Predicting the NBA All-Defensive Teams – 2007-2008

NBA Awards Predictions

Now that the NBA season is under way, it is time to start predicting just how well every team’s investment in defensive players will pan out by predicting the winners of the NBA’s All Defense awards for the 2007-2008 season.

These basketball franchises put millions of dollars into these players hoping that they will turn around their team’s defensive prowess, or that they will continue to be the defensive stalwart that they have been. As much as $30 million for 9 months of basketball goes into some of these players who do not do anything but play defense. In addition, you fans help pay that salary!

With that said, here are your 2007-2007 NBA Awards Predictions:

First Team All Defense

C – Marcus Camby: He is the reigning defensive player of the year and no other center in the NBA is doing what he does on the defensive end (however, that says a lot about the state of the NBA center).

PF – Tim Duncan: Is there even another possible selection for this spot. The only year Duncan was not a first team all defensive player came in 2005 when he had the foot injury…and he still made the second team!

SF – Ron Artest: I think this Ron Artest returns to his 2005 form and plays like the lockdown defender that he is. He is too big and athletic to let perimeters players have their way, and he certainly has a mean streak about him that helps with that.

SG – Bruce Bowen: Bowen is not the most athletic person in the NBA; not by a long shot. However, he is one of the few players in the NBA that understands that defense is all about effort and experience. If you try, you will learn how to do things to limit a player’s ability to contribute offensively.

PG – Jason Kidd: I know he is getting old, but even in a hampered season he made second team all defense last year. After a revitalizing summer, Kidd looks like he is past the micro-fracture surgery, and a few extra minutes of rest on the bench this season should serve him well.

Second Team All Defense

C – Dwight Howard: Thankfully, the NBA is not too strict on positions with its defensive award, because Howard definitely will deserve to be on this list this season. His propensity to block shots is uncanny, and his rebound rate is tops in the NBA.

PF – Kevin Garnett: KG has never been my favorite as an on the ball defender, but that is due to him guarding on the perimeter too frequently, or him taking on much bigger players when the T-wolves have elected to go small. However, much like Camby, he is very effective at helping out from the weak side.

SF – Tayshaun Prince: His defense just continues to get better and better, despite that performance against LeBron in Game 5.

SG – Kobe Bryant: Yeah, I think Bowen knocks Bryant off the first team for the first time since 2004. It is really only because Bryant will focus more on the offensive end for as long as he is on the Los Angeles Lakers.

PG – Kirk Hinrich: His continued growth under Scott Skiles has him playing defense at a level that was never projected for him when he came out of college.