Early All-NBA first-team picks
Westbrook over CP3, James over Durant and other selections
By Chris Palmer | ESPN The Magazine
ESPN INSIDER
Award season will be upon us shortly, and outside of the MVP trophy, no honor is more coveted than a spot on the All-NBA first team.
This season, the competition is fierce. With a shortened schedule and so many players putting up big numbers, even a five-game slump is enough to dash a player's first-team dreams. Consistency is a must. Hopefuls need to stay hot and finish the year strong.
Here's my All-NBA first team through this point in the season, plus the guys who may have a thing or two to do with how the individual races actually play out. There could very well be some shake-ups in a month, but here's how I see it now.
Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook rebounded from a rocky postseason to turn the 2011-12 season into a career campaign. He has almost as many 30-point games (12) as peers Chris Paul and Derrick Rose combined (14), including two 40-point explosions (both wins). When he scores big, the Thunder win more often than not (OKC is 16-6 when he goes for 25 or more).
Westbrook has battled a rep as a bit of gunner but is actually shooting fewer 3s per game than Paul and Rose. The biggest statistical difference between this season and last is that Westbrook's assists have dropped off by about 2.8 per game. That can likely be attributed to Kevin Durant and James Harden willingly taking on more distribution duties. But among players averaging 24 points or more, only LeBron James has more 8-assist games than Westbrook.
He gets as much out of his athletic ability as any small guard. He's a terror in transition, and at 6-foot-3 is pulling down as many offensive rebounds (1.4) as James and Dwyane Wade. Westbrook is also one of the NBA's most durable players, having never missed a game in his four-year career.
What about Chris Paul? It's tough to make a case against Paul, but he's a pass-first creator whose assist average has dropped 1.2 assists per game to 8.6, the second-lowest of his career. While the Thunder have the best record in the West, the Clippers are in a dogfight to remain in the playoffs, despite a comparatively talented roster.
And Rose? His injuries took him out of the race weeks ago.
Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
In many ways Bryant's 16th campaign has been among his most impressive. He'll be 33 years and 247 days old at season's end, making him the third-oldest player in history to average at least 28 points per game (Michael Jordan was the oldest at 35 years and 60 days in 1997-98). There's been incessant chatter that Bryant has lost a step or two, but his 2012 numbers (28.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists) are remarkably on pace with his 2001 stats (28.5/5.9/5).
Bryant is the most technically sound guard in the game and possesses the biggest cache of initial and countermoves, and seems to add a new wrinkle each week. He gives defenders fits with precise footwork, clever misdirection and by generally outwitting them. Defensive stalwarts still circle Lakers games on the calendar knowing that Bryant will likely be their toughest defensive assignment of the season.
What about Dwyane Wade? The Heat guard has delivered another solid campaign, but various injuries have caused him to miss 10 games, putting him well out of reach of a first-team spot in a 66-game season. There's also the fact that Bryant averages more points, rebounds, edges him from behind the arc and has a perfect attendance record despite a broken nose.
LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
No surprise in the small forward slot, as James is the favorite to capture his third MVP trophy. In fact, he's already snagged Eastern Conference player of the month honors for both January and February. James has been mired in a mini-slump lately, but with a hot streak in the next four weeks he could become the first player since Larry Bird in 1986-87 to average at least 27.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
James has completed the transformation into world-class defender by polishing up details like forcing ball handlers into double-teams, sprinting back on transition D to cover spot-up shooters (not just to make the block) and playing crosscourt passing lanes like a defensive back, which often leads to easy fast-break buckets. He has a chance to be the first player to average at least two steals and one block per game in a season since Wade did it three years ago. If James does it, bet on him to win his first defensive player of the year award, too.
What about Kevin Durant? No knock on Durant, who is posting career highs in rebounds (8.1), assists (3.6), steals (1.5), blocks (1.2) and field goal percentage (49.9), but he just happens to be in line behind the game's best player. But man, he makes a good case.
Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
For now, the "best power forward in the league" debate is dead. Love's recent run of scoring and rebounding has silenced talk that he's anything but the league's best.
It's difficult to keep the superlatives in check when reeling off his accomplishments. Since the 2008-09 season, Love has the most 30-point, 20-rebound games, with seven. His 51-point, 14-rebound outing against Oklahoma City could be the line of the season. Love is already among the best-shooting power forwards of all time. Last season he became the first player in league history to average 15 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from 3. While he's slightly off that pace this season (13.8/37 percent), no other player is remotely close.
