All-NBA First Team: LeBron and Kevin Durant. Obvious locks here.
All-NBA Second Team: Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan. Some would argue that Melo deserves to be on the first team because of his value to the New York Knicks, but Durant has been all-around better on both ends of the floor. Either way, this leaves no room for George in the first two teams, which leads us to…
All-NBA Third Team: this is where things get interesting. There are plenty of players that could make this list, but lets name some of the most deserving candidates: Blake Griffin, Zach Randolph, Al Horford, David Lee (Hibbert should love this inclusion), Josh Smith and Paul George.
Most likely, Griffin and Randolph will make the cut for being a part of the better teams on the list above – both the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies have at least 55 wins as of Tuesday. Team success always matters, which is why LaMarcus Aldridge isn’t even on the list.
Unfortunately for the Pacers, George appears unlikely to make the cut. It doesn’t mean he’s undeserving – it just means this is how the award process usually works and it can only go to so many players (just ask Stephen Curry about making the All-Star team).
An award George may have a better chance at taking? NBA All-Defensive Team. If he doesn’t make one of those teams, then Hibbert will have a better case to be really upset about something.
NBA players react to Boston Marathon tragedy
Tweet of the Night: Jae Crowder
Tim Duncan is extremely likely to be All-NBA 1st or 2nd team CENTER so the analysis becomes flawed right at that point. That leads to Blake Griffin making the 2nd team.
Al Horford has likewise played center all season and will get his All-NBA votes there. He isn’t part of the equation.
David Lee is more likely to make the cut over Zach Randolph, so you are right that the last spot is likely to come down to Randolph and George.
FWIW
Win Shares
19.3 LeBron James
18.9 Kevin Durant
10.8 Blake Griffin
9.5 Carmelo Anthony
9.4 Serge Ibaka (quietly had an incredible year and gets barely any credit)
9.1 Paul George
9.1 David West (I don’t believe he is any less worthy than George)
8.8 Lee
7.6 Randolph (shouldn’t really be in the discussion)
Thanks for your input. Duncan has started every game as a power forward this season so you’re off there, but you do have a case with Horford – he has played 58 games at center and just 16 games at PF. Also, good point about Serge Ibaka. He does deserve more recognition.