PJ Tucker narrowly missed on NBA 2020 all-defensive teams



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Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker was not named to either the Defensive First Team or Second Team for the 2019-20 season, according to Tuesday’s NBA announcement. The 35-year veteran has yet to be named to a fully defensive team during his distinguished career.

From a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, Tucker received 29 votes from the second team. Strikers ahead of Tucker included Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis in the first team, and Kawhi Leonard and Bam Adebayo in the second team.

Tucker had the most votes of all other forwards in the NBA. Among the shooting guards, Houston teammate James Harden had one vote for the first team, while his co-star Russell Westbrook had one vote for the second team.

In 2019, Tucker was left out of the Second Team by just one point. The Rockets hoped that Tucker’s unique status in 2020 as a 6-foot-5 starting center in their “little ball” scheme might attract more attention and praise, but that wasn’t the case here.

“We know how valuable he is to us,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said Tuesday. “I don’t think this is the first time he’s been left out. I’m sure the guys who got along deserve it. It’s just hard. It is a bit subjective. What we see, we believe is the best. I hate it for him. “

Tucker averaged 6.9 points (35.8% on 3s) and 6.6 rebounds in a career-high 34.3 minutes per game this season.

In addition to defensive talent and versatility, Tucker is also respected for his leadership, toughness and durability. He has yet to miss a single regular-season or postseason game since signing with Houston in July 2017, and has played the most games of any NBA player since the 2012-13 season.

Tucker will face All-Star great player and first-team member Anthony Davis in Tuesday night’s third game of the second-round playoff series between the Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The ad is scheduled for 8:00 pm Central on a national television broadcast on TNT.

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