3 All-NBA teams

Allen Iverson is averaging 26.6 points and 7.2 assists for the Nuggets. David E. Klutho/SI

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Here's an early look at how my All-NBA ballot would look if it were due today. Fortunately, I don't have to turn it in for another month, and a few positions may yet change by then. Note that the official All-NBA teams categorize players simply as centers, forwards and guards; they don't differentiate shooting guards from point guards, or power forwards from small forwards. But I prefer to break it down by specific position as follows.

3. Third Team

C Yao Ming, Rockets
PF Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
SF Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
SG Allen Iverson, Nuggets
PG Baron Davis, Warriors

2. Second Team

C Amaré Stoudemire, Suns
PF Tim Duncan, Spurs
SF Paul Pierce, Celtics
SG Manu Ginobili, Spurs
PG Steve Nash, Suns

Stoudemire spent most of the season at center. He ranks third among all players in statistical efficiency.

1. First Team

C Dwight Howard, Magic
PF Kevin Garnett, Celtics
SF LeBron James, Cavaliers
SG Kobe Bryant, Lakers
PG Chris Paul, Hornets

I can't believe Nash isn't the first-teamer, but as of today Paul is having a better year statistically and his Hornets have won more games than the Suns.

Garnett edged out Duncan based on the Celtics' full-court dominance of the regular season.

2 Difficult All-NBA omissions

2. Tracy McGrady, Rockets. McGrady is averaging 22.1 points and 5.6 assists for a team that has won 20 in a row (including eight without Yao). He also missed 16 games while taking months to adapt to new coach Rick Adelman. It's hard to ignore him, though another month may result in a different choice. In the meantime, Iverson's production at shooting guard must be acknowledged.

T-1. Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams, Jazz. Boozer is rated No. 4 in efficiency among power forwards, and there is no rationale for including him at the expense of the three leaders in that category -- all Hall of Famers in Garnett, Duncan and Nowitzki. It will be easier for Boozer on the official All-NBA ballot, where he'll contest with Pierce and Anthony for the two spots at forward.

As for Williams, he's in a photo finish with Davis for the final spot among point guards. I put Baron ahead by a nose for being even more valuable to the Warriors than Williams is to the Jazz, but I reserve the right to change my opinion at season's end.

1 Theory on the Rockets

"They've just aced one-fourth of their season,'' an NBA advance scout noted after the Rockets won their 20th straight Wednesday at Atlanta.

How are they continuing to win without Yao? Of course they have McGrady and a versatile roster with Luis Scola picking up the extra minutes. But style may have more to do with it than anything.

When Jeff Van Gundy was compelling the Rockets to defend, you'd watch them and say, "How good would they be if they were more fluid on offense?''

When Rick Adelman had his strong offensive teams in Sacramento, you'd watch his Kings and ask, "How good would they be if they played defense?''

Now we're finding the answers to both questions. The Rockets are No. 2 in field-goal defense (42.9 percent) and No. 4 in scoring defense (91.8 points) as if Van Gundy were still coaching that end of the floor. And after a first half of the season in which they had difficulty establishing their new offense, they're now scoring like an Adelman team.

Don't assume that this marriage of styles will extend beyond this season. The longer they go without Van Gundy's demands, the less likely they'll be to maintain their high standard of defense. This is one of those rare NBA honeymoons and the Rockets need to max it out -- even without Yao.