LOSE THE LOSERS
AS mentioned in a previous column regarding Shaquille O’Neal, referees usually are first to recognize when a player earns or exhausts All-Star treatment. Fans always are last to know.
NBA head coaches are apt to go either way. They have been known to be quick on the draw and slow on the uptake, depending on how much attention they pay to league play past their next opponent.
Unfortunately, picking the starters in next month’s hoedown in New Orleans depreciated into a predictable popularity contest, as evidenced by the people’s choice of Dwyane Wade and Jason Kidd; individual statistics and showmanship took priority over Miami’s ghastly 8-33 record and New Jersey’s grungy 18-25 mark.
I haven’t seen such big losers since NBC’s rotund realism show.
Almost everyone agrees the selections of Yao Ming, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and LeBron James are downright deserved.
The privilege and responsibility of deciding the seven nuclear subs for the East and West squads belongs to the coaches. While powerless to right the above wrongs, they’re in prime position to reward leaders of winning clubs, ensure reputation isn’t the benchmark for entrée at the expense of someone else, and no lifetime achievement award is bestowed to Shaq, as one boob tuber suggested.
According to outmoded rules of All-Star engagement (rosters have been set at 12 since pre-David Stern when there were 14 teams; we’ve had 30 since the Raptors and Grizzlies came aboard in ’95-’96), at least one center, two guards and two forwards must be added to each squad. The remaining two spots may be filled intuitively.
To avoid being accused of copying from the coaches I have elected to Post my preferences before their vote is announced Jan. 31. If the cut-off equation is the equator (your team must be playing above .500) then the East’s representatives almost (the operative word) identify themselves; regrettably, it says here, the standard disqualifies Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Josh Smith.
Chris Bosh (averaging 22.5 points and 9.2 rebounds) is a lock; if for no other reason, he and Isiah Thomas helped save Canadian basketball. Caron Butler (career high 21.5 ppg along with 6.9 boards, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals) and Antawn Jamison (a 20-10 man, one of but five in the league) have kept the Wizards relevant. More importantly, they give Washington an anti-Gilbert Arenas vaccine.
Paul Pierce can’t miss. His Celtics own the league’s elite winning percentage and he leads ’em in scoring (20.4) and assists (5.0). What’s more, P-Squared has upgraded his defense and blended beautifully with KG and Ray Allen in their first legacy-seeking season together.
It’s unfeasible to settle on Rip Hamilton (.503 FG, 18.8 points) without opting for Chauncey Billups (17.9 points, 7.1 assists) and the same back to front.
At the same time, Rasheed Wallace’s wide-ranging contribution to Detroit’s winning ways (31-13) gives him the edge at backup center over Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
No doubt a strong case can be made for Ray Allen (18.2 points) over one of the Pistons’ guards, but in this space you can’t have one without the other.
Jose Calderon (a league-leading 5.44 assist-to-turnover ratio) is the East’s classic casualty (Hedo Turkoglu – 19.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists – is runner-up), because of the fans’ careless commitment to Kidd.
Should the concord of coaches pick either of the above (as opposed to Billups or Hamilton) I promise not to go to arbitration.
At least in the West fans found a successful quintet.
Maintaining that strict line of demarcation, I declare unrequited love for Brandon Roy, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Baron Davis, Marcus Camby, David West, Tyson Chandler, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Seven complex conclusions, in other words; 15 rarified reinforcements and less than half the openings. No matter how it’s assessed or who is deemed worthy, each right turn serpentines into hurt feelings. Then again, it’s not possible to be incorrect.
I feel so much better having taken myself off the hook.
Of course Nash goes to the Big Easy; leads the league (12.1) in assists and an honest day’s work.
Paul is Nash’s assist and MVP heir apparent.
How close in the standings would the Blazers be to the Sonics and Timberwolves minus Roy’s points, passes and polished poise? Such conscientiousness must be compensated for all to emulate.
Who doesn’t love Boozer’s parts, labor and service chart?
Nowitzki has expanded his game and scope with only a transient hitch in his giddy-app at the outset, though Howard may very well be the Mavericks’ toughest and best all-around player.
Stoudamire (22.7 points, 2.2 blocks) was my backup center pick on NBATV. Truth be told, the words came out of the mouth of co-host/ventriloquist Roy Johnson, ghostwriter of Charles Barkley’s autobiography. And here all this time I thought Sir Cumference’s contention he had been misquoted was far-fetched. I’m actually swearing allegiance to Camby, the league’s second leading rebounder (14.4), top shot blocker (3.93) and the Nuggets’ indispensable defensive-do-it-all.
The Warriors have won 26 times in their last 38 tries. Though I realize you’re only as good as your coach, the Baron of Basketball (22.3 points, 8.1 assists and 2.50 steals) appears to have had a sliver of something to do with it.
Deron, Manu, Amare, Parker, Howard, Shawn Marion, West, Chandler, LaMarcus Aldridge and Tracy McGrady have winners.
