Just a quick thought before a look at the the all NBA team, Why does the All NBA team have a Center position still when the NBA All-Star game has already changed the voting? It just seemed weird to see Joakim Noah as the clear selection for the team before looking at the ballots and realizing a Center needed to be chosen.
All NBA 1st Team
Forward: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) 625
Forward: LeBron James (Miami Heat) 623
Center: Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls) 551
Guard: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) 540
Guard: James Harden (Houston Rockets) 502
All NBA 2nd Team
Forward: Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) 237
Forward: Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers) 350
Center: Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets) 226
Guard: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) 489
Guard: Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) 210
All NBA 3rd Team
Forward: Paul George (Indiana Pacers) 171
Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers) 159
Center: Al Jefferson (Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets) 191
Guard: Goran Dragic (Phoenix Suns) 115
Guard: Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers) 115
While looking at the votes, it was immediately clear that James Harden was an odd addition to this team. Stephen Curry or Tony Parker would both be better selections to the all NBA first team. Harden led his team to more wins than Curry did, but at the same time, Harden has Howard down low, and Curry had more injuries on his team this year. Curry played in 78 games this season compared to 73 for Harden. Curry averaged 2.3 more points per game, shot better from the costless throw line by 1.9%, 6% higher from 3 point land. Curry also had 2 more assists per game. The only thing would be if the voters are regionalized, and the west coast voters had voted for Paul instead of Curry. But the votes were still very close.
It is a very lopsided ballot with the totals for all three teams to be 11 Western Conference players and 4 Eastern Conference players. When the NBA requires a Center to be on the ballot, where is DeMarcus Cousins? He is the highest rated center in terms of player efficiency. He averaged 13 more points per game than Noah, more efficient on 2 pointers, slightly more blocks per game than Noah, and Noah is the first team representative. Reputation must have been a major factor because everyone says Noah is a great team player on a defensive team, and Cousins is on the Kings, who struggled, and is considered to be selfish.
Also, where is his collegiate teammate John Wall? The fellow Wildcat is surprisingly absent from the ballot. It would probably be an accurate substituion over Lilliard, who got a lot of publicity as the reigning Rookie of the Year, and by getting the Blazers off to a fast start this season. Wall led his team to the second round of the playoffs. He averaged just a 1.5 points less than Lillard, but had 3 more assists and 1 more steal per game. There may have been a few less highlights, but Wall was completely deserving to make the team this season.
Forwards are actually difficult to choose, but Durant and James are perfect for the first team. Love and Griffin could be first team if they could choose 3 forwards instead of mandating a center. Aldridge was great and George is the only Pacer to make the team.
In closing, it would be nice to see the NBA choose the same format for their All NBA team as they have for their All Star teams, knowing that the center position is not highly utilized the way it used to be. However, if they are going to require a center, make every position required. The team has 2 point guards and 2 small forwards to go with the center. Also, it would be excellent to have more voters. 125 voters choosing honors for the entire league seems a little ridiculous, when there are many qualified voters who can review the statistics to see that there is a better way to select the teams. Reform in the voting process would be excellent.