All-NBA First Team

[dbreiden83080]

Paul
Kobe
Lebron
Duncan
Howard

When Amare figures out what D is he can be on the first team.

[monosylab1k]

I like Hollinger's words

The book on Nowitzki's defense is in serious need of a rewrite. While he's not a physical force, his dexterity and length have enabled him to become a quality player at that end, especially in zones. He's also added a strip move that's very effective against post players, and he's an underrated defensive rebounder who has comfortably beaten the league average for power forwards the past three seasons.

Defensively, he still needs work, but he improved a lot over the course of last season. He upgraded his post defense -- he will be put to the test in that department now that Kurt Thomas has been traded -- and his effort level increased considerably. That said, he could be a lot more active from the weak side, and considering his athleticism he's a fairly poor shot-blocker. He also won't give a foul to stop a basket.

[td4mvp21]

PG-Chris Paul
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Lebron James
PF-Tim Duncan
C-Dwight Howard

That's how it should be but I bet Duncan and Howard get snubbed for Amare and Garnett...

[RonMexico]

Hollinger doesn't realize that Amare is in foul-trouble so much that it's useless for him to "give up a foul to stop a basket." If Amare did that, then Hollinger could talk about what a foul prone player he is.

Also, Dirk did not develop a strip move.... he stole it from Karl Malone.

[dbreiden83080]

PG-Chris Paul
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Lebron James
PF-Tim Duncan
C-Dwight Howard

That's how it should be but I bet Duncan and Howard get snubbed for Amare and Garnett...

I don't see how KG is getting on the first team. HE is putting up like 19 and 9 a game those are lows he has not seen in like a decade. He plays on a real good team in a insanely awful conference.

[td4mvp21]

I don't see how KG is getting on the first team. HE is putting up like 19 and 9 a game those are lows he has not seen in like a decade. He plays on a real good team in a insanely awful conference.

You seem to forget that the media loves to suck his . The only reason you hadn't heard a peep in the last 2-3 years was because his team sucked ass and Garnett basically quit giving full effort, while Duncan's teams were winning les. I don't think he deserves it, Duncan is better than him overall and puts up better numbers.

[resistanze]

Garnett isn't a bad choice by any stretch of the imagination.

He's playing a career low (excluding his rookie year) 33.7 minutes a game so his numbers will take a hit. Bottom line is the Celtics have the best record in the NBA (23-5 against the WEST) and the media loves them.

Duncan was my sentimental pick because he's my favorite player, but he's likely not getting on the First Team unless they decide to snub Howard at the C position, which won't happen (All-Star position debacle?).

[JamStone]

Uh yeah there is TD has had a better year than KG has. He is putting up beter stats and playing in the much tougher conference. The Celts record in that god awful East does not impress me one bit.

How about the Celts 23-5 record against the Western Conference, including two wins against the Spurs, one without KG, and the one with KG, Tim Duncan was frustrated to the point he only scored 10 points on 8 shots? Does that impress you one bit?

[mikejones99]

Correct answer should be Paul, Kobe, Lebron, Garnett, Duncan. 2nd should be Nash, AI, Manu, Amare, Howard

[Gino]

The Celitc's record WITHOUT KG really hurt his chances for MVP and All-NBA first team.

I would like to see him get it, but if Amare got it I wouldn't be upset.

Duncan doesn't really deserve it though. He hasn't really had a GREAT season.

[baseline bum]

G Chris Paul
G Kobe Bryant
F LeBron James
F Kevin Garnett
C Dwight Howard


Duncan vs Garnett is a toss up, but KG will get the edge because of how well his team has played the entire year (the same way Duncan always got the edge back in the TWolves days).

[Tippecanoe]

duncan's not getting in this year. (unless they count him as a center. then he might have a shot to beat out dwight)

CP3
KB24
LB23
KG5
Superman

[Tippecanoe]

I don't see how KG is getting on the first team. HE is putting up like 19 and 9 a game those are lows he has not seen in like a decade. He plays on a real good team in a insanely awful conference.

celtics are playing much better ball than the spurs. that stuff counts too.

[ShoogarBear]

No way Duncan makes First Team this year.

[JMarkJohns]

Hasn't Amare already been first team twice? 04-05 and 06-07? I'm not sure about 04-05, but he guy averaged 27 ppg that year, so I wouldn't be surprised.

Amare is an average on-ball defender, a below average off-ball defender and very good shot-blocker.

