Kobe and Chris Paul Lead 4 Clippers and Lakers on All NBA Team

The Lakers and Clippers were both highly represented in the All NBA Team selections. Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul were each All NBA First Teamers, while Blake Griffin and Chris Paul were named to the second team.

Kobe earned his 7th consecutive First Team All NBA selection, while Chris Paul earned his second of his career. Its no surprise that Kobe was named to the team, as he was beat out for the scoring title in the last day of the season (27.9 ppg to 28.0 ppg) by fellow first teamer and second round series victor Kevin Durant. More impressively, and disheartening for Laker fans, is that Kobe averaged 38 minutes per game, which was 4 more per game than last season.

Chris Paul lead the Clippers from the bottom of the conference last year to fifth in the Western Conference this season. While his numbers are impressive (19.8 points per game, 9.1 assists, and 2.5 steals), he certainly gets the nod over other point guards for his leadership, clutch play, and the unbelievable fact that the Clippers won more than one game and a playoff series to go with it.

The other First Teamers were Lebron James and Dwight Howard. While none of these teams would be anywhere without their All NBA performers, Chris Paul gets more (deserved) credit for his role as a floor general and leader on and off the court. Kevin Durant leads with a quiet example, and while he can take over the game he still follows the flow of the offense. Lebron is the point guard for the Heat, but does not get the same respect as a team leader (because it is usually about his talents, and not the team’s). Dwight Howard by virtue of his position is at the mercy of his teammates for the ball, and likewise is dependent on other players for leadership. Besides with his The Clash routine who would listen to his advice anyway. Kobe gets credit for pushing his teammates buttons as if he played for the zenmaster for ______ seasons, but he doesn’t quite pull it off as earnestly as Chris Paul. As the traffic cop for the Clippers, he looks like the leader, but some of that is just predetermined by the point guard position. But Chris Paul earned this accolade for this season.

Both Blake Griffin and Andrew Bynum were Second Team All NBA Selections. Griffin averaged 20 points per game, 10.9 rebounds, and over 1 outrageous highlight per game. This was Griffin’s first All NBA selection, after being named Rookie of the Year in his first full season last year. He was voted to start in the All Star game in Orlando, but it was no sure thing that he was named to the Second Team. His offensive moves seemed to take a step back through the second half of the season, and the 23 year old should have more opportunities to make more All NBA teams.

This year was a coming out party for Andrew Bynum as a player and as an ego. No longer in the confines of the triangle offense, Bynum was an offensive force this season. HIs 18.7 points per game were a significant improvement as a focal point for the offense. Most impressively, he finally fulfilled his potential on the boards, averaging almost 12 rebounds a game (including his  30 rebounds game in April). This was a significant improvement from 9.4 and 8.3 rebounds per game from the previous 2 seasons. He also averaged 1.9 blocks this year.

If they didn’t know it when Bynum took out JJ Barea in the playoffs last year, fans and media alike learned of Bynum’s character issues this season. He had the ability to be dominant, which made it even more noticeable when he loafed around the court, shot a three pointer, got benched, and all the while believed he was talented enough to be above punishment. At times a Bynum for Dwight Howard deal looked like the Lakers would lose too much giving up the young center with an accomplished offensive game, but in the playoffs he looked overmatched by defenses commitment to stopping him.

Former UCLA stars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love were each named to the ALL NBA Second Team. Kevin Love lead the NBA in double doubles, and overtook Tony Parker for most points in the paint in the league by a guard. Both players you could make the case for being bonafide First Team All NBA performers. Former USC standouts Demar Derozan, Taj Gibson, and Brian Scalabrine (well maybe not the White Mamba) also deserve recognition for outstanding seasons, despite accurately not being selected.

Players who are worthy of being on the team but were omitted include: Lamarcus Aldridge, Demarcus Cousins, Luol Deng, Serge Ibaka, James Harden, Paul Pierce, and Andre Iguodala.