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Here's my picks, which means these are the picks that SHOULD happen regardless of any of your opinions.
Let me know what you think and add yours.
I mean Kyle Lowry is a sensation, whod'a thunk. The Bulls were after him way back before we got Rose, and folks were thinking he'd be a nice backup to Hinrich then. Who'd have thought he'd be a legit star, let alone starting PG (he was good, but nobody would have expected this good).
My All Star picks regardless of fans
East
1) Derrick Rose - best PG in the game, I know I'm a Bulls fan, but come now.
2) Dwyane Wade (even though injured he's still a stud when he's playing as he's proven again since coming back)
3) LeBron James - best indiivdual talent in the game.
4) Josh Smith (he's a head case, he's a coaching nightmare because he has a pretty low bball IQ and can hurt your team), but he's been on fire and has enough talent to offset this, and is finally being more good to great than a headache.
5) Dwight Howard. His team is quitting on him, but he doesn't look to be quitting on the team, even if his antics are causing the Magic to fall apart. Trade him to Chicago in March for Luol Deng (26), Taj Gibson (26), Omer Asik (23?), Our 2 upcoming first round picks (ours and Charlotte's option which can be fully unprotected by 2015), and there you go, Orlando won't get a better offer. If they do, remove some of these guys and give em Noah (we have to wait until March 1st, but I think Noah can play well at the 4 with his passing skills, making Carlos Boozer the best bench player in the league).
East Reserves
1) Carmelo Anthony. Has to learn team ball, he's a top 10 talent in the league, but not a top ten player because he doesn't play team ball and refuses to play defense.
2) Joe Johnson - not worth the money he's making, but a constant deserving all star, so not as bad off as you'd think.
3) Deron Williams. I hate him, but he is pretty good to great. I've always hated him from his UofI days, for no real reason--he's become more a prima donna as a pro, which makes it easier to hate him, but I just didn't like him from the start.
4) Chris Bosh. Gets a lot of grief, but he's good. Just not a clear #1, but a great #2, playing the role of a #3.
5) Andre Iguodala. If Hawes wasn't injured for half the year so far he'd be here too.
6) Rajon Rondo. I know he's missed almost as many games as Hawes, but bigger rep and the fact that Boston will have a player, gives him the nod for me, as he's their best player.
7) Amare Stoudemire.
5 Biggest East Omissions no order
1) Roy Hibbert Indiana. Indy deserves an all star with their record, but it's more a team concept team than a star driven team right now. Hibbert's as good as any on that team, and his size and the fact he's been consistent gives him the edge as the snub.
2) Ryan Anderson, Orlando. Anderson's been a sensation so far, but let's see if he can keep that up a year, and if he plays this way next year, he may be here.
3) Brandon Jennings. Can't defend a turtle on the court, but his speed and his passing and O skills are getting all star worthy. Can he keep this shooting touch going (up over half a percent over his previous career mark).
4) Joakim Noah, Bulls. He took a few weeks to get going and was playing like crap until about 2-3 weeks ago, but he's come on, and when he's on like he is, he's the second best C in the East. Too bad the slow start likely cost him his all star nod.
5) Luol Deng Bulls. THe injury didn't help matters, but Luol is close to an all star, one of the best 3 defenders in the game, and a decent and consistent O game to boot. Carlos Boozer also is close to an all star, despite an odd bad rap. Booz's minutes are down, but his effciciency is still at his career mark. Bulls started using him more on O and he's been performing quite well.
West Starters.
1) Chris Paul, 2nd best PG.
2) Kobe Bryant. Probably second in MVP rating behind James, though maybe third behind James and Rose. He's back.
3) Kevin Durant.
4) Kevin Love
5) Andrew Bynum
West Reserves
6) Paul Gasol
7) Dirk Nowitzki (slow start from him, but he's still deserving)
8) Blake Griffin
9) LaMarcus Aldridge
10) Russell Westbrook
11) Monta Ellis - he's one of the most electric combo PG's in the game and deserves an all star nod, even if his team never wins, it's not on him (or when healthy Curry), it's on the bigs....Lee's dramatically overpaid a one side player in the post is awful to have unless that player is a Kevin Love (rebounds everything everywhere) or a Blake Griffin (most athletic PF and perhaps (he or Rose) player in the game)
12) Steve Nash. Hall of Famer and still awesome.
5 Key Omissions
1) Kyle Lowry - It sucks, but Nash is still better than Lowry. Lowry should be here, but all the PFs in the West take his spot. Can Lowry keep this up though? I don't know...
2) Tony Parker. Quitely having another GREAT year. It goes to show how good the PG's are today in that Parker, a historically solid
PG is probably 10th in the league.
3) Ricky Rubio. He and Adelman have already changed the culture in Minny. Suddenly Minny is fun to watch, he's as good as advertized and will only get better.
4) Danilo Gallinari - really the entire Denver Nuggets team could be here since they're all basically at the same level....too bad
5) Marc Gasol. I think Dirk took his spot, which is probably crap, but so be it. He's very close and has been almost as good as his brother (granted his brother's having a slightly down year mostly because he's under utilized). I wouldn't have a problem with him moving above and taking either brother Pau or Dirk's spot. Pau would be here as a lock if he wasn't on the Mike Brown Lakers (Pau's still better than Bynum).
Big B,
I am a big Greg Monroe fan....I think he's your lone keeper, and like Hawes etc I think one more year like htis and he's an all star lock. But the Pistons are awful, and while the Knicks are disappointing, they're not quite awful. Amare and Melo don't mesh..... I know Amare's been a bit down to say the least, but this is one of those "lifetime achievement" all star nods, and may be his last. He's still very very good, and while he should be better, I think it's more on a lack of PG play that's hurting his indiivdual stats. I would still take Amare over many bigs in the game, and as such I gave him that "achivement" nod, even though if this doesn't keep up he's out. Brandon Jennings might just be my biggest snubbery out East. It's just hard to make a player an alls tar when his team is 4-20. I know the Knicks are 8-13, which is crappy, but they really have a mismatched roster, and can make a run if they add a PG to respectability, the Pistons are all but done this year.
Same iwth Dirk. Dirk gets in being FInals MVP and the best PF (or arguably top 3) of the last 12+ years. He's having a down start, but he's still great, and deserves that spot for "achievement" reasons.....plus I'm still taking Dirk over all but maybe 8-10 players in this league, regardless of any slow start, and the Mavs are still the 4th best team record wise out West....they need an all star, and Dirk's clearly it. I think Marc Gasol is the biggest snub in my list....Paul Millsap is probably my biggest snub on my snubs list (I took Gallinari as a snub over him only because I perceive Denver as a tougher team than the surprising Jazz, but Millsap's been great so far this year) .
It sucks, but it is what it is, it's based on perceived value to any team and on rep a bit, and I'd still take Amar'e or Dirk over Monroe or Millsap today, maybe tomorrow I'd take Greg Monroe over Amar'e, but unlikely over Dirk, until Dirk finally wears out (I don't think he has, I think Dallas is still figuring out their team).
Brandon Jennings might just be my biggest snubbery out East.Yeah he might end up being the biggest snub of this years All-Star game. I can't see him getting in over Deron Williams, Dwill is heating up so it's going to be hard to top a guy with his name recognition. Also with the way the 76ers are playing they can't leave them without an All-star but I wouldn't be suprised to see Jennings get the spot over Iggy and it wouldn't bother me if that happened.
I think if he had some real post O presence and a better SF he'd do even better....he also may do better at the point, but then again, he's so shoot first, maybe a 2 is fine.
Curry's not a problem in GSW
