So as I watched the starters and reserves be announced for the NBA All-Star game in New Orleans this month; I cringed on some of the selections and my blood boiled over others. The legends of the game probably can’t understand what the qualifications for being an All Star any more. It seems like in today’s game, the criteria for being recognized as a great player is solely based on stats and the amount of “oohs and ahs” generated by certain players.
Courtesy: Zimbio
I look at guys like KD, Lebron, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and D Wade, who not only provide plenty of highlights on a nightly basis, but when I examine them further other things stand out about these players; they are very efficient when shooting the basketball. I know there are a lot of people are going to disagree with Carmelo Anthony not being on that list, but he honestly doesn’t belong.
The aforementioned guys on my list all shoot at least 48% from the field. All of those guys play for teams that have winning records and they are responsible for that. Carmelo scores a lot, but he also takes the most shots out of everyone on my list! The game after his 62 point outburst, he shot the ball 35 times and only scored 32 points! That’s just insane!
Kyrie Irving isn’t exempt from this criticism either. I watched his Cavaliers play the Knicks on Thursday night and he didn’t impress me at all. There was one play where he was being double teamed by Knick players and instead of passing to his teammates, he dribbled the ball for an additional 5 seconds until he was fouled. Irving and Melo both can score the ball but being a leader is much more than that. Their ball hog tactics are just the beginning of what’s wrong with their teams and why they’re both at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Courtesy: Zimbio
Last on my list is a snub that’s almost as unforgivable as last season’s snub of Stephen Curry. How can Roy Hibbert be named an all star over teammate Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson? Not only is he the second best player on the best team in the league record wise but, he also leads the NBA in triple doubles this season. That’s a complement to his versatility and his appetite for winning. Now I know some would argue that I’m a bit a biased because Stephenson and I are products of the same Brooklyn basketball powerhouse, Lincoln High School, but just look at what he does for the Pacers. He not only guards the opposing team’s best offensive player but he also allows coach Vogel to play with different lineups. He can play the point, shooting guard and some small forward.
Danny Granger went down with an injury and Stephenson stepped in and hasn’t looked back since. Give the guy his just do. Other who definitely should be playing next week are Demarcus Cousins, Goran Dragic, Kyle Lowry, Gerald Green, Reggie Jackson, and Nicholas Batum. I certainly hope new NBA honcho Adam Silver, can alter the rules for All Star voting and take the final decision out of the fans hands. The players should be picked by a collection of media, coaches, and their peers. This is change I’m definitely all for.
