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Published: May 13, 2008 12:30 AM
Modified: May 13, 2008 04:48 AM
 

Bryant, Garnett lead the defense

Stars among players announced to all-defensive teams

League MVP Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett were selected to the NBA all-defensive team on Monday, along with Marcus Camby, Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan.

Garnett, who helped the Boston Celtics to the league's best record, was chosen for the ninth time. The forward was chosen defensive player of the year last month.

Bryant, who earned his eighth selection, and Garnett each received 24 first-place votes from the league's 30 coaches.

Garnett led a defense that held opponents to 90.3 points per game and a league best .418 field goal shooting percentage.

Camby had a league-leading 3.61 blocked shots per game for the Denver Nuggets and was second in rebounds (13.1 per game). Duncan, on the team for the 11th time, and Bowen, making the team for the eighth time, play for the San Antonio Spurs.

The second team is Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons and Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns.

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ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAMS

(First-team votes in parentheses)

The voting panel consisted of the NBA's 30 head coaches. Each selected NBA all-defensive first and second teams by position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. Two points were awarded for a first-team vote and one point for second team.

FIRST TEAM

Kevin Garnett, f, Boston, 52 (24)

Kobe Bryant, g, L.A. Lakers, 52 (24)

Marcus Camby, c, Denver, 37 (14)

Bruce Bowen, g-f, San Antonio, 36 (13)

Tim Duncan, f, San Antonio, 33 (12)

SECOND TEAM

Shane Battier, f, Houston, 29 (9)

Chris Paul, g, New Orleans, 26 (10)

Dwight Howard, c, Orlando, 25 (8)

Tayshaun Prince, f, Detroit, 20 (3)

Raja Bell, g, Phoenix, 18 (4)

AMONG OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 14 (5); Jason Kidd, Dallas, 13 (4); Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 13 (3); Rajon Rondo, Boston, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 8, (3); Josh Smith, Atlanta, 8, (3); Ron Artest, Sacramento, 8 (2); Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 8 (1); Andrei Kirilenko, Utah, 6; Derek Fisher, Los Angeles Lakers, 4 (1); LeBron James, Cleveland, 4 (1).

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