Joakim Noah, Paul George and Chris Paul Lead NBA All-Defensive First Team

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah received the most votes to be selected to the 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive First Team. Noah was joined by Indiana Pacers forward Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka and Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala.

Noah was named the 2013-14 NBA Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals a game. Paul led the league in steals with 2.48 a game and this was his fourth straight season leading the league in steals. George averaged 1.89 steals a game, good enough for fifth best in the league. Ibaka finished second in the league with 2.7 blocks a game.

Miami Heat forward LeBron James led the All-Defensive Second Team with the most votes. James was followed by Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverly, Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Pacers center Roy Hibbert. This was LeBron’s first time not making the All-Defensive First Team in five years and since the 2007-08 season. Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler failed to make any of the defensive teams after they made it for three consecutive years.

Clippers center DeAndre Jordan should have made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. Jordan led the league with 13.6 rebounds a game and finished third in the league with 2.48 blocks a game. Hibbert finished fourth in the league with 2.25 blocks and finished 47th in the league with 6.6 rebounds a game. Any NBA Team that is selected by voters will always be debatable; forward Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans should have been selected also. Davis 2.82 blocks led the NBA and he finished 10th in the league averaging 10 rebounds a game.

If two Pacers deserved to make the All-Defensive teams, guard Lance Stephenson should have joined George and not Hibbert. Stephenson led the Pacers in rebounding with 7.2 rebounds a game, guards rarely lead their teams in rebounding. Stephenson became a better perimeter defender this season and his man-to-man defensive improved. James and Leonard will have the opportunity to guard each other in the 2014 NBA Finals. Since defensive is known to win championships, both players have the opportunity to show why they should have been selected to the All-Defensive First Team.

Photo Credits: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images (photo 1), Fox Sports (photo 3)