Luol Deng makes NBA’s all-defensive second team
BY NEIL HAYES Twitter: @bynhayes May 23, 2012 1:09PM
FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Forward LeBron James, Miami 24 5 53
Forward Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City 20 7 47
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 16 9 41
Guard Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers 13 9 35
Guard Tony Allen, Memphis 13 7 33
SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd Points
Forward Kevin Garnett, Boston 8 10 26
Forward LUOL DENG, CHICAGO 6 8 20
Center Tyson Chandler, New York 13 10 36
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 9 11 29
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 7 3 17
OTHERS: Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 19 (4); JOAKIM NOAH, CHICAGO, 14; Iman Shumpert, New York, 13 (4); Paul George, Indiana, 10 (2); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 9 (2); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 8 (2); Dwyane Wade, Miami, 5 (1); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 5 (1); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 5 (1); Avery Bradley, Boston, 3 (1); Marc Gasol, Memphis, 3 (1); Metta World Peace, L.A. Lakers, 3; Shawn Marion, Dallas, 3; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2, (1); Mike Conley, Memphis, 2; DERRICK ROSE, CHICAGO, 1; Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia, 1; CARLOS BOOZER, CHICAGO, 1; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 1.
Related Stories
Updated: May 23, 2012 1:51PM
Bulls forward Loul Deng didn't have the season he wanted to have. His individual game suffered after he tore a ligament in his left wrist. The team's fortunes were severely undercut when Derrick Rose tore the ACL in his knee in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series, which all-but ended the team's hopes of winning an NBA title.
Deng did achieve one goal he set for himself when he was named to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team on Wednesday. Some believe the recognition was long overdue.
"Luol Deng, was very underrated last year," former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said earlier this season. "To not make the All-Defensive team, I thought was absurd for him not to make it."
LeBron James received 53 points after voting by NBA coaches. Players received two points for a first-team vote and one point for a second-team vote. Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and Magic center Dwight Howard earned first-team honors.
Celtic guard Rajon Rondo, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Knicks center Tyson Chandler and Celtics guard Kevin Garnett joined Deng on the second team.
Sixers forward Andre Iguodala had the most points of any player not named to the first-or-second teams with 19. The Bulls Joakim Noah was next with 14.
