First All-Defensive Selection for Franchise and Seven-Year Veteran
MEMPHIS, May 9, 2011 – Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony
Allen was selected to the 2010-11 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, becoming the
first Grizzlies player to earn All-Defensive honors, the league announced today.
Named to an All-Defensive Team for the first time in his career, Allen led the
Second Team with 23 points overall, including seven First Team votes.
One of the league’s most aggressive perimeter defenders, Allen led the
Grizzlies this season with a career-high 1.79 steals per game. He topped all
NBA players by averaging 4.14 steals per 48 minutes, which was over an entire
theft higher than second-place Chris Paul (3.13) and the highest mark the Association
had seen since Nate McMillan in 1993-94.
After finishing fifth in the NBA in steals average despite playing just 20.8
minutes per contest, the 6-4, 213-pound guard placed fourth (highest among perimeter
players) in the 2010-11 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Orlando’s
Dwight Howard (winner), Boston’s Kevin Garnett and Dallas’ Tyson
Chandler.
With a career-high 0.61 blocks, the Chicago native was one of only three qualifying
players in the league, including Miami’s LeBron James and Golden State’s
Dorell Wright, to average at least 1.50 steals and 0.50 blocks per game.
Memphis’ main offseason acquisition, the seven-year veteran helped the
Grizzlies hold their opponents to just 97.6 points during the regular season
after the club gave up an average of 104.0 points in the year prior. With Allen
prowling the perimeter, the Grizzlies led the NBA in steals (9.40) and forced
turnovers (16.7) while ranking second in points off turnovers (19.4) and fourth
in fastbreak points (16.7).
The 29-year-old also averaged 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 72
games (31 starts) in his first season with the Grizzlies, who lead the Oklahoma
City Thunder two-games-to-one in their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinals
series. Memphis became the first eight-seed to defeat a one-seed in a best-of-seven
after knocking off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, 4-2, in the first round.
Headlined by Orlando’s Dwight Howard (56 points), the reigning three-time
NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the 2010-11 NBA All-Defensive First Team also
includes Boston’s Rajon Rondo (39 points), Miami’s LeBron James
(38 points), Boston’s Kevin Garnett (33 points) and the Los Angeles Lakers’
Kobe Bryant (33 points).
Also selected to the All-Defensive Second Team were New Orleans’ Chris
Paul (18 points), Dallas’ Tyson Chandler (17 points), Philadelphia’s
Andre Iguodala (15 points) and Chicago’s Joakim Noah (15 points).
Memphis forward Shane Battier also received five points, including two First
Team nods.
The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked
to select NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams by position. Coaches were
not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded
for a First Team vote, and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.
The 2010-11 NBA All-Defensive First and Second Team results are below. The
complete balloting is attached.
2010-11 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
2010-11 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM