Kemba's Road to the All-Star Game

Post #61 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:38 am

Not only does Kemba have to beat out Wade for the 6th backcourt spot (if they take that many), but only 6 front court spots can be used.

Only 6 from this group

Lebron James
Jimmy Butler
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Carmelo Anthony
Paul George
Kevin Love
Kristaps Porzingis
Joel Embiid
Hassan Whiteside
Paul Millsap
Al Horford
Jabari Parker
Andre Drummond
Dwight Howard
Serge Ibaka

If 7 players from this group get in, Kemba is out.

Post #62 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:42 am

New All-Star idea, the fans should be allowed to vote for one player to trade from each conference to the other for the ASG after rosters are selected.

This year, we trade Westbrook to the East so he can go bonkers on Curry and Durant. Send Kyrie out west in his place, so he can sit on the bench behind Curry, Paul and Lillard.

Post #63 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:46 am

The vote breakdown for the East

Read on Twitter

Post #64 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:50 am

the official player voting. They seem as star-struck by the Cavs as the fans. Kyrie got 130 votes from players and Kemba got 31 (out of 324 player). I can only assume at least 13 of Kemba's 31 votes came from his teammates.

http://official.nba.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/01/2017-All-Star-Starters-Player-Voting-Results.pdf

Post #65 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:56 am

Read on Twitter

BlackOutBuzz · Post #66 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 2:02 am

USA Today has a list of some of the more odd votes cast by the players.

"Some of the players who received votes tostart the 2017 All-Star Game? Mo Williams (hasn't played a game this season), Tomas Satoransky (averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 assists), Khris Middleton (hasn't played this season after tearing his hamstring in September), Brice Johnson (a rookie who has yet to play an NBA game), Cameron Payne (averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in seven games played).
JaVale McGee, the Golden State Warriors' backup center averaging 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds a game, got four votes.

Who else?
Garrett Temple
Ben McLemore
Marcelo Huertas
Pierre Jackson
Bryn Forbes
Georgios Papagiannis
Jarell Martin
Jason Smith
Damjan Rudez
Mike Muscala
Timothe Luwawu
Denzel Valentine
DeAndre Liggins
Michael Gbinije
Malcolm Delaney
Tony Snell
Jordan McRae
Jerian Grant"

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Joest2003 · Post #67 » by **Joest2003** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 3:39 am

fatlever wrote:The vote breakdown for the East

Read on Twitter

SO what other factors go into deciding who will be the reserves? Coaches im guessing? seems really confusing this year

Post #68 » by **yosemiteben** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:13 am

Joest2003 wrote:
fatlever wrote:The vote breakdown for the East

Read on Twitter

SO what other factors go into deciding who will be the reserves? Coaches im guessing? seems really confusing this year

Only coaches decide. They opened up voting for the starters a bit in hopes of having more logical picks, but that clearly didn't work out the way they expected.

Post #69 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:35 am

For the most part the starter picks aren't too bad. I think they only missed two - IT over Kyrie and Westbrook over Curry. And in both cases the starter would have made it as an alternate. I would have had M Gasol over Davis, but that's just me rewarded Memphis for having a much better record.

Joest2003 · Post #70 » by **Joest2003** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:15 pm

yosemiteben wrote:
Joest2003 wrote:
fatlever wrote:The vote breakdown for the East

Read on Twitter

SO what other factors go into deciding who will be the reserves? Coaches im guessing? seems really confusing this year

Only coaches decide. They opened up voting for the starters a bit in hopes of having more logical picks, but that clearly didn't work out the way they expected.

Thanks. I never quite understood how that whole thing worked. Do we know when the coaches will place their votes?

Joest2003 · Post #71 » by **Joest2003** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 4:22 pm

So with 7 remaining spots for the reserves what is everyone's predictions? Here's mine.

IT
Wall
Lowry
Wade
KLove
Paul George
Embiid

I would put Walker in there but I don't want to jinx it.

Post #72 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 5:31 pm

Reserves

BC: IT
BC: Lowry
FC: Love
FC: George
FC: ?

wildcard: Wall
wildcard: ?

I think those 5 are locks, leaving two spots, one frontcourt and one wild card. I believe the coaches will fill the last wildcard spots with a frontcourt player. Don't underestimate the power of familiarity when it comes to these votes, even from coaches, which is why I am leaning toward Melo, Millsap, Horford and Wade for the remaining 2 spots, even though Porzingis, Embiid and Kemba are all possibly more deserving. Parker also gets snubbed.

Coaches -> Melo, Millsap
My vote -> Millsap, Kemba (homer pick)

As great as Embiid as been, it's hard for me to give it to him yet, while he is still not playing back to back games, on a minutes restriction and team only playing well for a 3-week stretch in January. He'll make it next year and for many years after, if he stays healthy. Same goes for Porzingis. If Knicks had a better record, I'd maybe go with him.

LamarMatic7 · Post #73 » by **LamarMatic7** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:05 pm

fatlever wrote:The vote breakdown for the East

Read on Twitter

seems like there was quite a lot media votes out there. wouldn't expect any Rose votes from the smarter journalists. how the hell did he end up 8th for them!?

Post #74 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jan 20, 2017 6:18 pm

Gotta love that big city media bias. It's always been there.

TheKingofSting · Post #75 » by **TheKingofSting** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 4:53 am

Chauncey Billups just said Kemba better make the team and then said the "coaches won't make the mistake to leave him off." Jalen Rose isn't so sure Kemba will make it and Michelle Beadle said she voted for Kemba but that was seconds after she called us the Nets.

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-Ian- · Post #76 » by **-Ian-** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:25 am

TheKingofSting wrote:Chauncey Billups just said Kemba better make the team and then said the "coaches won't make the mistake to leave him off." Jalen Rose isn't so sure Kemba will make it and Michelle Beadle said she voted for Kemba but that was seconds after she called us the Nets.

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What the actual ****.

BlackOutBuzz · Post #77 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Sat Jan 21, 2017 11:51 pm

Two games until the coaches votes are due. A win tonight and vs. Washington could put us ahead of the Wiz (assuming they lose tonight) and potentially give Kemba some leverage over Wall.

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BlackOutBuzz · Post #78 » by **BlackOutBuzz** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:12 pm

Read on Twitter

Now this is obviously not representative of the coaches, but it's worth noting that every analyst picked Kemba, IT, Wall, and Love; plus you can add in Lowry and George as essential locks. Team needs a Hawk though, is Howard really their most deserving player? Embiid is the wrench here, looking great while playing just under 75% of the games, and the coaches may want an actual center on the roster.

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Post #79 » by **yosemiteben** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:45 pm

Maybe this is crazy, but I do wonder if Kemba has solidified himself with his play over the last two seasons as an All Star caliber player such that our record might not be as big a deal. I mean, his efficiency and scoring volume is so incredibly high that maybe the difference between say 3rd seed and 6th seed isn't as big a deal, because he's a constant for us.

I do think that if he makes it, it'll be much easier the second go around. Just need to establish a baseline of positive recognition.

Post #80 » by **fatlever** » Tue Jan 24, 2017 11:28 pm

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/allstar/2017/01/24/john-wall-kyle-lowry-joel-embiid-russell-westbrook-isaiah-thomas-demarcus-cousins-draymond-green-all-stars/96997478/

Another vote for Kemba