LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard figure to be seeing a lot of each other over the next two weeks.
That will be the small forward matchup in the NBA Finals. Just like last year, it should be a good one, because both players were named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team on Monday.
Neither the Miami Heat nor the San Antonio Spurs have anyone on the All-Defensive First Team, which was voted on by the media and has Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah of Chicago at center, Paul George of Indiana and Serge Ibaka of Oklahoma City at forward and Chris Paul of the LA Clippers and Andre Iguodala of Golden State at guard.
The Second Team has Roy Hibbert of Indiana at center, James and Leonard at forward and Patrick Beverley of Houston and Jimmy Butler of Chicago at guard.
In last year’s Finals, Leonard did a remarkably credible job on James, who shot below 45 percent from the field in the series, more than 100 points below his regular season mark.
Leonard clearly was assisted by San Antonio’s defensive scheme, which built a wall across the paint and contested his 3-pointers while giving him mid-range jumpers. James eventually figured it out and began taking – and making – long 2-pointers, including the clinching basket in Game 7.
Other Spurs receiving Defensive Team votes were forward Tim Duncan and guards Tony Parker and Danny Green. Center Chris Bosh and guard Dwayne Wade were other Heat players receiving votes.
A total of 73 players received votes, including an inexplicable two for Rockets guard James Harden. Other head-scratchers included Dallas guard Monta Ellis and Golden State forward David Lee.
Lee gave the Warriors a league-best six players receiving votes. The Pacers, Clippers and Thunder had five each and the Bulls joined the Spurs with four.
Five teams – Denver, the LA Lakers, Milwaukee, New York and Utah – had no players receive a single vote.