2012 NBA Playoffs

For the fifth straight time, reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Miami Heat was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

The two-time MVP James, who was selected to the First Team every year since 2009, garnered 53 points overall, including 24 first team votes. He was the lone player to top 50 points.

Aside from James, making it to the first team were forward Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder (47 points), guards Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers (35 points) and Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (33 points), and center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic (41 points).

Ibaka and Allen were selected to the First Team for the first time. Allen was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection last season.

Through James' outstanding defensive effort, the Heat have limited their opponent's scoring to just 91.4 points per game, fourth in the league in the regular season. The Heat are ranked third in forced turnovers (16.6) and fifth in opponent field goal percentage (.434).

James led the Heat in steals (1.9 per game) and defensive rebounds (6.4 per game). The Heat finished the regular season with a 46-20 mark, good for No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs

Ibaka led the league in blocks (3.65 per game) while Paul was tops in steals with 2.53 a game. Howard was the league's leading rebounder (14.5 rpg) as well as its top defensive rebounder (10.8 per game).

With Allen on the court, the Grizzlies allowed 96.0 points per 100 possessions compared to 101.7 points per 100 possessions without him on the floor.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, center Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks, and forwards Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls and Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics.

The NBA's 30 head coaches formed the voting panel. They were asked to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.

 

 

LeBron Leads NBA All-Defensive First Team