NBA All-Star Game 2012: The All-Defensive Team

With All-Star Weekend in the books, the NBA Season is now set to resume and teams are ready to make their push for the playoffs. The greatest individuals in the NBA have been honored and for the second consecutive season, NBA All-Star Game" target="_self">the Western Conference has emerged victorious.

There's only one problem with that theory: It's flawed.

The greatest individuals in the NBA have not been honored, just the best on the offensive end of the floor. Meanwhile, the great defenders of the NBA have gone unnoticed. Fortunately for them and you, I'm here to give you the first half's NBA All-Defensive Team.

Guard: Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies

Normally, this spot goes to Rajon Rondo. In 2012, however, Mike Conley has established him as the premier defensive point guard in the NBA.

Conley leads the league in steals with 2.5 per game and has forced multiple turnovers out of Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson and Deron Williams... And that's just over the past five games.

His lock-down defense is some of the best league-wide and in 2012, he finally gets some recognition.

Season Averages: 13.2 ppg, 6.7 apg, 2.7 rpg, 2.5 spg

Guard: Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies

It's an all-Memphis back court for the All-Defensive team and with good reason. Tony Allen has been one of the most dominant perimeter defenders in the NBA for years and in 2012, he may be performing his finest number.

Allen has the second-highest steals per 48 minute ratio in the NBA at 3.67 per contest. His 1.9 steals per game in 26.3 minutes per appearance are also good for sixth in the league.

It's not about the statistics, though. Allen has made a living defending the opposing team's best offensive player. In 2012, this is no different as he has dominated the perimeter for the Grizzlies and protected the paint, not allowing any opponent to pass him and face the Zach Randolph-less Grizzlies interior.

Season Averages: 26.3 mpg, 10.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.9 spg, 0.6 bpg

Forward: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

I can't state this fact enough: Smith is one of just two players in the NBA to average greater than two blocks and 1.5 steals simultaneously. The other is Dwight Howard. So yes, he's a starter on the All-Defensive Team.

Smith's averages of 2.1 blocks and 1.6 steals per game are both some of the best marks in the league.

While fellow Hawk Al Horford has already missed 23 games and could miss the rest of the season, Smith has stepped up and lifted the Hawks to the seventh-ranked scoring defense in the NBA. He is becoming an elite on-ball defender in the paint and even on the perimeter, making him an obvious choice.

Season Averages: 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 1.6 spg

Forward: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder

Serge Ibaka currently leads the NBA in blocks with 3.2 per contest. The next best? JaVale McGee at 2.7.

Ibaka remains a work in progress on the glass, but to exclude him from this list would be criminal. He's blocking shots at an unmatched rate and has been a savior for an underperforming Thunder defense.

Unlike last year, Ibaka is showing no fear in taking on opposing team's best interior scorers. He's finally using his strength to fight them out of the paint, as well as his near-flight leaping ability to block their shots. He has finally taken the leap and become an elite defensive player.

Season Averages: 8.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.2 bpg

Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

It's just business as usual for Dwight Howard. D-12 is averaging 15.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. He remains one of the premier forces on both ends of the floor, but it's his defense that has the Magic poised for a playoff berth.

While Howard's 20.1 points per game are nothing to overlook, he has shown a greater focus on protecting the basket. You could credit that to Ryan Anderson's emergence as a reliable scorer or Jason Richardson's inconsistent outbreaks, but Howard is focused on one thing: preventing opponents from scoring. Nine times out of 10, he succeeds.

Season Averages: 20.1 ppg, 15.3 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 1.5 spg