Let’s just get this out of the way–Players who should’ve made the All-Star team instead of Dirk Nowitzki: Paul Millsap… Monta Ellis… Kyle Lowry… arguably Pau Gasol… maybe even Danilo Gallinari, but he’s hurt anyway. I guess the only reason I really care is because Millsap got shafted. He’s been absolutely awesome for a surprising 13-11 Jazz team, averaging about 17 points and 10 boards. While Dirk is obviously the superior player and should be in good enough shape to show it by year’s end, as of February 10th, 2012, Millsap is putting up better numbers than Nowitzki, leading a more impressive squad, and I’d even argue that he’s hit more big buckets. As for the rest of the reserves… aside from Dirk’s reputation-based selection and the inclusion of the wrong Philadelphia 76er (should’ve been Lou, not Iggy), I think the coaches got it right. In case you still haven’t heard, here’s who actually made the team, and here’s who I had making it (East, West).
My question is as follows: when is the last time we saw an All-Star team as weak as the one the East will be sending to Orlando? No disrespect to Andre Iguodala or Luol Deng, but… yeah. I suppose there was 2009, when Jameer Nelson, Mo Williams, and Devin Harris all made it. I should probably leave Harris out of this–he appeared to be a bonafide beast back then. Mo was actually an injury replacement. Damn, Rashard Lewis made it that season too, launching 7 threes per game. I guess we could call 2009 the “team success” year. Anyway, we’ve got a bit of a “WTF” All-Star team representing the East again this season.
The Atlanta Hawks now have Jason Collins and Erick Dampier on their roster. That truly is sad. Via the AJC…
The Hawks no longer will have to make do using forwards at center.
I’d rather make do using point guards at center, Don Nelson style. Erick Dampier? Why? Isn’t Joel Przybilla a free agent? Kyrylo Fesenko? There’s got to be a tall person out there better than Erick Dampier.
Jerome James is attempting to pull a Greg Ostertag (NBA comeback via D-League), but there isn’t a D-League team willing to waste their time with him. It’s probably happened, but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a former NBA player making himself a part of the Development League player pool and going unclaimed. F@cking Mike Sweetney made the cut for the Eerie Bayhawks back in 2010 and he was literally the same size as a small mobile home.
Kevin Garnett went 6-23 from the floor in Boston’s 87-88 loss to the Lakers. Still, the Celtics took the Lakers to overtime, and still, they had multiple opportunities to win the game. While Garnett was downright awful, missing something like his last 10 shots in a goddamned row, I want to point the finger at Rajon Rondo. I know what you’re thinking… of course I do. That’s fine, you can think that. I’m not even going to pretend to like the guy, and while I may be looking at this from a skewed perspective, you all had to notice how the Lakers treated Rondo as if he was Ben Wallace down the stretch. I just want to know what the f@ck kind of “All-Star” point guard can be left to roam free during the final minutes of a close game. I’ve certainly never seen such a thing… not until Rajon Rondo. This guy was a liability down the stretch last night… a certified liability. You wonder why the Celtics couldn’t get a decent look at the basket, it’s partly because they were playing 4 on 5 with this dude. While an aggressive Rajon Rondo who pushes the ball and looks to penetrate is a very good basketball player, the one who walks the ball up the floor and points at people is pretty useless. I guess some people call that running an offense. I dunno… maybe he is good at that, but if he’s such a brilliant conductor why is his orchestra so offensively challenged?
Would I be hating too hard if I… ah, f@ck it, I don’t care. Who saw Keith Smart, DeMarcus Cousins, and Tyreke Evans talking to either Craig Sager or Cheryl Miller (I can’t remember) after last night’s big-time win over the Oklahoma City Thunder? Great win for the Kings, no doubt… a win they could build upon if they weren’t the Sacramento Kings. They played the right way, assisting on 21 of 40 field goals, and approached the game with enough effort and discipline to pull it off. That postgame discussion, though… how old is DeMarcus, five? Keith Smart had to give this big doofus a hug and talk about how he has to get along with brother Tyreke and work together with the rest of his pals if he wants to see the team progress. It seriously came across to me like something a mother would say to little Johnny and Jack, except everything was put into basketball terms. Keith Smart must feel like a child care provider coaching this dude.
Inside The NBA is still pretty funny when Shaq isn’t involved. The Big Attention Whore was forced to keep his mouth shut as EJ starred in a brilliant little skit that poked fun at LeBron James and that receding hairling…
I still think the Shaq thing could work if he’d just slow his role. He needs to let everyone else talk, leave his agendas at home, and drop a little one-liner every now and then.
Box Score Observations: Serge Ibaka had more blocked shots than Russell Westbrook had turnovers. That was extra impressive on this night considering Westbrook coughed it up 7 times (Ibaka had 10 blocks). Monta Ellis only needed to score 14 points as the Warriors beat the Nuggets. Steph Curry had 36 on 13-17. In his second career start, Kenneth Farried had 8 points and 10 rebounds. Houston’s bench scored 57 points as the Rockets beat the Suns 96-89. Phoenix’s reserves only had 13, 11 of which were scored by Michael Redd.
