Paul George Makes NBA All-Rookie Second Team

by Tom Lewis on May 11, 2011 4:15 PM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

Congratulations to Indiana Pacers rookie Paul George for making the NBA All-Rookie Second Team voted on by head coaches around the league.

George was the tenth pick in the draft, so he had a head start at the honor but only five players picked ahead of George also made the first or second All-Rookie teams along with Blake Griffin, so George had to earn it with his play on the court. Fortunately, Frank Vogel came to the rescue and opened up the opportunity for PG to show what he can do on the NBA stage.

Considering this is a regular season award, I would assume George's playoff showing would've earned him even more votes. Looking at the second team, I wouldn't take any of those players over PG right now, although I would entertain the debate over Greg Monroe. But come on, PG created a new genre of still imagery with the "Poster Block" after swatting the shots of Derrick Rose in spectacular fashion during the playoffs.

George did receive one first-team vote, but had the fewest votes (14) of the players selected. Gordon Hayward earned 7 votes for his rookie season with Utah. After the jump, check out how the voting broke down.

Here is the full breakdown of the votes. Rookies received two points for a first-team vote and one point for a second-team vote. The teams are made up without considering positions.

First team: Blake Griffin (58), John Wall (57), Landry Fields (56), DeMarcus Cousins (54) and Gary Neal (44)

Second team: Greg Monroe (42), Wes Johnson (26), Eric Bledsoe (19), Derrick Favors (18), Paul George(14)

Others receiving votes: Ed Davis (10, one vote for first team), Jordan Crawford (12), Evan Turner (12),Gordon Hayward (7), Omer Asik (6, one vote for first team), Patrick Patterson (5), Al-Farouq Aminu (3),Tiago Splitter (3), Trevor Booker, Christian Eyenga, Ekpe Udoh (1 each).

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Comments

Even though its a regular season award and he is very deserving of his spot I think the playoffs were in the back of voters minds. Just a little.

I agree that right now only Monroe is better on the second team. I’d take PG or Monroe over Neal (age) and Fields at this point too.

Pacers motto - "Never Easy"
Pacers = Thugs
So Thugs never have it easy = Thug Life
I love the Pacers. I love the Thug Life

by SpaceCowboy1984 on May 11, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Gary Neal is 26..? what??!

by MillerTime31 on May 11, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

He went undrafted in 07

Played overseas until the Spurs signed him this year

KEEP COACH FRANK

by IndyPacers on May 11, 2011 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Great accomplishment considering...

Going from garbage time the first third of the season to a starter guarding opposing teams’ best wing by he end of the season, I think George was the best surprise behind Fields and Neal from this class.

Congratulations to PG!

The FAULK

by incredibleFAULK on May 11, 2011 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see why Favors made the team over Ed Davis.

Thug Life. It's a Pacers thing, you wouldn't get it.

by infinityzero.systemerror on May 11, 2011 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

I don't either to be honest

Favors was awful in New Jersey and didn’t even start looking like an NBA player in Utah until April started. Davis had a far better year. Heck, even Turner may have had a better year for all the scrutiny he took on early and often.

by Nathan S. on May 11, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Second half of the season lines:

Davis-10 points, 8 boards a block and a steal on 56% FG shooting (28 mpg)

Favors-8 points, 5 boards, 1.2 blocks and 0.5 steals on 53% shooting (20 mpg)

Biggest omission on this list. Also people slept on Christian Eyenga. He fell off near the end of the year when he sort of lost his starting job, but he was a killer defender. Totally shocked me. I made fun of the Cavs when they drafted him, but he’s a Bruce Bowen clone. Except he might already be older than Bruce Bowen.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

Come visit The Fantasy Ninjas. We'd love to hear from you.

by LukeNukem on May 11, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions