The NBA All-Defensive Team was announced today. This is an award voted on by all of the league's coaches. Here's my opinion on their selections:
Kobe Bryant: There is no doubt that he can lock down on defense when he wants to. But does he put forth the effort all game long? If you watch a lot of Laker games, you can see Kobe "take off" certain possessions on defense, ala Randy Moss. But when he wants to turn it on, he's about as good as it gets on the defensive end. So I can't argue this selection.
Kevin Garnett: A no-brainer. Last year, Boston had a mediocre (at best) defense. This year, they were probably the best in the league. What changed between last year and this? Kevin Garnett (no, Ray Allen did not help their team defense). The Celtics defense has become a quick and swarming machine, and Garnett is at the hub. James Posey deserves a mention for Boston's improvement as well.
Bruce Bowen: I thought Bruce took a small step backwards this year. He is still one of the best perimeter defenders in the game, just slightly less quick. He is still deserving of this honor. It's great to see that the coaches around the league still hold him in such high regard, despite the bad-mouthing he receives from so many fans. The only reason that fans don't appreciate Bowen for all he does? He's not on their team.
Marcus Camby: Last year's defensive player of the year deserves a spot, right? Nope. Camby has always been a great weak-side help defender. But his strong suit has never been guarding anyone 1-on-1. He plays for arguably the WORST defensive team in the league. Yet he's up for defensive first team? I don't buy it, and neither should anyone else. Marcus, help to hold your opponents under 100 on occasion, then call me. I would have voted in Shane Battier, long before Camby.
Tim Duncan: I'm slightly amazed that Duncan has received this honor yet again. Not because he doesn't deserve it, but because he puts his game on cruise control for the regular season. As evidenced by the Phoenix series, and his last two healthy games versus New Orleans, there isn't a better defender in the paint than the Big Fundamental. Kudos to the NBA coaches for recognizing Timmy's defensive prowess, even when he's just going through the motions of the 82 game haul.
This blogger is a New Yorker, born and raised. I'm a huge sports fan, following pretty much every major sport out there. Sadly, this does not include hockey, NASCAR, or boxing. Hockey lost my affection during the lockout, NASCAR is not a sport, and boxing has become incredibly boring since the dawn of MMA. If you want to talk football, baseball, basketball, or MMA, then I'm your man. I could also debate NASCAR with anyone, but we would probably end up just going around in circles...
