NBA Predictions: Picking the 2012-13 All-NBA First Team
An All-NBA First Team selection is one of the most prestigious honors a professional basketball player can earn, and five more players will be picked for this accolade this season.
The stars that were selected as the best player at their respective positions last year were Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard.
All five players will still produce at a high level this season, and it will be extremely difficult for the league’s other stars to bump them down the pecking order.
Here is my prediction for the 2012-13 All-NBA First Team:
Forward: LeBron James, Miami Heat
LeBron James is the best basketball player on the planet and it is entirely possible that he will have improved over the offseason.
He stormed into last season with a new arsenal of post moves and proved that he could guard all five positions effectively. He averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the field.
With two new sharpshooters in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, James will have even more space as defenders will not be able to leave these veterans open on the perimeter. King James’ reign is not ending any time soon and he will be on the All-NBA First Team.
Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
James is the safest bet to make the All-NBA First Team, but Kevin Durant is a close second.
He will search for a fourth consecutive scoring title this season, and it is doubtful that anyone will be able to stop him. With every passing season, Durant has become more lethal on the offensive end of the floor.
His smooth jump shot and deceptive athleticism allows him to score at will, and he will be even more efficient this season, ensuring that he is chosen as one of the league’s two best forwards.
Center: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers
Dwight Howard is the best center in basketball by a large margin, and a change of scenery will not change that.
Now that he is anchoring the Los Angeles Lakers’ defense, Howard will resume his role as the most dominant shot-blocker and rebounder in basketball.
The difference he will make for L.A. will demonstrate the wide gap between him and Andrew Bynum, who was the All-NBA Second Team center.
With a new uniform, a clean bill of health and teammates who can help him win a championship, Howard will rule the rim this season.
Guard: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are the perfect place for Chris Paul and he proved this last season.
With a roster full of quality role players and a budding superstar in Blake Griffin, Paul pulls all of the Clippers’ talent together and ensures that everyone plays to their potential.
His ability to control tempo, keep teammates content, contribute on both ends of the floor and come through in crunch time is unparalleled in the NBA. He is another safe bet to be on the All-NBA First-Team.
Guard: Deron Williams, Brookyln Nets
The only change from last year’s lineup will be Deron Williams knocking off Kobe Bryant.
Williams wasted away on a terrible Nets roster last season, but he will come roaring back with a new set of star to pass to. His playmaking ability may not be on Paul’s level, but he is certainly an elite distributor.
But Williams’ size and scoring ability makes him an extremely dangerous player. He will remind NBA fans that he is very much in the conversation about the league’s top point guard, and he will join Paul in the backcourt on the All-NBA First Team.
