Rockets Forward PJ Tucker Downplays Missing on the NBA All-Defense First team
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PJ Tucker and Robert Covington have been walls to the Houston Rockets defense. Coupled with James Harden, they’re impenetrable. As a result, the Rockets are third in the defensive ranking, giving away 105.4 points per 100 possession. Only the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics stand ahead of them.
The Rockets also average most steals per game at 9.3 steals in the NBA Playoffs 2020. As a result of such a vehement defense, they could restrict the Los Angeles Lakers to a humiliating 97 points in their Game 1. But the efforts of the players like PJ Tucker seem still far from receiving any acknowledgment.
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PJ Tucker’s failed to break into the coveted list!
The NBA released its NBA All-Defense First Team list, and it had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, Rudy Gobert, and Marcus Smart. PJ obviously could not make it into this list, but surprisingly enough, he failed to find his name in the All-Defense Second team too.
Reflecting upon this, PJ expressed, “I don’t need anybody in the media to tell me I’m a good defender. I’m cool. As long as Tilman Fertitta and Daryl Morey know, that’s all that matters to me.”
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To be fair, it's not like the media doesn't recognize that Tucker is an elite defender. He finished fifth among forwards in voting. Only four get All-Defense recognition — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Bam Adebayo.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 9, 2020
He clarified that Tilman (the team owner) and Daryl (the general manager) are the only people who must know his value.
The second All-Defense team has Kawhi Leonard, Brook Lopez, Bam Adebayo, Patrick Beverley, and Eric Bledsoe. Now many fans are of the view that Bucks were definitely the best defensive team in the regular season, but PJ at least deserved to replace Bledsoe. Tucker received just 29 votes, and those too for the second-team.
James Harden received a first team All-defensive vote. Russell Westbrook received a second team All-defensive vote.
P.J. Tucker received 29 second team votes. #Rockets https://t.co/2VajhjdZHX pic.twitter.com/fXzx3hNRCd
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) September 8, 2020
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The Houston Rockets are there for him!
The team coach Mike D’Antoni also said that he felt bad to see Tucker’s exclusion from that list yet again. PJ Tucker’s contract with the Rockets will end this season, but Tucker will most probably seek and get an extension of his time with the Rockets organization. Draymond Green of the GSW had earlier this week claimed that PJ Tucker is the best corner three-point shooter in the NBA at present.
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The 35-YO is in the NBA for the past 14 years and has never been named even once in the All-Defense team. As a positive to the tale of Tucker, he was #1 among the forwards who missed making it.
The 6’5” tall man is averaging 8.7 points, 7.8 rebs, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the post-season. His fans now hope that he receives recognition in the coming year.
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