Still, much of the focus is on what Love can't do. Critics point to the fact that he's a decent defender at best. But none of the top power forwards are defensive aces (Griffin, Aldridge, Nowitzki), so Love doesn't lose too many points there.
What about Blake Griffin? Having been surrounded by better teammates, his numbers have predictably gone down. With a year to figure him out, defenses have also exposed a host of Griffin's weaknesses, like his inability to create jump shots and get quality looks other than dunks. Still, his numbers remain outstanding, but Love's offensive polish, free throw shooting and aggressiveness on the boards give him the clear advantage.
Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
He's been getting some serious push from Andrew Bynum, but Howard still reigns supreme as the game's best pivot thanks in large part to incomparable athletic ability that uniquely blends power and grace. Howard had an MVP-like month in March, averaging 24.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2 blocks on 65 percent shooting while the Magic went 9-5.
In the endless debate about what player is most valuable to his team, it's hard to argue against Howard. When he grabs 20 or more rebounds, the Magic are 8-1. When he blocks four or more shots, they're 7-1. It's difficult to dominate more than Howard has this season, being among the top five in rebounds (first), blocks (second) and field goal percentage (third). Oh, and there's the first-team All-Defensive spot that surely awaits him.
What about Andrew Bynum? Just as in the MVP race, how you play in the second half of the season carries more weight when trying to secure an All-NBA spot. Howard clearly outplayed Bynum through February, but the 24-year-old Lakers center has been tearing it up in March with averages nearly identical to Howard at 23.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and two blocks on 65 percent shooting.
Like Howard, Bynum is in the top five in three statistical categories, and despite Howard's three DPOY awards, the two aren't that far apart defensively. The Magic are giving up a league-best 36.6 points in the paint. The Lakers aren't far off, allowing just 2.7 more.
Bynum's wide array of shots (including a sublime jump hook), superior free throw shooting and renewed swagger make this an interesting race. Should Bynum finish out the season as strongly as he's doing the month of March, he'll have every right to a spot on the first team.
Westbrook over CP3, James over Durant and other selections
By Chris Palmer | ESPN The Magazine
ESPN INSIDER
Award season will be upon us shortly, and outside of the MVP trophy, no honor is more coveted than a spot on the All-NBA first team.
This season, the competition is fierce. With a shortened schedule and so many players putting up big numbers, even a five-game slump is enough to dash a player's first-team dreams. Consistency is a must. Hopefuls need to stay hot and finish the year strong.
Here's my All-NBA first team through this point in the season, plus the guys who may have a thing or two to do with how the individual races actually play out. There could very well be some shake-ups in a month, but here's how I see it now.
Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook rebounded from a rocky postseason to turn the 2011-12 season into a career campaign. He has almost as many 30-point games (12) as peers Chris Paul and Derrick Rose combined (14), including two 40-point explosions (both wins). When he scores big, the Thunder win more often than not (OKC is 16-6 when he goes for 25 or more).
Westbrook has battled a rep as a bit of gunner but is actually shooting fewer 3s per game than Paul and Rose. The biggest statistical difference between this season and last is that Westbrook's assists have dropped off by about 2.8 per game. That can likely be attributed to Kevin Durant and James Harden willingly taking on more distribution duties. But among players averaging 24 points or more, only LeBron James has more 8-assist games than Westbrook.
He gets as much out of his athletic ability as any small guard. He's a terror in transition, and at 6-foot-3 is pulling down as many offensive rebounds (1.4) as James and Dwyane Wade. Westbrook is also one of the NBA's most durable players, having never missed a game in his four-year career.
What about Chris Paul? It's tough to make a case against Paul, but he's a pass-first creator whose assist average has dropped 1.2 assists per game to 8.6, the second-lowest of his career. While the Thunder have the best record in the West, the Clippers are in a dogfight to remain in the playoffs, despite a comparatively talented roster.
And Rose? His injuries took him out of the race weeks ago.
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Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers
In many ways Bryant's 16th campaign has been among his most impressive. He'll be 33 years and 247 days old at season's end, making him the third-oldest player in history to average at least 28 points per game (Michael Jordan was the oldest at 35 years and 60 days in 1997-98). There's been incessant chatter that Bryant has lost a step or two, but his 2012 numbers (28.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists) are remarkably on pace with his 2001 stats (28.5/5.9/5).
