Tag: San Antonio Spurs

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

(C) Andrew Bynum, Lakers
Points: 18.9
Rebounds: 10.4
Blocks: 1.9

(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

(C) Dwight Howard, Magic
Points: 20.6
Rebounds: 14.5
Blocks: 2.2

(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

(C) Tim Duncan, Spurs
Points: 15.4
Rebounds: 9.0
Blocks: 1.5

(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

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.