Part of Amare's nondefense stemmed from him not being able to play all out without fouling, and, pre-Shaq, Amare in foul trouble was a devastating blow. Now that Shaq is defending centers, Amare is better. I wouldn't even say good, but he's much improved. Even his rotation defense is better. He has a long ways to go before it catches up to even his rebounding, but if Amare can focus more on his off-ball defense - making proper and timely rotations, keeping an eye and arm on his man, bodying out once a shot is up - then I think opinions of his defense will change.

He'll never be Garnett. Few are. But he really shouldn't be the half-court liability he has been for stages of his career.

I'd give his post trade defense a B-. I'm serious. At least the effort with the effectiveness.

[ShoogarBear]

Amare was 1st Team last year, 2nd Team in 2005.

[dbreiden83080]

How about the Celts 23-5 record against the Western Conference, including two wins against the Spurs, one without KG, and the one with KG, Tim Duncan was frustrated to the point he only scored 10 points on 8 shots? Does that impress you one bit?

Not really because the Spurs sucked that day. Timmy has got the better numbers playing in the better conference. The Celts would be right in the middle of the pack in the west, playing their butts off for a decent seed, i am not putting KG ahead of Duncan with 19 and 9 a game, not going to happen.

[JMarkJohns]

Amare was 1st Team last year, 2nd Team in 2005.

And Marion was 3rd. That's right. Thanks...

[mystargtr34]

Paul
Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Howard

----------

Nash
Manu
Pierce
Duncan
Amare

----------

Deron
Iverson
Dirk
Boozer
Camby

[JMarkJohns]

Paul
Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Howard

----------

Nash
Manu
Pierce
Duncan
Amare

----------

Deron
Iverson
Dirk
Boozer
Camby

I think these are quality, but Pierce over Carmelo just isn't happening.

Pierce: 20-p, 5-r, 5-a, 1.3-s on 45% FG, 38% 3FG and 84% FT on 6+ attempts per
Anthony: 26-p, 7-r, 3-a, 1.1-s on 48 FG, 34% 3FG and 80% FT on 8 attempts per

I just don't see Pierce overcoming 'melo.

[Tippecanoe]

The Celts would be right in the middle of the pack in the west, playing their butts off for a decent seed

because their 23-5 record against the West doesnt count

[mystargtr34]

I think these are quality, but Pierce over Carmelo just isn't happening.

Pierce: 20-p, 5-r, 5-a, 1.3-s on 45% FG, 38% 3FG and 84% FT on 6+ attempts per
Anthony: 26-p, 7-r, 3-a, 1.1-s on 48 FG, 34% 3FG and 80% FT on 8 attempts per

I just don't see Pierce overcoming 'melo.

First of all ill argue the point about team record (ill move on to stats later because Pierce has a case)

Pierce is definately on an All NBA team... his team has been so dominant and he has put up solid numbers and has been the closer in close games in the 4th. He kept the team at 7-2 when KG went out and a team so dominant has to have more than one guy on the All NBA teams.

Carmelo has also been only the second best player on his team. Along with having the likely Defensive Player of the Year and are nearly 15 games worse than the Celtics (albeit with a tougher schedule).

On to numbers.... i dont like getting to technical because voters i dont think, generally even look at these sorts of things. But the Nuggets play at the fastest pace in the league, while the Celtics play at the slowest.

I dont think anyone has any idea of how hard it is to put up dominant 25-6-6 stats for example playing at as slow a pace as the Celts do. Less rebounds less scoring opportunities, basically less opportunities for every statistical category. Carmelo has also played more minutes

When you adjust for all this then Paul Pierce probably has been more dominant statistically then Carmelo ... and this isnt even taking team record into consideration obviously.

Firstly ill say that PER is not the be-all-end-all of a players statistical output , there are other factors but it is the only measurement that wont penalise guys like Garnett and Duncan whos teams play at snail pace against teams putting up stats like Phoenix and Denver because there teams take 20 extra shots per game.

Basically Pierce has a higher PER than Carmelo which is an adjusted measure based purely on statistics... and Pierce has Melo done here.

And we all know how voters like winning.

A question for you....

What sort of stats do you think Melo and PP put up if they swap places???

[dbreiden83080]

because their 23-5 record against the West doesnt count

Not when the rest is against the they call teams in the east. I say again middle of the pack playing in the west.

[Tippecanoe]

Not when the rest is against the they call teams in the east. I say again middle of the pack playing in the west.

wtf, your argument makes zero sense. your saying the celts would be middle of the pack in the west, when they are 23-5 against the west.

[resistanze]

Not when the rest is against the they call teams in the east. I say again middle of the pack playing in the west.

How does that make sense if they are actually worse against the East @ 22-9?

By your logic, they would be 59-11 if they played in the Western Conference.