The Celtics heart (KG) and soul (Rondo) were both named to the NBA All-Defensive second team today. Rondo had nine first-place votes and 11 second-place votes for a total of 36 points. Garnett followed with eight first-place votes and 10 second-place votes for 26 points.
The first team was former Celtics guard Tony Allen (now on Memphis), Magic center Dwight Howard, Clippers guard Chris Paul, Thunder forward Serge Ibaka and Heat forward LeBron James.
Others on the second team included Bulls forward Luol Dang, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Knicks center Tyson Chandler (who was the Defensive Player of the Year, haha figure that out).
For these squads, the voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select NBA All-Defensive first and second teams by position. Coaches were not allowed 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.
Celtics second-year guard Avery Bradley finished with three points, including a first-team vote.
This is timely since to beat the Sixers tonight in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and win the series 4-2, the Celtics will need to call on their outstanding defense to get the job done. They are primarily a jump-shooting team so that comes and goes at times, but playing good defense is something that they can have more control over. I would argue that has been the key to the series for the Celts and I don't expect anything about that to change if they keep winning, reach the Eastern Conference Finals and perhaps beyond.
UPDATE 5/24: Today Rondo was named to the All-NBA third team. Garnett and Paul Pierce also received votes.
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