All-Defensive Teams announced.

[Martti.]

RealGM Staff Report - 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.

No surprises. Only one guard in the first team. Nice to see some young blood in Paul and Howard.

[Fitzy]

hmm, i would have thought battier would have made it into the first team, being third in the DPOY, but i guess they dont use those results?

[Matthew]

Chris Paul was voted onto the second team? Wow..

[[Q]]

yeah, my thoughts exactly. they must've counted Bowen as a guard or something.

[Matthew]

No, I don't think he should of made the second team let alone the first team. For years Iverson was criticised for playing "gambling" defense, going for steals and leaving his team vulnerable if he didnt get it. Now players get rewarded for it (Larry Hughes, Chris Pauls etc)

[benji]

Stop trying to hold the media to standards they themselves set.

[joejam999]

No, I don't think he should of made the second team let alone the first team. For years Iverson was criticised for playing "gambling" defense, going for steals and leaving his team vulnerable if he didnt get it. Now players get rewarded for it (Larry Hughes, Chris Pauls etc)

Mathew is indeed correct. Just because Paul gets alot of steals doesn't really mean he is a superior defender. He gambles alot to get those steals.

[Oznogrd]

No, I don't think he should of made the second team let alone the first team. For years Iverson was criticised for playing "gambling" defense, going for steals and leaving his team vulnerable if he didnt get it. Now players get rewarded for it (Larry Hughes, Chris Pauls etc)

Mathew is indeed correct. Just because Paul gets alot of steals doesn't really mean he is a superior defender. He gambles alot to get those steals.

You're just mad cuz Deron hasnt been mentioned for any awards this year.

[frenchy]

An award for CP3 !!

Great

[Matthew]

No, I don't think he should of made the second team let alone the first team. For years Iverson was criticised for playing "gambling" defense, going for steals and leaving his team vulnerable if he didnt get it. Now players get rewarded for it (Larry Hughes, Chris Pauls etc)

Mathew is indeed correct. Just because Paul gets alot of steals doesn't really mean he is a superior defender. He gambles alot to get those steals.

You're just mad cuz Deron hasnt been mentioned for any awards this year.

Yep you're right. Deron Williams is my favourite player

[Matt]

horrible choices for the most part

[benji]

How should this team be chosen? Players who made the most overall stops (i.e. played the most minutes) or players who made the most stops while playing?

Assuming of course, that we're trying to get the best guys and we're not just picking them by "guys who look the best" and reputation.

[Drex]

It's all about reputation. Every single awards.

[Sauru]

yeah rep plays the biggest part imo

[benji]

I know it does, but my question wasn't "how is the team chosen?"

[Drex]

Well, if we go by what you said

Players who made the most overall stops (i.e. played the most minutes) or players who made the most stops while playing?]

that would be my pick.

[Matt]

Even if you use that method, how are you going to measure how many stops someone made?

[benji]

Counting the number of missed shots and turnovers forced? Or at least using the available estimations?

[Matthew]

But Benji, what about help defense? What happens if teams start avoiding that player (similar to how teams play against top tier conerbacks in the nfl) because they are so effective?

[benji]

Ideally that would all be counted, but we don't have that currently only the estimations. What other alternative is there in choosing? Randomly? Media-generated Reputations? Just declaring it to be so because they play for the Pacers?

[Matthew]

Out of those suggestions, randomly sounds the best. How would you like to have them selected?

[benji]

By the players.

I was asking how we, as NBA fans, should select and defend our own personal "votes". Instead of just posting "terrible choices all around" or "it's based on reputations" rather than even trying some form of analysis.

[Matthew]

Well I base my opinions off what I've watched.

[Martti.]

I'm surprised Lebron isn't here. He did have 4 votes and even a first place vote. Usually if Lebron dunks in the fast break, it's on NBA Top 10.

[Sauru]

personally i think the award should go to the guys who got scored on the least, so it should be 5 guys we never heard of cause they never left the bench