Kevin Love, All-Star Reserve

[shrink]

Forwards
x-Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 1,345,566;
x-Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers, 876,451;

Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 470,353;
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 468,435;
Kevin Love, Minnesota, 373,880;
LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 279,500;
Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 185,069;
Lamar Odom, Dallas, 142,830;
Danilo Gallinari, Denver, 110,245;
Rudy Gay, Memphis, 95,228.

Guards
x-Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 1,555,479;
x-Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers, 1,138,743;

Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 397,456;
Steve Nash, Phoenix, 276,268;
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 262,186;
Kyle Lowry, Houston, 185,584;
Monta Ellis, Golden State, 156,603;
Chauncey Billups, L.A. Clippers, 120,961;
Jason Kidd, Dallas, 114,924;
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 111,273.

Starters were chosen by fan balloting, and none of the races was close. The reserves will be chosen by voting of the head coaches from each conference and will be announced next Thursday.

Ricky was third, but I imagine he'd rank higher in fan voting than coaches - Love maybe the opposite. On the other hand, they don't play this game to win, but to entertain fans. They will probably pick about seven more guards and forwards. Who makes the rest of the team?

[yowyOw]

Rubio: Not a chance. Plus he's not excited by the idea.

Love: Lock. He should have been a starter, but he's not so flashy and so "loved" by the journalists like that L.A.'s boy.

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[Klomp]

Rubio: Not a chance. Plus he's not excited by the idea.

Why is he not excited about the idea? Source?

That said, Ricky will have to wait another year, much like Love did two years ago. Love is practically a lock IMO.

[C.lupus]

Yeah, Love has to be a lock. 2nd in rebounds, 4th in scoring.

Ricky? I don't think so. He might have a chance if it weren't for guys like Westbrook and Nash.

[kmgarnett21]

Only way for Rubio to get in was via the fan vote. He won't make it as a reserve. I would give anything to see Rubio in a ASG though. Imagine him running the point for a team with so many high fliers.

Love definitely should've been a starter but one of the NBA's golden boys was voted in just b/c he can dunk. He can't make two 10-foot jumpers in a row, but he gets ton more attention and hype than Love. It's ridiculous 4/5 of the starting lineup for the West is from LA.

[yowyOw]

Rubio: Not a chance. Plus he's not excited by the idea.

Why is he not excited about the idea? Source?

Many interviews like this one:

@1:20
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yYKBNHUdJU[/youtube]


In a Q&A in Spanish with his fans on twitter, published on Spain's nº1 sports newspaper Marca, he said that he is not thinking about it although he thanks everybody for their votes; and that he'd be fulfilled with playing the Rookie Challenge. In fact, he said that he won't participate in the Skills Challenge. At least not this year.

¿Te planteaste participar en el concurso de habilidades? @marca #AllStarMarca

No, no me lo he planteado. Con el de rookie me confiormo. Ojalá pueda vivir un All Star.

Source: Marca.com


I've also seen another interview in Spanish to a tv (I just can't find the link on my browser's history) saying that he only wants to participate in the Rookie Challenge.

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[Beas]

Highly doubt Rubio will make it but Love is a sure thing.

[Lblock07]

Yeah, Love has to be a lock. 2nd in rebounds, 4th in scoring.

Ricky? I don't think so. He might have a chance if it weren't for guys like Westbrook and Nash.

I think they both will make it.

As far as Ricky is concerned, I think he will be the 3rd guard chosen if the wolves can manage getting to the .500 mark before the coaches vote next week. Ricky has to play well in these next 3 games too, of course. The coaches (Pop, Carlisle, Brooks, Del Negro, Monty Williams, and some other west HC) have had only high praises for Ricky, so he really does have a legitimate shot at making it. At this point, his competition for that last spot is Tony Parker and Kyle Lowry I would think.

[yowyOw]

Yeah, Love has to be a lock. 2nd in rebounds, 4th in scoring.

Ricky? I don't think so. He might have a chance if it weren't for guys like Westbrook and Nash.

I think they both will make it.

As far as Ricky is concerned, I think he will be the 3rd guard chosen if the wolves can manage getting to the .500 mark before the coaches vote next week. Ricky has to play well in these next 3 games too, of course. The coaches (Pop, Carlisle, Brooks, Del Negro, Monty Williams, and some other west HC) have had only high praises for Ricky, so he really does have a legitimate shot at making it. At this point, his competition for that last spot is Tony Parker and Kyle Lowry I would think.

The 2 backup guards will be Nash and Westbrook. Both are locks. If they take another PG, it'd be Lawson to have someone represent the Nuggets.

That's my opinion tho.

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[kmgarnett21]

The 2 backup guards will be Nash and Westbrook. Both are locks. If they take another PG, it'd be Lawson to have someone represent the Nuggets.

That's my opinion tho.

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I agree.

