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DEFENSE
Again, Jordan is in a class by himself, having made the NBA’s all-defensive team nine times. His teammate, Scottie Pippen, was another tremendous defender, often taking the toughest assignment to free up Jordan to concentrate on offense.

  INTERACTIVE
Comparing LeBron James to the greats

It’s often forgotten that a major ingredient to the Bulls’ six championships was their incredible 1-2 defensive punch. James isn’t afraid to stick his nose in on defense — why not, he’s so quick and strong?

He doesn’t block shots the way Julius Erving, but James is the equal of the good doctor when it comes to stalking the ball. James averaged 2.2 steals per game in 2005, much improved from his rookie campaign. But at present, James is not the lock-down one-on-one defender that Pippen was.

NEXT: LEBRON'S LEADERSHIP


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AP
Kobe's shot lifts Lakers

Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto

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Lin on on 'Linsanity'
Knicks guard Jeremy Lin discusses the hype surrounding his recent rise in New York.

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Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

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  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

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Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

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  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

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