Thoughts on All-NBA Teams
Posted by Andrew on May 12, 2008
While this season’s All-Star votes went to some of the flashier, more exciting players around the league, the panel sportswriters and broadcasters that picked the All-NBA teams did a near-perfect job of getting the most deserving players on the correct teams. Now that the 2008 All-NBA teams have been announced, here’s some analysis of how each of the teams turned out.
NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headlines the First Team, the NBA announced on May 8th. Bryant is joined on the First Team by Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. For most observers, this was an impeccable First Team, as all four of the top MVP candidates were selected to the first team, and Howard, who was widely considered to be the best center in the league this season, while starring for a 52-win team in Orlando.
The lone unanimous selection, Bryant earned First Team honors for the third straight season and fifth time in his career. Winner of the 2007-08 NBA MVP award, Bryant ranked second in the NBA in scoring at 28.3 points per game to go along with averages of 6.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds. Bryant also led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference (57-25), a 15-game improvement over last year (42-40), and the franchise’s 19th Pacific Division title.
Garnett, winner of the 2007-08 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, led the Celtics with 9.2 rebounds per game to go along with averages of 18.8 points and 3.8 assists. In Garnett’s first season in Boston, the Celtics had the league’s best record (66-16) and enjoyed a 42-game turnaround from the previous season, the largest single-season turnaround in NBA history. This was Garnett’s fourth First Team selection of his career.
Howard, an All-NBA Third Team selection last season, led the league in rebounding (14.2 RPG), and also led the Magic in scoring (20.7 PPG) and blocked shots (2.2 BPG). He recorded an NBA-high 69 double-doubles, including eight 20-20 games. Howard also led the Magic to their first division title since the 1995-96 season.
James won his first scoring title (30.0 PPG) and became one of only three players in NBA history – joining Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson — to average at least 30.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in a season. This season, James became the youngest player to score 10,000 career points. He earned First Team honors for the second time in his career.
Paul earned his first All-NBA selection after leading the New Orleans Hornets to their first Southwest Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Paul led the league in assists (11.6 APG) and steals (2.7 SPG), becoming the first player since John Stockton in 1992 to lead the NBA in both categories the same season. He also averaged a team-high 21.1 points per game and was second in MVP voting.
The second team is where we may start to run into debate, but once again, I believe the second team was selected perfectly as well.The All-NBA Second Team consists of Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Utah’s Deron Williams at guard; San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki at forward; and Phoenix’s Amaré Stoudemire at center.
Perhaps having two Phoenix Suns on this team, despite what most would consider to be a disappointing season, is a stretch, but considering the fact that both are undoubtably among the two or three at their respective positions, makes this one hard to dispute. Both had fantastic seasons statistically (Nash; 17 PPG, 11 APG, 3.5 RPG, .504 FG%, .470 3-PT%, .906 FT%)(Stoudemire; 25 PPG, 9 RPG, 2 BPG, .590 FG%, .805 FT%), they won 55 games, and the Suns finished only 6th in the Western Conference in spite of their production, and not because of it.
One other issue that some might have is that Utah’s Deron Williams, who didn’t even make the All-Star team, was also on the second team. Now most of you know that Williams is probably my favorite player in the league, so I was extremely excited when I saw this, but totally agree that he deserves to be here. First of all, had the Jazz been playing well during the first half of the season, it’s a lock that Williams would’ve been on the All-Star team. Secondly, his numbers (19 PPG, 10.5 APG, 3 RPG, .507 FG%, .395 #-PT%, .803 FT%) were extremely solid for the Northwest Division champions, and there’s a growing consensus that he’s one of the leagues top two or three point guards, and was Utah’s best and most consistent player this season.
Nowitzki and Duncan are fixtures on the First or Second teams, as long as their teams are making the playoffs and their putting up good numbers in the process, as they did once again this season. Ginobili may have had a strong enough season to crack the Second team, but which player are you going to bump? The fact that he missed eight games towards the end of the regular season may have actually been the only thing keeping him off the Second team.
The All-NBA Third Team included San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili and Houston’s Tracy McGrady at guard; Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Boston’s Paul Pierce at forward; and Houston’s Yao Ming at center. As for the Third team, I think most would agree that Booser, Pierce, and Ginobili deserve mention, however, I’m not exactly sure how you put T-Mac and Yao on this team when McGrady missed around 15 games and Yao missed close to 30. I suppose both are elite players and the Rockets had an impressive season despite the injuries, so you’ve got to reward somebody. I believe either the Lakers Pau Gasol or even the Raptor’s Chris Bosh, who often plays the center position, could’ve easily replaced Yao on this list.
