WHO IS THE TOUGHEST DEFENDER IN THE NBA?
Ron Artest, Lakers F 42%
Kobe Bryant, Lakers G 13%
Dwight Howard, Magic C 12%
Kevin Garnett, Celtics F 6%
Shane Battier, Rockets F 4%
FAST FACTS
Josh Smith (page 40), the only NBA player with both 100 blocks and 100 steals this year, did not receive a single vote.... Phil Jackson, the coach of Artest and Bryant, has coached four NBA All-Defensive first-teamers during his 19-year career.... Only three true centers received any votes, the least of any position by far: Howard, the Pistons' Ben Wallace (2%) and the Celtics' Kendrick Perkins (1%).
Based on a survey of 173 NBA players