All Defense 2008-09

[paintitgreen]

So, after reading over the all time list discussion, I started wondering who you guys think belongs on the All-Defensive teams for this year. And specifically, which Celtics you think belong on the team and which ones you think will make it.

Dwight Howard will start at center, that's the one thing I'm pretty sure about. I also think with their high steal/block rates and star power, Wade and Lebron will also make the first team. Surrounding them, I think Chris Paul and Kobe will be fighting for the other guard spot, with Kobe taking it on reputation. Although, since Kobe will get the other First Team ALl-NBA spot, it would be nice for Paul to take it.

As for the other forward, Garnett has just missed too much time to be first team. I think Battier should actually get the other forward spot, but I'm guessing it'll come down to Artest v. Duncan for the other first team forward.

Other non-Celtic candidates based on performance and reputation: Marcus Camby, Tayshaun Prince, Raja Bell, Gerald Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Tyrus Thomas, Josh Smith, Jason Kidd, Trevor Ariza.

On the Celtics front, I really think Pierce deserves recognition because of the way he's stepped up his defense the past few years. He's our primary wing defender and he's as good as anyone in the league doing it. Rondo should be among the candidates, and honestly, so should Perk. He's sixth in blocks and unlike many leaders in that category (Howard, Camby, Chris Anderson), he doesn't get them in help or weakside situations, since that's not his role, he gets a majority of his blocks man up on other centers. I think his defensive emergence has been underrated all year.

That said, I think one out of Garnett, Pierce and Rondo MIGHT get a Second Team nod but that's it from the Celtics. Which is a shame since they are still the best defensive team in the league.

I think it should be:
C Howard
F Lebron
F Battier
G Rondo
G Paul

C Duncan
F Garnett
F Pierce
G Kobe
G Wade

I think it will be:
C Howard
F Lebron
F Duncan
G Wade
G Kobe

C Camby
F Artest
F Battier, Garnett or Pierce
G Paul
G Bell or Rondo

[D Dub]

I'm gonna go with:

Rondo
Tony Allen
Pierce
KG
Perkins


Okay maybe I'm bias, but then again all of the above are Top Notch defenders..

[Jon]

It'd be nice (though a pipe dream) to see Perk get recognized.  Other than KG, he might be the most important defensive player on this team. 

[I Love Getting Rondod]

Perk would have a chance at the third team [if there is one].  He has had a phenomenal defensive year although the rebounding numbers won't show it.  He has gone up against the top centers in the league and held them in check solidly.  However, after watching Howard decimate the Celtics in the first half last week, it is clear that while he still has a lot to learn, his shot blocking is so incredible that it gives him a Mutumbo like presence in the paint.  He would get the nod over Duncan and Camby for my center.

[Jon]

Perk would have a chance at the third team [if there is one].  He has had a phenomenal defensive year although the rebounding numbers won't show it.  He has gone up against the top centers in the league and held them in check solidly.  However, after watching Howard decimate the Celtics in the first half last week, it is clear that while he still has a lot to learn, his shot blocking is so incredible that it gives him a Mutumbo like presence in the paint.  He would get the nod over Duncan and Camby for my center.

I don't know if Howard's performance is really that indicative of anything.  Great players can't be stopped, they can only be (sometimes) slowed down.  Just think about how many insane game Wilt Chamberlain put up on Bill Russell.  Doesn't mean Russ wasn't the greatest ever.  Plus, like Russ, Perk's a better team defender than man on man defender. 

[Celtics17]

Call me crazy but I would take Perk in a one on one low post defensive situation over any other player, even Howard. I am not saying he is a better defender then Howard although I think it's close but against one player around the basket I will take Perk over anyone else! Howard may get the block around the basket but he does not have Perk's strength around the basket. Shaq can knock Howard around but he can't Perk.

[jackson_34]

I'd love to see Perk get some recognition for this year.

[Who]

Currently my choices are:

First Team -- Dwight Howard -- Kevin Garnett -- LeBron James -- Shane Battier -- Rajon Rondo

Second Team -- Tim Duncan -- Ben Wallace -- Ron Artest -- Ray Allen -- Kobe Bryant

If KG has missed too much time to make the squad, then I'd lift Duncan to the first team and insert Perkins into the second team.

[KG Living Legend]

KG
Perk
Rondo
KG
Perk
Rondo
KG
Perk
Rondo
T Allen
Posey
R Allen
Pruitt
Scal
Baby

[guava_wrench]

Did Wallace play enough games?

[Who]

Did Wallace play enough games?

Ben Wallace? Actually, probably not. Big Ben has played only 53 games.

I need a second injury replacement big man ... hmm ... I'll have to ponder that some more.

Some contenders -- Emeka Okafor, Boris Diaw, Nene, Yao Ming, Rashard Lewis -- or could go small and insert another wing, maybe Paul Pierce.

[Atzar]

Currently my choices are:

First Team -- Dwight Howard -- Kevin Garnett -- LeBron James -- Shane Battier -- Rajon Rondo

Second Team -- Tim Duncan -- Ben Wallace -- Ron Artest -- Ray Allen -- Kobe Bryant

If KG has missed too much time to make the squad, then I'd lift Duncan to the first team and insert Perkins into the second team.

Here's an interesting stat for you that backs up your Ray Allen mention:  the Boston Celtics hold opposing SG's to the lowest PER of any team at any position (11.9).  Second is Cleveland at SF (12.0), and nobody is really close after that.

[Fafnir]

Currently my choices are:

First Team -- Dwight Howard -- Kevin Garnett -- LeBron James -- Shane Battier -- Rajon Rondo

Second Team -- Tim Duncan -- Ben Wallace -- Ron Artest -- Ray Allen -- Kobe Bryant

If KG has missed too much time to make the squad, then I'd lift Duncan to the first team and insert Perkins into the second team.

Here's an interesting stat for you that backs up your Ray Allen mention:  the Boston Celtics hold opposing SG's to the lowest PER of any team at any position (11.9).  Second is Cleveland at SF (12.0), and nobody is really close after that.

Opposing players PER isn't a useful statistic for evaluating a single players defense.

[Atzar]

Currently my choices are:

First Team -- Dwight Howard -- Kevin Garnett -- LeBron James -- Shane Battier -- Rajon Rondo

Second Team -- Tim Duncan -- Ben Wallace -- Ron Artest -- Ray Allen -- Kobe Bryant

If KG has missed too much time to make the squad, then I'd lift Duncan to the first team and insert Perkins into the second team.

Here's an interesting stat for you that backs up your Ray Allen mention:  the Boston Celtics hold opposing SG's to the lowest PER of any team at any position (11.9).  Second is Cleveland at SF (12.0), and nobody is really close after that.

Opposing players PER isn't a useful statistic for evaluating a single players defense.

Yeah, but it's not meaningless either.  When the next best at the position is more than a point and a half behind, that reflects well on our SGs' defense, and Ray logs more minutes at that spot than anybody.  Defense is a hard thing to put into statistics.  That statistic obviously doesn't make him deserving of the DPOY award, but I think it reasonably contends that his defense has gone from 'poor' to 'commendable' since he joined the Celtics.

[xmuscularghandix]

Perk deserves more recognition than ANY other player on this team, i actually think that Rondo's defense has been a slight disapointment this year.