Bryant is the most technically sound guard in the game and possesses the biggest cache of initial and countermoves, and seems to add a new wrinkle each week. He gives defenders fits with precise footwork, clever misdirection and by generally outwitting them. Defensive stalwarts still circle Lakers games on the calendar knowing that Bryant will likely be their toughest defensive assignment of the season.
What about Dwyane Wade? The Heat guard has delivered another solid campaign, but various injuries have caused him to miss 10 games, putting him well out of reach of a first-team spot in a 66-game season. There's also the fact that Bryant averages more points, rebounds, edges him from behind the arc and has a perfect attendance record despite a broken nose.
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LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat
No surprise in the small forward slot, as James is the favorite to capture his third MVP trophy. In fact, he's already snagged Eastern Conference player of the month honors for both January and February. James has been mired in a mini-slump lately, but with a hot streak in the next four weeks he could become the first player since Larry Bird in 1986-87 to average at least 27.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
James has completed the transformation into world-class defender by polishing up details like forcing ball handlers into double-teams, sprinting back on transition D to cover spot-up shooters (not just to make the block) and playing crosscourt passing lanes like a defensive back, which often leads to easy fast-break buckets. He has a chance to be the first player to average at least two steals and one block per game in a season since Wade did it three years ago. If James does it, bet on him to win his first defensive player of the year award, too.
What about Kevin Durant? No knock on Durant, who is posting career highs in rebounds (8.1), assists (3.6), steals (1.5), blocks (1.2) and field goal percentage (49.9), but he just happens to be in line behind the game's best player. But man, he makes a good case.
Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
For now, the "best power forward in the league" debate is dead. Love's recent run of scoring and rebounding has silenced talk that he's anything but the league's best.
It's difficult to keep the superlatives in check when reeling off his accomplishments. Since the 2008-09 season, Love has the most 30-point, 20-rebound games, with seven. His 51-point, 14-rebound outing against Oklahoma City could be the line of the season. Love is already among the best-shooting power forwards of all time. Last season he became the first player in league history to average 15 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from 3. While he's slightly off that pace this season (13.8/37 percent), no other player is remotely close.
Still, much of the focus is on what Love can't do. Critics point to the fact that he's a decent defender at best. But none of the top power forwards are defensive aces (Griffin, Aldridge, Nowitzki), so Love doesn't lose too many points there.
What about Blake Griffin? Having been surrounded by better teammates, his numbers have predictably gone down. With a year to figure him out, defenses have also exposed a host of Griffin's weaknesses, like his inability to create jump shots and get quality looks other than dunks. Still, his numbers remain outstanding, but Love's offensive polish, free throw shooting and aggressiveness on the boards give him the clear advantage.
<hr style="width: 50%;">
Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic
He's been getting some serious push from Andrew Bynum, but Howard still reigns supreme as the game's best pivot thanks in large part to incomparable athletic ability that uniquely blends power and grace. Howard had an MVP-like month in March, averaging 24.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 2 blocks on 65 percent shooting while the Magic went 9-5.
In the endless debate about what player is most valuable to his team, it's hard to argue against Howard. When he grabs 20 or more rebounds, the Magic are 8-1. When he blocks four or more shots, they're 7-1. It's difficult to dominate more than Howard has this season, being among the top five in rebounds (first), blocks (second) and field goal percentage (third). Oh, and there's the first-team All-Defensive spot that surely awaits him.
What about Andrew Bynum? Just as in the MVP race, how you play in the second half of the season carries more weight when trying to secure an All-NBA spot. Howard clearly outplayed Bynum through February, but the 24-year-old Lakers center has been tearing it up in March with averages nearly identical to Howard at 23.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and two blocks on 65 percent shooting.
Like Howard, Bynum is in the top five in three statistical categories, and despite Howard's three DPOY awards, the two aren't that far apart defensively. The Magic are giving up a league-best 36.6 points in the paint. The Lakers aren't far off, allowing just 2.7 more.
Bynum's wide array of shots (including a sublime jump hook), superior free throw shooting and renewed swagger make this an interesting race. Should Bynum finish out the season as strongly as he's doing the month of March, he'll have every right to a spot on the first team.
