UCLA puts three on 10-man Pac-10 first team
UCLA landed three players on the official Pac-10 first team today - the only team in the conference with three - as Reeves Nelson, Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee all picking up the honor.
Joshua Smith was named to the All-Freshman Team and Lee to the All-Defensive Team, but it was a slight surprise that Lee did not win conference defensive player of the year honors, which went to USC's Marcus Simmons.
First, it is odd how the league does not break down a first team and a second team from the top-10 players in the Pac-10. Perhaps they don't want to hurt any players' feelings.
Second, all this idolatry of making the NCAAs is just that, a worshipping of a false idol, because most teams will be out after the first week, including probably ucla.
Lee is good, but he gets burned as many times as he denies an opposing player the ball. On-ball defense isn't his strength - he can be blown by if he's facing his opponent...his strength is denying the player the ball, swarming like a gnat. It makes for some good numbers in terms of an opposing player having an "off game," but the true defensive specialist can play better on-ball defense as Malcolm. Hence the "snub."