Awards Predictions 2012: All-Defense

picks and analysis by Devin Gray (@devingray33) and Pat Choi (@patty_choi)

DG - All-NBA First Defensive Team

Center - Tyson Chandler, New York

Forward - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City           

Forward - LeBron James, Miami

Guard - Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers

Guard - Tony Allen, Memphis

DG - All-NBA Second Defensive Team

Center - Dwight Howard, Orlando

Forward - Josh Smith, Atlanta

Forward - Shawn Marion, Dallas

Guard - Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia

Guard - Rajon Rondo, Boston

LeBron guards all positions and turns defense into offense

PC - All-NBA First Defensive Team

Center - Tyson Chandler, New York

Forward - Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City           

Forward - LeBron James, Miami

Guard - Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia

Guard - Tony Allen, Memphis

PC - All-NBA Second Defensive Team

Center - Dwight Howard, Orlando

Forward - Kevin Garnett, Boston

Forward - Luol Deng, Chicago

Guard - Paul George, Indiana

Guard - Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers

Tony Allen has proven himself to be one of the elite perimeter defenders in the NBA

Note: Dwight Howard not on the All-NBA First Defensive Team

This season showed why Dwight isn't a lock for best-at-everything center. He usually dominates the position, but an off-year and a lack of public support gave Tyson Chandler the Defensive Player of the Year. How could you put the DPOY on the All-NBA Second Defensive Team? It doesn't make sense. And since there's only two spots for centers, unless you're going to bend the rules and make one of them eligible for the forward position, it has to be Chandler on the first team and Dwight on the second.