2012-2013 NBA Predictions: All-NBA First Team Picks

2012-2013 NBA Predictions: All-NBA First Team Expert Picks: Being named to the All-NBA First Team is one of the more prestigious honors in professional sports. After all, there are just five spots available and only the elite of the elite at each position earn the honor. Forward Karl Malone is the all-time leader in first-team selections with 11, but Kobe Bryant isn’t far behind with 10 first-team selections. With the 2012-13 NBA season fast approaching, here is a look at my preseason picks for this year’s All-NBA First Team.

2012-2013 NBA Preseason Preview: All-NBA First Team

Forward: LeBron James, Miami Heat

The defending MVP averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists last year and is without question the best all-around player in the NBA. On any given night, he can give you 40-plus points or a triple-double while defending every position on the court at an elite level. The scary thing is that James has been amassing incredible numbers with the pressure of winning a title hanging over him. Now that he is a champion, his best years are probably ahead of him.

Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

He is the best pure scorer in the NBA these days, and he has three straight scoring titles to prove it. Durant can beat defenses from the perimeter, in the post or by getting to the foul line. He is also becoming one of the best closers in the NBA. His game is only expanding, and last year, he averaged career highs in rebounds and assists to go along with a career-best field goal percentage. Durant is just starting to enter his prime, and an MVP in the near future seems inevitable.

Center: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers

He has been named Defensive Player of the Year in three of the last four seasons, and he has led the league in rebounds in four of the last five seasons. While protecting the rim and controlling the glass is his strong suit, Howard is also a devastating finisher around the rim and a proven 20-point scorer. In an era where true centers have been somewhat phased out, Howard is a true dominant post player. With a speedy recovery from back surgery, it doesn’t look like he will miss a beat.

Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

While playing on a bad knee last year, Wade averaged 22.1 points on 49.1 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists. With his legs back under him following offseason surgery, his slashing ability should be back in full force, turning him back into the 25-plus point scorer that he has been throughout his career. Factor in Wade’s impact on the defensive end where he has averaged nearly two steals and more than a block per game for his career, and his all-around talent should be back on display in 2012-13.

Guard: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Plain and simple, Paul is the floor general in the NBA right now. He makes his teammates better with his court vision and precision passing, and he can take over a game on the offensive end when he needs to. Paul can knock down shots from the perimeter or get to the rim, and more importantly, he takes and makes the high-pressure shots at the end of games. To top it off, he led the NBA in steals last year. Paul is always going to average around 20 points and 10 assists while making everyone around him better. He does everything a point guard is supposed to do and does so at an elite level.

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