In The News | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Picking best of the best not as simple as it sounds

Being selected for the All-Star Game is a nice honor. But ask any player and he will tell you only the MVP award trumps being a first-team All-NBA selection.

Just being on one of the three official All-NBA teams defines the best of the best in the most prestigious basketball league in the world.

Picking this season’s All-NBA first team turns out to be much easier than filling out the second and third teams, especially when it comes to choosing among a bumper crop of outstanding guards.

Injuries played a big factor, too. Derrick Rose is an obvious first-team choice when healthy and playing his usual minutes.

Four of the five first-team positions are no-brainers: LeBron James and Kevin Durant at forwards; Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant at the guard spots.

Other choices, all across the board, are more difficult.

The accompanying graphic (with per-game averages through Friday) shows how my All-NBA ballot will be submitted when the season ends. I’ve got two Spurs, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, among the 15 players on the three teams, with Duncan sliding into his third-team center spot because, well, he’s as much center as power forward, no matter what anyone says.

If nothing else, Duncan is the most efficient of all these choices, the lone player posting All-NBA-worthy numbers while averaging fewer than 30 minutes per game.

FIRST TEAM

(F) LeBron James, Heat
Points: 27.1
Rebounds: 7.9
Assists: 6.3

(F) Kevin Durant, Thunder
Points: 27.8
Rebounds: 8.0
Assists: 3.5

(G) Chris Paul, Clippers
Points: 19.3
Rebounds: 3.5
Assists: 9.0

(G) Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Points: 27.9
Rebounds: 5.4
Assists: 4.5

SECOND TEAM

(F) Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Points: 26.0
Rebounds: 13.4
Assists: 2.0

(F) Pau Gasol, Lakers
Points: 17.3
Rebounds: 10.4
Assists: 3.6

(G) Tony Parker, Spurs
Points: 18.6
Rebounds: 2.8
Assists: 7.7

(G) Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Points: 23.8
Rebounds: 4.5
Assists: 5.4

THIRD TEAM

(F) Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Points: 21.7
Rebounds: 6.8
Assists: 2.3

(F) Josh Smith, Hawks
Points: 18.8
Rebounds: 9.7
Assists: 3.8

(G) Dwyane Wade, Heat
Points: 22.5
Rebounds: 4.9
Assists: 4.7

(G) Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Points: 12.1
Rebounds: 4.9
Assists: 11.6

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @Monroe_SA

Kawhi’s monster slam described by rival TV crew

We all know that Kawhi’s Leonard’s dunk over New Orleans center Chris Kaman was pretty special.

It happened midway through the first quarter of the Spurs’ victory over New Orleans Friday night. And by halftime, it had already been saved for posterity on You Tube.

Less than three days later, it’s already picked up more than 2,500 hits. And probably destined for a poster, too.

It’s also particularly interesting to watch the video of the play with the New Orleans broadcasters. Hornets play-by-play man Bob Licht punctuates Leonard’s in-your-face slam with a resounding “ouch.”

But analyst Gil McGregor had the most interesting take, and a pretty good nickname for the Spurs rookie in the process.

After watching Leonard posterize Kaman, McGregor calls Leonard “Kawow.”

Twice.

Here’s the You Tube video of the play, through the Hornets’ broadcast.

Durant, Westbrook pace Saturday’s S&Ds with monster games

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were determined Saturday night to bring Oklahoma City another step closer to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Durant erupted for 43 points and Westbrook chipped in with 35 points and eight assists to lead the Thunder’s 115-110 triumph at Minnesota.

The victory kept the Thunder a game ahead of the Spurs with six games remaining.

Durant scored 16 points in the last seven minutes as the Thunder wrapped up their fourth victory in their last five games. It was his fourth 40-point game of the season.

”We want to win as much games as we can going down to the stretch of the season,” Durant told the Associated Press. ”Hopefully we get (the No. 1 seed). If not, we’ve just got to keep playing. We can’t worry about that. We’ve just got to worry about how we can get better every single game.”

Westbrook sank two key free throws with 14.8 seconds to seal the victory. Earlier, Minnesota coach Rick Adelman even tried 6-foot-11 forward-center Anthony Randolph in a futile bid to check the Thunder’s offensive catalyst.

“We tried everybody,” Minnesota guard Jose Barea told the Oklahoma of trying to defend Westbrook. ”He’s tough, especially when he’s making the midrange and the 3-point shot.”

Their combined efforts paced Saturday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Blistered Minnesota for 43 points and seven rebounds and was plus-14 in the Thunder’s victory.

Oklahoma City G Russell Westbrook: Notched 35 points, eight assists and was plus-17 in the Thunder’s victory at Minnesota.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Went for 28 points, 13 assists, four rebounds, three steals and was plus-11 in the Clippers’ triumph over Golden State.

Memphis F Rudy Gay: Went for 26 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in the Grizzlies’ victory over Utah.

Indiana C Roy Hibbert: Muscled for 23 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and was plus-14 in the Pacers’ triumph at Milwaukee.

Golden State G Nate Robinson: Came off the bench to score 28 points, eight assists, five rebounds and was plus-12 in the Warriors’ loss at the Clippers.

DUDS

Golden State G Charles Jenkins: The rookie from Hofstra missed all four shots with three turnovers and was minus-20 in the Warriors’ loss at the Clippers.

Oklahoma City F-G James Harden: Clanked through a 1-for-11 shooting effort with a turnover and was a game-worst minus-18 in the Thunder’s victory at Minnesota.

Milwaukee C Drew Gooden: The former Spur went 2 for 10 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-7 in the Bucks’ loss to Indiana.

New Jersey G Deron Williams: Notched 14 assists, but was 3 for 12 from the field with four turnovers and was a game-worst minus-16 in the Nets’ loss at Boston.

Phoenix C Marcin Gortat: Went 3 for 12 from the field and was a game-worst minus-27 in the Suns’ loss to the Spurs.