Courtesy: Bleacher Report
The debate of how NBA All Stars should be selected has become a hot topic lately. From the actual players to the media, everyone has a formula on how a player should be selected for the NBA All Star game. Charles Barkley keeps repeating how missing more games than you played, should automatically disqualify you from All Star consideration.
This could be considered one of the most logical statement the controversial personality has ever made. But Kevin Durant missed 25 games and played in 21. Yet in those 21 games, his stats are considerably better than almost 60% of his peers!!! 60%!! How can ANYONE argue with those numbers? The guy is averaging over 26 points and 5 assists per game!!
Look at the Thunder’s record without Durant and then compare it to Durant being on the floor. His outstanding play has his team just 3 games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference. There is not a player in the NBA who is more DOMINATING at his position; his team’s record shouldn’t matter.
In the case of DeMarcus Cousins, his play and his team’s play just isn’t adding up. He’s dominating almost every front court player he’s gone up against this season. The Kings got off to a great start to the season with a healthy Cousins in the lineup. Once Cousins missed time due to illness, the team’s play plummeted and Coach Mike Malone was dismissed. The team continues to nosedive under Tyrone Corbin, while Cousins has picked up right where he left off.
Should Cousins be penalized for his teammates inconsistency? He’s being a leader by going out every night and playing at an Olympic level. It’s the job of the front office to put together a roster that COMPETES!! Cousins can’t FORCE guys to play hard. They have to WANT it!!
In the case of Carmelo Anthony, although he’s putting up huge number, his team isn’t winning and he’s not an efficient player. He’s averaging 25ppg but he’s only shooting about 39% from the field. He’s also taking 25 shots to average those 25 points! That’s crazy! He doesn’t attempt to make his teammates better and that is a major problem (not to mention his lack of rebounding even at 6’8″).
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
Damian Lillard should not be a REPLACEMENT selection! Period! The coaches selecting Chris Paul was definitely a “lifetime” achievement award! Lillard has played circles around Paul and his team is positioned higher than Paul’s Clippers in the standings. In strong belief, the fans can no longer handle voting in the NBA All Stars.
The coaches and fellow players should be allowed to vote for the starters and the reserves. Fan voting is ALWAYS about popularity and NEVER about substance; hence why Kobe Bryant received an NBA All Star bid. Although it’s only a showcase event, deserving players should be recognized for their body of work and not lose out to popularity.
