The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers are getting a lot of love for playing solid defense. Under Doug Collins, the team has embraced defense in a huge way. They rank among the best teams in the NBA in most defensive categories and that is why they are off to a strong start. But will any of these players earn recognition on the All-NBA Defensive First Team? A total of five 76ers have earned that honor in the past. This could be the year another joins the list. Here is a look at the five 76ers players to earn All-NBA Defensive First Team honors.

Bobby Jones

Jones earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors every year between 1979 and 1984. In 1983, he was one of three 76ers players to earn a spot on the team. He reached the first team in the two seasons before he joined the 76ers as well. He was known for his quiet demeanor and respectful play. Jones didn’t draw a lot of attention to himself but the man could grab rebounds and block shots as good as any player in the NA.

Caldwell Jones

Jones was a member of the team in 1981 and 1982. He was a career journeyman that had his two best seasons with the 76ers. Jones was a regular double digit rebounder with the 76ers and also averaged multiple blocks per game. He left the team before the 1982-83 championship season but carried on a solid career until 1990.

Moses Malone

Malone earned honors in 1983, the year he helped the 76ers win the NBA championship. He had earned the MVP award the previous season with the Houston Rockets and did so again with the 76ers. He led the league in rebounding in the 1982-83 season and also contributed two blocks per game.

Maurice Cheeks

Cheeks earned a spot on the team each season between 1983 and 1986. He was another player that didn’t attract a lot of attention yet quietly played amazing defense. Along with Jones and Malone he helped the 1982-83 76ers become one of the greatest defensives teams in NBA history. Cheeks was the all-time NBA leader in steals when he retired.

Dikembe Mutombo

Mutombo earned a spot on the 2001 team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award, the only 76ers player to ever win that honor. He was a midseason acquisition for the 76ers and helped the team reach the NBA Finals. Mutombo was among the best in the NBA in rebounds and blocks so it should be no surprise that he is on this list.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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The Philadelphia 76ers looked like a safe bet to get to 2-1 over the Utah Jazz on Dec. 30. Sixers fans like myself were encouraged by their scorching performance against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 28, and Philadelphia was facing a Utah team that got destroyed in its first two games. But although things looked good at various points for the Sixers, they couldn’t quite hold on.

The Sixers trailed for most of the way against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 26 before leading much of the way over the Suns. In this case, however, Philadelphia blew early leads in the first and second half and let Utah hang around too long, before the Jazz finally got ahead for good for a 102-99 victory.

Things looked to be carrying on exactly as they did in Phoenix, as the Sixers racked up a 13-point lead early in the second quarter and were shooting in the high 50s. Yet Philadelphia took its foot off the gas and allowed a Utah team that had been blown out twice already this year to get new life.

As a result, the Jazz took a two point lead into the locker room, but it didn’t last long. The Sixers again jumped out early to get a lead, but there would be no 19-0 runs in the third quarter to put the opposition away this time. Although it should have been easier to put an 0-2 team away, the Jazz kept hanging around and waited for their chance to pull back ahead.

Philadelphia made it a little easier for Utah by going just 21-for-29 at the free throw line while Lou Williams missed all five of his three-point attempts. So even though Jrue Holiday had 22 points and Williams had 20 while three other Sixers scored in double figures, it still wasn’t enough when it counted. Utah did enough to win its first game of the year, as Philadelphia just didn’t do enough to stop it in the end or in the beginning.

Although the Sixers have gotten one impressive blowout victory so far, they have fallen short in two closer games already. They did nearly make a rally over the Blazers, yet in both Portland and Utah, Philadelphia couldn’t make a three-pointer at the end to force overtime. If the Sixers can only win games by 20 points, then they will be in big trouble this year.

Utah didn’t even have the chance to win at the last minute in its opening losses, but it still came through over Philadelphia in clutch time. As a result, the Sixers have gone from having a chance at a big opening road trip to needing a sweep of its last two games for a 3-2 record. Since they visit the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Hornets, it might be possible – but the Jazz showed that the Sixers aren’t ready to take any opponent for granted.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.

Other stories from this contributor

76ers aim for first winning record of 2011 against Jazz

76ers burn Suns in blowout victory

76ers aim to avoid troubling 0-2 start in Phoenix

76ers pay for latest poor start in Portland

76ers, Trail Blazers start trying to move up

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