10/nba-awards