My final All-Star reserve lists
Yes, I am changing my choices again. If you want to call my sports analysis John Kerry-esque, I will not defend myself. I have flip-flopped three times in trying to tabulate a list of players who deserve to be sent to New Orleans as reserves.
I will stick with my Western Conference selections. I don't care if Peter Vescey thinks no players on losing teams should be All-Stars - consider this my last minute lobby to get Chris Kaman voted to the game. His team stinks (13 wins, I know), but his averages of almost 18 points and 14 rebounds far exceed what anyone expected from him this season.
Al Jefferson is also throwing up terrific numbers on a woeful team, but as the centerpiece of an 7 for 1 trade (and I emphasize 7 for 1 trade), he was expected to be half decent.
Kaman has morphed into Elton Brand in the star forward's absence. Admit it, folks, anytime the guy made a shot the last few years, you thought about that Geico ad slogan, "so easy a caveman can do it." The bulky center cut his hair and beard and is putting up monster numbers. He MUST be there. He deserves to be there.
I realize Marcus Camby has never been voted to an All-Star team and is having a terrific season. I cannot, in good conscience, support sending three Denver Nuggets to the Big Easy. With so much talent in each conference and only 12 spots to offer, many players will get hosed. He might be tallying fantastic defensive numbers, but his teammates have not joined him on the other end. The Nuggets can score in blitzes, but they defend like Barbie Dolls.
It's tough to choose between David West, Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson. I didn't know West was
this good and apparently, a lot of other teams had no clue, either. In the Hornets nine-game winning streak, he torched the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets--two teams known for rugged defense.
The Warriors hold on to the final playoff spot, but not by much. It's tough deciding which player deserves a reserve spot more--Baron Davis, the heady point guard who collapses defenses and finds the three bombers (or shoots them himself), or Stephen Jackson, who may be the best man-to-man defender on a team known for giving up a lot of points. I would be happy to see either Warrior on the Western Conference roster.
My man Andres Nocioni has followed up my perhaps lone selection of him with dismal performances. A 2-12 outing against the league worst Minnesota Timberwolves earns him an ousting from my list. After the Phoenix Suns beat down the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week, I also removed Josh Smith. The Bucks lose 112-69 Wednesday night? Andrew Bogut's a gonner.
As long as we're discussing players who've failed miserably, here's a player who put an extra somethin', somethin' into his performances this week - Hedo Turkoglu. He made my original list, but now that choice makes even more since. After drilling the Garnett-less Celtics with a buzzer-beating three and dropping 27 and 12 on the dismal Miami Heat, he should get the coaches' vote.
Here are my FINALIZED reserve rosters (the players I think should be there)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
G - Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
G - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
F - Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz
F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
C - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
WC - Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
WC - Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
EASTERN CONFERENCE
G - Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
G - Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
F - Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
C - Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
WC - Caron Butler, Washington Wizards or Antawn Jamison
WC - Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers
BIGGEST APOLOGIES (Guys I left off the list): Ray Allen, Boston Celtics; whichever Wizard is not selected; Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs; David West and Tyson Chandler, New Orleans Hornets; Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets; Al Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves.
This is what
should happen tomorrow night when EJ, Kenny and the Chuckster announce the reserves. I'm not betting it will.
Grading the NBA All-Star starter selections
The fans voted correctly in most cases. I take issue with three of the starting selections, though. The All-Star Game may be a showboating contest and serve no greater purpose than to let the most popular players dunk and throw ridiculous lob passes. Still, there is something special about being selected to play in the game.
Despite what some fans may think, this should not be a popularity contest. The mid-season classic should reward players who win, or at least do everything they can to get Ws on the board.
Fans should think before they vote, but since that will never happen, I suggest the NBA make some changes to its All-Star system.
1) The rosters should be expanded to 14 or 15 players. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony unfairly used up spots that should have gone to other players. Should the two best shotjackers on the same not-that-good squad be only teammates in either starting 5? The only thing that will keep either player from starting is injury. The NBA forces a player who is voted in to accept his spot. He cannot give it away to another player. He cannot opt to sit out the game unless he is injured. I take no issue with this string of rules.
If you're going trying to get people to watch a meaningless, show-off jamboree, you might as well give them the players they say they would most like to see. The NBA does not, and should not, preach to its fans that their choices are wrong by altering the starting lineups.
However, if players like Iverson and Anthony steal roster spots others should occupy, there should be enough slots to accommodate the deserving players. The West boasts a glut of great guards and Iverson's start means that some terrific guards, possibly an MVP candidate, will get the shaft. I'm happy for the two Denver Nugget players and do not want to spend this entire post decrying their selection by the fans.
The NBA must increase the roster sizes.
2) The NBA should also consider letting fans vote for four of the All-Stars and one reserve, allowing the coaches to select one starter and the rest of the players. That way, Iverson and Anthony would still be voted in, but coaches would have a chance to put Steve Nash or Chris Paul in the starting lineup. A little adjustment should not damage the game.
Here are the starters and my list of reserves.
