Chicagos Joakim Noah and Indianas Paul George received the most votes on this years NBA all-defensive team, released Monday. Less than two months after a landslide victory in balloting for the leagues defensive player of the year, Noah was the only player to receive more than 100 first-team votes and earn more than 200 points for the team. Noah received 105 of 123 possible votes, while George had 65 votes. The rest of the first team consisted of Clippers guard Chris Paul, Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka and Golden State swingman Andre Iguodala. Its the second consecutive year Noah was chosen to the first team. Four-time league MVP LeBron James and defensive player of the year runner-up Roy Hibbert were both on the second team. Noah dominated on the defensive end this season, joining Andre Drummond of Detroit and Anthony Davis of New Orleans as the only players in the league to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals. Noah finished sixth in the league in rebounding (11.3), 12th in blocks (1.51) and helped the Bulls hold opponents to 43.0 per cent field goal shooting, the second-best mark in the league. He also had 1.24 steals per game. George, widely considered one of the leagues best two-way players at age 24, finished fifth in the league in steals (1.89) and was the only player in the NBA to average at least 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Paul received 64 first-team votes after winning his sixth steals title (2.48). Ibaka made his presence felt in the Western Conference finals. After getting beaten twice in San Antonio without him, the Thunder won the next two games on their home court with Ibaka. The Spurs eventually won the series 4-2. Iguodala averaged 1.5 steals as the Warriors jumped from No. 19 in defence in 2012-13 to 10th this season. James and Iguodala each received 57 first-team votes but Iguodala had 14 more second-team votes to edge out James for the final spot on the first team. Houston guard Patrick Beverley, Chicago guard Jimmy Butler, San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard and Hibbert rounded out the second team. Indiana and Chicago were the only teams with two players on the list, which is selected by a panel of 123 sports writers and broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada. . The freestyle skier from Calgary finished sixth in the qualification round with a total of 82.00 points. Groenewoud won a silver medal at the X Games last month, just over five weeks after undergoing double knee surgery. . -- The Orlando Magic have made no secret that the future of their franchise will depend on how well they can develop their young players.
https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/899z-to ... uns.html.Y. -- Major League Soccer has agreed to new measures to protect gay players from discrimination and harassment as a result of meetings with New Yorks attorney general. . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena. . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history.The NHLs Mar. 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Check out todays trade-related reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. Kings Ransom With the Los Angeles Kings fighting for a Western Conference playoff berth and just three points up on the wild card zone, is it time for general manager Dean Lombardi to pull the trigger on a deal? The Hockey News looks back at one of Lombardis shrewdest moves - sending Jack Johnson and a first rounder to the Blue Jackets in exchange for Jeff Carter in 2012 – and wonders if the same type of shake-up is available this season. Former Kings Matt Moulson and Mike Cammalleri would work - THN muses - but even a cheaper option like Brad Boyes could also do the trick. Not Going Wild The Minnesota Wild turned heads at the 2013 trade deadline by letting go of prime assets like Johan Larsson, Matt Hackett and a pair of high draft picks for then-Sabres captain Jason Pominville. So, naturally, surrendering all those future assets would naturally take them out of the running to add a major piece this year, right? Not necesssarily so, says Wild GM Chuck Fletcher.dddddddddddd He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he intends to be more cautious this deadline, but that he wont say no to the right deal. "In a perfect world, I dont want to trade first-round picks in consecutive years," Fletcher told the Star-Trib. "If opportunities come up, sometimes you have to do things, and this first round isnt as deep and our scouts always seem to deliver no matter what picks I leave them with. But it would have to be something pretty special. Id like our guys to have a first-rounder this year." Blue Line Bolts Thanks to injuries on the blue line including Mattias Ohlund and Brian Lee, the Tampa Bay Lightning find themselves with a defence budget to work with ahead of the deadline. With about $3 million in available cap space, the Tampa Bay Times envisions the Bolts looking for a blue line stalwart to help the likes of Victor Hedman and Mark Barberio. The Islanders Andrew MacDonald and Detroits Kyle Quincey headline the Times wishlist. MacDonald averages the seventh-highest ice-time in the league while Quincey - a more expensive rental option would be a more stay-at-home pick-up. ' ' '
