IrishHand
12-25-2002, 03:26 PM
First - a random musing...what are we to think if Yao Ming is voted in as the starting center for the Western Conference at the All-Star game? Shaq is by any measure the top center in the game.
Next...I'm filling out my NBA All-Star ballot as I do every year around Christmas (in the past, when I went to a game in mid-Dec, the past three years, online). For the first time that I can recall, I've found a league and a position where I can't bring myself to choose 2 players. Normally, I'm forced to have an inner debate as to which 2 of these 3 or 4 are the best two - but looking at the candidates for forward in the Eastern Conference, I'm struck by the level of mediocrity - or at least the complete dearth of a pair of players I consider "All-Star" calibre. To me, an All-Star player should be both an outstanding player and someone I'd be interested in watching.
As such, here are my selections at all postiions except Eastern Forward:
Eastern Guards: Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady
Eastern Center: Ben Wallace
Western Forwards: Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber
Western Guards: Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton
Western Center: Shaquille O'Neal
Per the NBA All-Star ballot - here are the candidates for forward in the Eastern Conference, along with a brief analysis. Following will be the results of my caving in to the need to vote for 2 so I can submit my ballot complete. What I'm really interested in is who you'd select.
S. Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta Hawks - 20 ppg, 8 rpg, good stats for a bad team, just as he did in Van (borderline All-Star)
V. Baker, Boston Celtics - 6 ppg, 4 prg for a cool $11million this year - tossing him was Seattle's greatest ever trade
P. Brown, New Orleans Hornets - 10 ppg, 9 rpg - solid player, excellent defender, but that's the end of it
C. Butler, Miami Heat - 13 ppg, 6 rpg - decent rookie year, good shot at All-Rookie, but All-Star still years away
V. Carter, Toronto Raptors - 19 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg - injury-ridden and has contributed next to nothing for 2 years
A. Harrington, Indiana Pacers - 12 ppg, 6 rpg - solid development, but not even full-time starter on his own team
G. Hill, Orlando Magic - 16 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg - excellent year coming back, but miles from 26,7,5 in last Det year
R. Jefferson, New Jersey Nets - 14 ppg, 7 rpg - very good player on both ends, but not all-star level
J. Magloire, New Orleans Hornets - 10 ppg, 8 rpg - really a center, but another good youngster - nothing more
D. Marshall, Chicago Bulls - 16 ppg, 10 rpg - very good stats on awful team, only 30 min a game
K. Martin, New Jersey Nets - 13 ppg, 7 rpg - awful rebounder for a PF, athletic but not much else
J. Mashburn, New Orleans Hornets - 21 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, .434 FG% - good scorer, bad shooting %, skirks defense
A. Mason, Milwaukee Bucks - 9 ppg, 7 rpg - team turned to shat when he arrived, not a good sign
A. McDyess, New York Knickerbockers - out for season, no games played, no all-star consideration
D. Miles, Cleveland Cavaliers - 10 ppg, 7 rpg - wasn't he supposed to have a break-out year?
M. Miller, Orlando Magic - 16 ppg, 6 rpg - solid stats, but not even a full-time starter on his own team
J. O'Neal, Indiana Pacers - 20 ppg, 10 rpg - legitimate all-star stats and performance this year
C. Robinson, Detroit Pistons - 12 ppg, 4 rpg - FOUR rebounds a game playing PF/C? .434 shooting? Nope...
G. Robinson, Atlanta Hawks - 20 ppg, 8 rpg - plays no 'd', demands the ball, then shoots 44% from the floor. Close, but no.
L. Sprewell, New York Knickerbockers - 16 ppg, 4 apg - pure mediocrity from a guy who was once a monster
T. Thomas, Milwaukee Bucks - 13 ppg, 5 rpg - wasn't Robinson trade supposed to help this guy? Guess not.
K. Van Horn, Philadelphia 76ers - 16 ppg, 9 rpg - Brown's done an excellent job hiding his defensive obliviousness
A. Walker, Boston Celtics - 22 ppg, 8 rpg, .395 FG% - never seen a guy take so many useless 3s (and 2s) in my life
C. Williamson, Detroit Pistons - 11 ppg, 4 rpg - marginal stats, doesn't even start for his own team.
In the end, I went with Jermaine O'Neal and Grant Hill. I considered Mashburn over Hill, but I prefer guys who play both ends. I realize Hill's missed a few games, but he's dealt with his situation admirably, and has made a huge difference when he's been in uniform. Who would you guys go with?
