Brooklyn Nets guard Shaun Livingston earned one first-team vote and one second-team vote in the selection for the NBA’s All-Defensive Team, the league announced today. TNT broadcaster Marv Albert was the lone voter to give him a first-team vote. Albert also gave Livingston his third-place vote for Most Improved Player.
Livingston entered the starting lineup at the turn of the calendar year, changing the Nets lineup into a small/long hybrid that spaced the floor and forced turnovers at a league-best rate.
With Livingston on the floor in 2014, the Nets allowed 101.8 points per 100 possessions, over two points better than their average. Kevin Garnett was the best Nets defender by this metric, allowing just 95.6 points per 100 possessions on the court in 2014
Livingston also led the Nets in steals, and tied Paul Pierce for fourth on the team in blocks.
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The voting was done by 123 media members & broadcasters covering the NBA. No other Nets player received a vote.