Rubio would have to overcome:

CP3 (starter)
Nash
Westbrook
Lawson
Parker
Lowry

I think coaches would vote those guys in over Rubio. Nash is Nash. Westbrook is a lock. Lawson has been outstanding and the Nuggets have to have some representation in the ASG. Parker has carried the Spurs at times. And Lowry has been impressive all season with the exception of one rough week.

Being a Wolves homer though, I'd say with how much impact Rubio has made to this team, he deserves it over Lawson, Parker and Lowry b/c the Wolves have been awful the last few years and already he's turned them into a tough game on the schedule for every team. I think Rubio's impact on his team is much bigger than those guys.

[yowyOw]

The 2 backup guards will be Nash and Westbrook. Both are locks. If they take another PG, it'd be Lawson to have someone represent the Nuggets.

That's my opinion tho.

.

I agree.

Rubio would have to overcome:

CP3 (starter)
Nash
Westbrook
Lawson
Parker
Lowry

I think coaches would vote those guys in over Rubio. Nash is Nash. Westbrook is a lock. Lawson has been outstanding and the Nuggets have to have some representation in the ASG. Parker has carried the Spurs at times. And Lowry has been impressive all season with the exception of one rough week.

Being a Wolves homer though, I'd say with how much impact Rubio has made to this team, he deserves it over Lawson, Parker and Lowry b/c the Wolves have been awful the last few years and already he's turned them into a tough game on the schedule for every team. I think Rubio's impact on his team is much bigger than those guys.

He'll be @Rookie Challenge, so it's not a big deal.

Personally, I prefer to see rookies playing ONLY the rookies-sophomores game. I think that they have to show and prove a little more before leaving other guys like Parker, Lawson, Millsap, big Al or Pau, to cite a few who opt to be wild cards, out of the All-Star game.

I mean it's not like they won't be awarded for their merits since they'll be @All-Star Weekend.

It's just that last year we have assisted to how the league and its entourage work, with the Blake Griffin's hype and "organised" Slam Dunk Contest. They need to sell a product, and that product was (and still is) the Clips guy. It's a disgrace, but that's how things work.

Griffin a starter before Love?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNsrK6P9QvI[/youtube]

.

[Klomp]

In a Q&A in Spanish with his fans on twitter, published on Spain's nº1 sports newspaper Marca, he said that he is not thinking about it although he thanks everybody for their votes; and that he'd be fulfilled with playing the Rookie Challenge. In fact, he said that he won't participate in the Skills Challenge. At least not this year.

Not thinking about it and not excited about it are two very different things. But thanks for that info, never read those before.

[C.lupus]

I'm fine with Ricky participating in a few events as possible. He's been playing a lot of minutes. It wouldn't be a bad thing for him to get some rest. Love too for that matter but that won't happen.

[kmgarnett21]

I'm fine with Ricky participating in a few events as possible. He's been playing a lot of minutes. It wouldn't be a bad thing for him to get some rest. Love too for that matter but that won't happen.

I don't see Love getting many minutes in the ASG anyways. Griffin will probably dominate minutes at the PF. Love isn't flashy enough to see major minutes in the ASG. Fans don't care about seeing players rebound or get to the FT line or make solid post moves in an ASG.

[yowyOw]

I'm fine with Ricky participating in a few events as possible. He's been playing a lot of minutes. It wouldn't be a bad thing for him to get some rest. Love too for that matter but that won't happen.

I don't see Love getting many minutes in the ASG anyways. Griffin will probably dominate minutes at the PF. Love isn't flashy enough to see major minutes in the ASG. Fans don't care about seeing players rebound or get to the FT line or make solid post moves in an ASG.

We don't need the ASG to watch CP3 & Griffin playing together; they're on national tv every week.

Unfortunately, that's how it works. The good news is that he'll be rested.



@Klomp You're welcome!

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[TMo519]

Love, yes. Rubio, I'll say no. I think he'll be a staple in the future tho.

[Ojmayo]

Love will be an Allstar.

[Breakdown777]

They will both be All Stars, but only one with be a 2012 All Star.

[Wingman]

I love that this team is winning games. In past years players making the rookie teams and all-star teams and looking forward to the draft were all we had. Now I really don't care about any of those things because we are playing respectable basketball. On topic I don't think Rubio has earned it yet but I expect Love to be back.

[teven_1]

random side note:
has anyone noticed that almost every player "carries" or does some illegal dribble during the skills challenge when going by the cones?

I think Rubio could do pretty well in the skills challenge get the pass right through the tire, probably even hit the jump shots.

but as mentioned at the top ^ it's a pretty sloppy event.

Kevin Love for the horse challenge? I say he does it every year and has a 10 year HORSE dynasty.

EDIT:
Someone tell me if the HORSE challenge still exists? if so there needs to be a Kevin Love campaign to get him on it.