NBA

Pacers’ Hibbert snubbed for All-‘D’

INDIANAPOLIS — Did you hear the one about the 7-foot-2 center who was fourth in the league in blocks, has confounded a high-scoring Knicks team in the playoffs with his inside presence and yet was found nowhere on the NBA’s All-Defensive teams?

Yeah, the Pacers also thought it was a joke that Roy Hibbert was snubbed.

“All I’ll say is that there’s not a center in this league I’d rather have on my team defensively than Roy Hibbert,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said after the NBA All-Defensive First and Second teams were announced.

Indiana, the league’s No. 1 field-goal defensive team and No. 2 in scoring defense, landed Paul George on the Second Team. Tyson Chandler of the Knicks and Joakim Noah of the Bulls were First-Team selections at center, and Marc Gasol of the Grizzlies made the Second Team.

“We both should have made it, easily. Roy’s been the best center, defensively, guarding the rim, easily,” George said. “If I made it, he should’ve made it.”

Hibbert just shrugged it off.

“I’m happy for Paul — he deserves it. There’s always next year, right?” Hibbert said, then referring to himself by his nickname. “Nobody cares about Big Dog. If I was in a different city, bigger than Indy maybe, but I’m just going to do what I do. I’m just going to work.”