Merry Christmas!
Irish
Next...I'm filling out my NBA All-Star ballot as I do every year around Christmas (in the past, when I went to a game in mid-Dec, the past three years, online). For the first time that I can recall, I've found a league and a position where I can't bring myself to choose 2 players. Normally, I'm forced to have an inner debate as to which 2 of these 3 or 4 are the best two - but looking at the candidates for forward in the Eastern Conference, I'm struck by the level of mediocrity - or at least the complete dearth of a pair of players I consider "All-Star" calibre. To me, an All-Star player should be both an outstanding player and someone I'd be interested in watching.
As such, here are my selections at all postiions except Eastern Forward:
Eastern Guards: Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady
Eastern Center: Ben Wallace
Western Forwards: Kevin Garnett, Chris Webber
Western Guards: Kobe Bryant, Gary Payton
Western Center: Shaquille O'Neal
Per the NBA All-Star ballot - here are the candidates for forward in the Eastern Conference, along with a brief analysis. Following will be the results of my caving in to the need to vote for 2 so I can submit my ballot complete. What I'm really interested in is who you'd select.
S. Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta Hawks - 20 ppg, 8 rpg, good stats for a bad team, just as he did in Van (borderline All-Star)
V. Baker, Boston Celtics - 6 ppg, 4 prg for a cool $11million this year - tossing him was Seattle's greatest ever trade
P. Brown, New Orleans Hornets - 10 ppg, 9 rpg - solid player, excellent defender, but that's the end of it
C. Butler, Miami Heat - 13 ppg, 6 rpg - decent rookie year, good shot at All-Rookie, but All-Star still years away
V. Carter, Toronto Raptors - 19 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg - injury-ridden and has contributed next to nothing for 2 years
A. Harrington, Indiana Pacers - 12 ppg, 6 rpg - solid development, but not even full-time starter on his own team
G. Hill, Orlando Magic - 16 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 apg - excellent year coming back, but miles from 26,7,5 in last Det year
R. Jefferson, New Jersey Nets - 14 ppg, 7 rpg - very good player on both ends, but not all-star level
J. Magloire, New Orleans Hornets - 10 ppg, 8 rpg - really a center, but another good youngster - nothing more
D. Marshall, Chicago Bulls - 16 ppg, 10 rpg - very good stats on awful team, only 30 min a game
K. Martin, New Jersey Nets - 13 ppg, 7 rpg - awful rebounder for a PF, athletic but not much else
J. Mashburn, New Orleans Hornets - 21 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg, .434 FG% - good scorer, bad shooting %, skirks defense
A. Mason, Milwaukee Bucks - 9 ppg, 7 rpg - team turned to shat when he arrived, not a good sign
A. McDyess, New York Knickerbockers - out for season, no games played, no all-star consideration
D. Miles, Cleveland Cavaliers - 10 ppg, 7 rpg - wasn't he supposed to have a break-out year?
M. Miller, Orlando Magic - 16 ppg, 6 rpg - solid stats, but not even a full-time starter on his own team
J. O'Neal, Indiana Pacers - 20 ppg, 10 rpg - legitimate all-star stats and performance this year
C. Robinson, Detroit Pistons - 12 ppg, 4 rpg - FOUR rebounds a game playing PF/C? .434 shooting? Nope...
G. Robinson, Atlanta Hawks - 20 ppg, 8 rpg - plays no 'd', demands the ball, then shoots 44% from the floor. Close, but no.
L. Sprewell, New York Knickerbockers - 16 ppg, 4 apg - pure mediocrity from a guy who was once a monster
T. Thomas, Milwaukee Bucks - 13 ppg, 5 rpg - wasn't Robinson trade supposed to help this guy? Guess not.
K. Van Horn, Philadelphia 76ers - 16 ppg, 9 rpg - Brown's done an excellent job hiding his defensive obliviousness
A. Walker, Boston Celtics - 22 ppg, 8 rpg, .395 FG% - never seen a guy take so many useless 3s (and 2s) in my life
C. Williamson, Detroit Pistons - 11 ppg, 4 rpg - marginal stats, doesn't even start for his own team.
In the end, I went with Jermaine O'Neal and Grant Hill. I considered Mashburn over Hill, but I prefer guys who play both ends. I realize Hill's missed a few games, but he's dealt with his situation admirably, and has made a huge difference when he's been in uniform. Who would you guys go with?
Merry Christmas!
Irish