San Antonio Spurs star forward Tim Duncan was
named to the National Basketball Assocation's All-Defensive Team for the
eighth straight season.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett, Detroit Pistons center
Ben Wallace, Spurs guard Bruce Bowen and Washington Wizards guard Larry
Hughes also earned first-team honors.
Wallace, who had already picked up his third NBA Defensive Player of
the Year award, led all players with 51 points in voting by the league's
30 coaches.
Named to the All-Defensive Team for the fourth straight season, Wallace
ranked second in the league in rebounding (12.2 per game) and total blocks
(176). He also ranked fifth in blocks at 2.38 per game.
Garnett, who averaged 13.5 rebounds to lead the league and collected an
NBA-best 69 double-doubles, was named to the team for the sixth straight
season.
Bowen garnered his fifth straight selection.
Garnett and Bowen tied for second in voting with 48 points each. Duncan
received 39 points and Hughes 17.
Duncan and Bowen helped the Spurs hold opponents to a league-low 88.4
points per game. Duncan, a two-time league Most Valuable Player, ranked
third in the league in blocks at 2.64 per game.
It was the first selection for Hughes, who recorded 2.89 steals per
game. He became the first player to top 2.85 steals per game since Gary Payton in
1995-96.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-13 09:15