WESTERN CONFERENCE startersG - Allen Iverson, Denver Nuggets
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
F - Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
C - Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
reservesSteve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Brandon Roy, Portland Trailblazers
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks or Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks
Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
Were there extra room:
Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors or Baron Davis, Golden State Warriors
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
David West, New Orleans Hornets
EASTERN CONFERENCE startersG - Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
reservesRichard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
Caron Butler, Washington Wizards or Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards
Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
Andres Nocioni, Chicago Bulls
Were there extra room:
Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee Bucks
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers
Whichever Wizard doesn't crack the reserve list
Halfway through the season: All-star selections, awards and playoff musings
All 30 NBA teams have played at least 41 games, and as we hit the halfway point in the season, there are some surprises, even some shockers.
To commemorate this mile-marker, I've thrown together some opinions on a number of matters--who should win the Maurice P. trophy? Who deserves a spot on the All-Star teams this year? And the biggest stories of the season? I've got those, too.
In little more than an hour, the TNT trifecta of Ernie Johnson, Kenny "The Jet" Smith and Charles Barkley will announce the starters on each All-Star squad. These selections will be based on final tallies of fan votes. The fans' choices won't shock anybody. Why does Turner broadcasting throw a suitcase of money in David Stern's face for the exclusive right to announce what most fans of the game already know? Expect a pre-game show duller than an Al Gore seminar on fly fishing. The results will offer no climax, no chance for gasps or pleasant surprises.
Like a sucker, I DVRd the damn thing anyway.
So, here's what you already know. Any player below not in the starting lineup should demand a recount. This baby's surer than George Michael getting his nasty on behind a bush.
Western Conference starters.
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
G - Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
F - Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
C - Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference starters.
G - Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
F - Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Above is what
will happen. Here's what
should happen.
Western Conference starters
G - Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Putting up the best numbers of his career, Nash tops every list of the league's best point guards. When he runs the Phoenix Suns, he RUNS them. Have a young kid who's interested in being a point guard? TiVo this guy, take notes and pray that one day he or she gets one assist as incredible as the league-leading 12 Nash throws each game. He makes the hardest part of offense look effortless. A non-start for Nash would be a travesty.
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
He's the best player in the league - we know that. What we didn't anticipate was that he'd quit crabbing and lead a team he once called amateurish and unworthy of his talent to a 27-13 mark. Andrew Bynum did his part in the offseason to become the forceful inside scorer the Lakers need to be a title contender (he's injured, of course). But, it takes two to Tango. Kobe is still scoring at his usual impressive clip, while learning to trust his teammates and get them the ball. Bryant's realized these Lakers are not as terrible as he once thought and it's made him a better player.
F - Dirk Nowitzki or Josh Howard
After a tepid and disconcerting 12-8 start, the Dallas Mavericks are back near the top of the conference, clawing with San Antonio and New Orleans for best record in the grueling Southwest Division. With Howard and Nowitzki both averaging about 20 points per game, and both capable of grabbing double-digit rebounds, which player is more valuable to this team can be debated. I'll turn that discussion over to you.
F - Tim Duncan
Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, when healthy, are putting up monster numbers. In most cases, a championship team's third leading scorer would not be the first choice for the All-Star team. Not rewarding the Frenchman and Argentine for their work seems criminal. But this is different. That "third" option is Duncan, the greatest to ever play the game at his position. A 28 point, 17 rebound domination of the Lakers' frontline Wednesday night should quell the critics.
C - Yao Ming
Mark Cuban may have a point when he blasts the NBA system for allowing sports fans in China to dominate the online voting, making Yao an automatic selection. Cuban surely cannot quibble with the center's MVP-esque numbers. At many points this season, Yao has been the sole fire trying to light a disappointing team's ass. He's not perfect, but he's still the best center in the NBA.
reserves
G - Brandon Roy, Portland Trailblazers
Roy might be the only sophomore with a chance to play in the Sunday classic, but his numbers and his team's startling 25-17 record make it obvious why he deserves to be there. Without Greg Oden, the mild-mannered, never flamboyant Roy has led a squad of youngsters from an anticipated lottery season to a possible playoff berth. And when Bill Walton says these guys could get to the Western Conference Finals, he doesn't sound like an idiot. The Blazers MUST have a representative in the game and Roy's the guy.
G - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets, not to my surprise, are one win away from re-owning the Western Conference's best record. They've taken off and this incredible young guard's dime dishing, marksmanship from all areas of the floor and leadership have been the propeller. Bottom line: If Paul's not selected, I will not be watching.
F - Mike Miller, Memphis Grizzlies
Pau Gasol may be the centerpiece of this struggling squad, and Rudy Gay might be a superstar in the making, but Miller's silent confidence and consistent production on both ends of the floor has been one of the few things worth watching in Memphis.
F - David West, New Orleans Hornets
C - Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
It's hard to believe this offensive stick of dynamite underwent microfracture surgery just before last season. His interior defense stinks on most nights, save the few blocks he accrues, but his scoring prowess should earn him an All-Star nod from the coaches.
C - Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
Can you say 'breakout season'? After consecutive seasons of looking and playing like a Caveman in a Geico commercial, this former Central Michigan product is averaging 17 points and almost 14 rebounds per game. His Clippers aren't winning, as franchise cornerstone Elton Brand, rising star guard Shaun Livingston and Paul Davis are injured. Despite being the best player on a losing team, New Orleans wouldn't be the same without this guy there.
Eastern Conference starters
G - Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
G - Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors
F - Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
reserves
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat or Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
G - Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats
F - Caron Butler, Washington Wizards or Andres Nocioni, Chicago Bulls
F - Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic or Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks
C -Emeka Okafor, Charlotte Bobcats or Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers
C -Andrew Bogut
