Response to Epstizz

I like Epstizz's picks but there are a few things I disagree with. So, without further ado, here are my 2008 All NBA 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams.
* Note, I will be stricter about positions, so Baron Davis can only be a 1

1st TEAM

At the 1 - Chris Paul
A No-Brainer and possibly the most deserving of MVP candidates

At the 2 - Kobe Bryant
Also a No-Brainer and the likely MVP who, unlike Steve Nash, was able to flawlessly incorporate a new big man into his offense

At the 3 - Lebron James
The hands down MVP if his team, hampered all year by injuries and a mega trade, had won, oh, 8-10 more games; put up staggering numbers

At the 4 - Kevin Garnett
The fan-favorite and loveable loser was the toast of Boston this year, and deservedly so. While his offensive numbers were not eye-popping, his contributions to the Celtics can in no way be overstated

At the 5 - Dwight Howard
The toughest call of the first team, primarily because he's not a top 5 player; but Amare is a 4 and Yao missed half the year, so, by default, Dwight winds up here. That doesn't take away from his terrific breakout year

2nd TEAM

At the 1 - Deron Williams
Epstizz chose Steve Nash here, but I think Deron Williams had more to do with his team's success than Nash did with the Suns

At the 2 - Tracy McGrady
Epstizz had Manu in this spot, but I think T-Mac was more valuable this season. We have to forget the fact that the Rockets are not a threatening playoff team and remember the sensational regular season they had; the most glaring weakness with that team was if a defense learned how to stop T-Mac, the Rockets were very beatable...well that puts T-Mac in Lebron company

At the 3 - Paul Pierce
It's easy to attribute their success solely to Kevin Garnett, but aving watched many Celtics games, it was impossible to ignore the fact that Pierce was hands down, no question their best offensive player the entire season

At the 4 - Amare Stoudemire
The Suns were trying to make a case for his MVP candidacy, and they were partly right about his impact. After the Shaq trade he averaged around 30 points a game and was nearly unstoppable

At the 5 - Tim Duncan
Duncan plays the 5 in key situations, so we can put him here. He had a very productive year, as the Spurs always do. He notches this spot for the same reasons KG is an MVP candidate

3rd TEAM

At the 1 - Steve Nash
Nash has assembled some of the most remarkable shooting percentages we will ever see and is as clutch as anyone when the game is on the line. The total absence of any semblence of defense hurts his ranking here

At the 2 - Manu Ginobli
It is hard to laud great players on poor teams, which is why so many of the All NBAers hail from the same top-tier squads. Consideration was given to Andre Iguadola, Allen Iverson, Monta Ellis and the likes, but Manu ranks only behind Lebron and Kobe as the league's best closers; that's gotta be worth something

At the 3 - Hedo Turkoglu
Hard choice over Carmelo, but Turkoglu did it all this year, including serving as the team's late-game threat

At the 4 - Dirk Nowitzki
Very close call over Antawn Jamison; after all, the Wizard's power forward led his team, in the absense Gilbert, to a 5 seed in the East. But Nowitzki never quit this year and has the numbers to back up his case

At the 5 - Carlos Boozer
A minor stretch here, but Boozer is really the Jazz's center. He had another terrific year and the duo of him and Deron brings back memories of the 90s

Honorable Mention
Jamison and Butler, Carmelo and Iverson, Baron Iguadola and Miller (Andre, that is), Chris Bosh, and Baron Davis....get em next year