An informal poll of 24 reporters who cover the league regularly - 13 from the Western Conference and 11 from the East - showed that Indiana Pacers players will receive plenty of props for their season's efforts.
Jermaine O'Neal was third behind Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan for league MVP and was named to the second team all-NBA squad.
In the all-pro balloting, Garnett and Duncan were unanimous choices for the first team with Shaquille O'Neal a near-unanimous choice. Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd rounded out the first team.
Besides JO, the second team consisted of Peja Stojakovic, Ben Wallace, Baron Davis, and Tracy McGrady.
The third team all-NBA also has a Pacers player. Sam Cassell, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, and, the Pacers Ron Artest were named to the squad.
Ron Artest was also named the defensive player of the year over Ben Wallace.
Dallas' Antawn Jamison was a very close winner over Indiana's Al Harrington for the top sixth man, with San Antonio's Manu Ginobili also making a strong showing.
This information comes from an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal sports page this morning.
Writer Tom Enlund reports, "the poll is far from scientific but in past years has provided a very accurate indication on how the votes in the official league balloting will fall."
A total of 127 media members vote in the official balloting, three from each NBA city, along with 40 national reporters. The league announces its winners periodically throughout the playoffs.
Jermaine O'Neal was third behind Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan for league MVP and was named to the second team all-NBA squad.
In the all-pro balloting, Garnett and Duncan were unanimous choices for the first team with Shaquille O'Neal a near-unanimous choice. Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd rounded out the first team.
Besides JO, the second team consisted of Peja Stojakovic, Ben Wallace, Baron Davis, and Tracy McGrady.
The third team all-NBA also has a Pacers player. Sam Cassell, Paul Pierce, Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki, and, the Pacers Ron Artest were named to the squad.
Ron Artest was also named the defensive player of the year over Ben Wallace.
Dallas' Antawn Jamison was a very close winner over Indiana's Al Harrington for the top sixth man, with San Antonio's Manu Ginobili also making a strong showing.
This information comes from an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal sports page this morning.
Writer Tom Enlund reports, "the poll is far from scientific but in past years has provided a very accurate indication on how the votes in the official league balloting will fall."
A total of 127 media members vote in the official balloting, three from each NBA city, along with 40 national reporters. The league announces its winners periodically throughout the playoffs.
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