I like the fact that Denver was snubbed of getting a single player on any of the three teams. They have superstars, true, but their big-time underachievers and certainly didn’t have a season worth mentioning. Numbers aside, this team doesn’t even deserve the little recognition they do receive. The only other real issue some might take issue with is the Pistons getting completely snubbed. However, the fact that this team prides itself on the fact that they play the best team game in basketball, and don’t rely too heavily on one particular player, just goes to show exactly why they don’t have a single player on this list. Despite their tremendous talent, theirs few who would argue that any of their players are among the top three at their respective positions anyway.
2007-08 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM
Forward, Kevin Garnett, Boston
Forward, LeBron James, Cleveland
Center, Dwight Howard, Orlando
Guard, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Guard, Chris Paul, New Orleans2007-08 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM
Forward, Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
Forward, Tim Duncan, San Antonio
Center, Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix
Guard, Steve Nash, Phoenix
Guard, Deron Williams, Utah2007-08 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM
Forward, Carlos Boozer, Utah
Forward, Paul Pierce, Boston
Center, Yao Ming, Houston
Guard, Tracy McGrady, Houston
Guard, Manu Ginobili, San Antonio
* Send questions or comments about this post to ajohn135@gmail.com
May 13, 2008 at 1:08 am
I agree with you on the Yao statement. Hard to believe Camby, or one of the other guys didn’t get a serious look at that spot. As for Williams, I think Ginobili may have had a better season, but there’s no denying Williams has turned himself into a great player, so I don’t really have too much of an issue with it.
May 13, 2008 at 1:14 am
How was Chris Bosh left off the first three teams? He did miss some time, but he was dominant in the East and played a major role for a playoff team. He certainly deserved more votes than he got.
May 13, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I like Bosh and Gasol over Boozer, but perhaps that’s just after seeing Booz in the playoffs. Boozer is not one of the 15 best players in the league. The Jazz have Deron Williams and a bunch of pretty good guys who might show up on a given night. Which is why Williams will have to outplay the MVP in order to win the series with LA. And I think he could do it!
May 13, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Gasol only played in 66 games, so I actually like Boozer ahead of him, but Bosh may have needed to get more votes, I’ll agree with you there.
As for Boozer, he had a very good, but not great, season, and I think people may have forgotten that with his poor play in the playoffs this year. He was struggling even before the playoffs started, which few have mentioned, but he still should’ve been a third team selection. He’s not one of the fifteen best players in the league, but due to injuries to other players and the success of his team, I think third team is probably about right.
May 14, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Another thing … I think the league should probably do away with the positions for the All-NBA teams and put the top five players on the first team, the next five on the second team, and so forth. Deserving players might get left off because there aren’t enough spots available.
May 14, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Every year we see injuries, but this year there were several players among the top tier players that caused them to miss out here. Arenas, D-Wade, Brand, J.O’Neal, and Bosh to name a few. I still believe Greg Oden would’ve been the R.O.Y. this season if he hadn’t been injured, and who knows, maybe he could’ve cracked this list too. I guess, that may be a bit premature now that I think of it.
May 15, 2008 at 12:02 am
Injuries are a part of the game, but I will admit that some of the best talents were left off of the All-NBA teams this season, if that’s what you’re looking for. That happens every year, otherwise perhaps C-Webb would’ve made more All-NBA teams than he did. We all know that he certainly had the talent, but durability is one of the most underrated aspects in the league. If a player can’t stay healthy, his value goes down the toilet.
May 17, 2008 at 11:09 am
I think I’d like to see Boozers name come off the Third Team. I know this is based on the regular season, but his playoff performance wasn’t what we’ve come to expect from star players in this league. I’m beginning to think Millsap might be a cheaper alternative for the future — maybe I’m overreacting.
May 18, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Games played have a huge impact, so why is Yao on the third team and Marcus Camby left off? I’d say that’s a major oversight.
May 20, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Camby is a stud and perhaps should’ve been an All-Star but Yao deserved to be on this list despite only playing in like 55 games. Dude is a complete stud when he does play.