Monday, May 9, 2011
Posted: 4:09 p.m.
By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com
Even when his scoring touch abandoned him, Andre Iguodala could still play defense. Even when his three-point shooting sputtered and his foul shooting struggled and his drives to the basket ended up clanging off the rim, Iguodalas defense never wavered.
Iguodala, who had an uneven season on the offensive end in what could very well be his last year with the Sixers, was named to the NBAs All-Defensive Second Team on Monday.
This is the first All-Defense honor for Iguodala in his seven-year NBA career, all with the Sixers.
Iguodala received 15 points in balloting among the 30 NBA coaches. He was mentioned on 20 of the 29 ballots (coaches cant vote for their own players), with 10 coaches giving him a first-team vote and 10 others giving him a second-team vote.
Dwight Howard of the Magic, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett of the Celtics, LeBron James of the Heat and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers formed the first team, with Howard leading all vote recipients with 56 points.
NBA
Joining Iguodala on the second team were the Grizzlies Tony Allen, the Hornets Chris Paul, the Mavs Tyson Chandler and the Bulls Joakim Noah.
Last month, Sixers coach Doug Collins said he was disappointed when Iguodala finished eighth in media voting for the leagues Defensive Player of the Year award. Iguodalas 15 points Monday placed him ninth in the coaches voting.
To me hes a top-five defender, Collins said. We dont do a lot of campaigning, but I think hes as good as defender as there is in the league.
Iguodala averaged just 14.1 points per game this year and just 11.4 in the playoffs, but the Sixers became a very good defensive team this season, and Collins believes Iguodala is one of the main reasons why.
In 2009, under coach Eddie Jordan, opposing teams shot 47 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range against the Sixers, averaging 102 points per game. This past season, teams shot 45 percent against the Sixers, 34 percent from three and averaged just 97 points per game.
The Sixers ranked 12th in points allowed, ninth in opponents field goal percentage and sixth in three-point defense this past season after ranking 18th, 22nd and 30th in those categories a year earlier.
Iguodala battled knee tendinitis much of the season. In the 67 games he played, the Sixers went 36-31 and allowed 97 points per game. In the 15 games he missed, the Sixers were 5-10 and allowed 100 points per game and
In five playoff games, the Sixers held the Miami Heat to 43 percent shooting from the field, 29 percent from three-point range and 94 points per game. Those figures were down dramatically from 48 percent, 37 percent and 102 points per game during the regular year for Miami.
Most of the series, Iguodala was asked to defend James, who shot 47 percent from the field against the Sixers and made just four of 16 three-point tries.
Any time youre great at anything, its a combination of physical and mental, Collins said when asked what makes Iguodala such a capable defender. Youve got to have mental tenacity, youve got to have physical toughness, you have to be in great shape, and you have to be committed.
Defense is a tough, tough task, because for the most part an offensive player has the advantage, and as a defensive player youve got to try to do something to get them out of their sweet spots to where they maybe catch the ball further out on the floor, maybe make them take a tougher shot than they normally like to take.
Its all about competitive will. You have to be in incredible condition. And a big part for Dre is that he spends so much energy on that end of the floor. Hes so unselfish.
Among the other players receiving votes was Sixers guard Jrue Holiday, who got one second-team vote.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com
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