LeBron James and Memphis guard Tony Allen headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team. The league announced Monday that Allen received 53 points in the voting, while the Miami Heat star had 52. Each player had 25 first-team votes from the NBAs 30 head coaches. "We pride ourselves on defence here," said James. "Im one of the catalysts, as far as taking that side of the ball very seriously. We all do. Im happy to be rewarded with such an honour to be part of First Team All-Defence. "Any time youre awarded anything individually, its an honour." The pair were joined on the first team by Clippers guard Chris Paul (37 points), Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (46), Knicks centre Tyson Chandler (24) and Bulls centre Joakim Noah (24). "Joakim, obviously (Im) very pleased with that," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "I think down the road, Joakim has a very good chance of being defensive player of the year. His ability to defend all five positions, every aspect of the game -- individual defence, team defence, rebounding, multiple effort ... a very unique player." Marc Gasol, who was the NBAs defensive player of the year, made the second team. He was joined on that squad by Celtics guard Avery Bradley, Grizzlies guard Mike Conley, Spurs forward Tim Duncan and Pacers forward Paul George.Cheap Custom Mets Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Wholesale Custom Mets Shirts .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. http://www.custommetsjersey.com/ . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Custom Mets Jerseys . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Mets Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St.FORT WORTH, Texas -- Carl Edwards got the victory he desperately needed to earn a championship-contending spot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup finale, winning at Texas on Sunday night in a race shortened by 41 laps because of rain after the start was delayed nearly six hours.With his fourth career win at Texas, Edwards joined Jimmie Johnson as drivers locked into the championship-contending spots in Homestead.That leaves two spots up for grabs next Sunday at Phoenix.Edwards entered the second-to-last race before the Nov. 20 season finale eighth in points among the drivers still eligible for the championship.This is huge. I dont think its sunk in yet. Thats all we said was needed, just a shot, Edwards said. Now were going to go to Homestead, were going to do what we need to do. This was a great test. We came here and did what we needed to do, we performed, and I really believe we can do that at Homestead.The rain-shortened victory was certainly appropriate for Edwards after how his championship Chase ended last year.Last years race at Phoenix was delayed nearly seven hours as a series of storms passed through the area, and then once it started under the lights was called after 218 laps. Edwards finished fifth, leaving him five points out of the final spot for the Chase finale.Edwards three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are among the six other drivers still in contention this season, and clearly not all of them can advance.Light rain had already been falling, and plenty more was on the radar around the track, when the caution came out with 45 laps remaining of the originally scheduled 334-lap race.All the cars were brought to pit road four laps later, and it was only a few more minutes before NASCAR declared the race over and official after 293 laps. It could have taken two hours or more to dry to track.We were in a bad spot if we went green again, Edwards said. But the last run before it rained, I think we could have held off, Im not sure.Edwards had taken the lead on lap 258 latte Sunday after beating Martin Truex Jr.dddddddddddd off pit road, and led the rest of the way.It was Edwards first win at Texas in eight years. He swept the two Cup races there in 2008, the season he had nine wins overall and a career-best finish of second in points.Joey Logano, another Chase contender, finished second while leading a race-high 178 laps. Truex finished third and Chase Elliott fourth.Logano is third in season points, with Kyle Busch fourth. Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch are in the fifth through eighth spots. If one of those six drivers dont win Phoenix, the final two championship spots would be determined by points.Harvick got his track-record eighth win at Phoenix in March, and has won five of the last six races there.Weve done it I dont know how many times, Harvick said. Well just go there and do what we always do and race as hard as we can.Some other things from Texas:TRAILING AFTER GREEN: Polesitter Austin Dillon led only the races first six laps, but didnt lead a green-flag lap. He was passed by Logano for the lead on lap 7, the first lap after the green flag.BIG BOBBLEHEAD: The first 30,000 fans were given Tony Stewart bobbleheads commemorating the retiring Sprint Cup drivers final race at Texas. During driver introductions, track president Eddie Gossage presented Stewart with his own bobblehead -- a life-sized replica with an oversized head.HELD OUT: Matt DiBenedetto wasnt allowed to drive because of NASCARs concussion protocol. He was involved in a hard crash in the Xfinity Series race Saturday, and wasnt cleared by doctors to drive in the Cup race even though he said he felt perfect on Sunday.LOUD POP: A tire specialist for Richard Childress Racing was treated and released from the infield care center after a tire just taken off Paul Menards car popped while being checked behind the wall. ' ' '