Kemba's Road to the All-Star Game
Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 6:03 pm
Seven factors that will impact Kemba's chances of making the All-Star Game
1. He will have to be selected by coaches, since there is little to no chance he would win a starting spot based on fan voting. That spot is most likely going to Kyrie. And lets hope it's Kyrie who gets that fan vote since he is probably the only other point guard in the East right now playing on Kemba's level. He is a lock to make it, so it would be better if he gets the fan vote rather than it going to players like: Wade, Rose, Rondo, Lin and other older, previously popular and/or borderline all-stars or someone from a losing team.
2. The Hornets will need to have at least a winning record come mid-January. The ASG has always rewarded players and team with hot starts and the Hornets have not had a hot start in recent memory and Kemba has done his best work in December/January after typically a slow start in November. The 6-2 start and Kemba's red hot scoring and shooting is a great beginning, but the team and Kemba have to at least keep it up long enough for the media to start noticing. Even if the team falls off a bit in January, Kemba and the team may have built up enough #Buzz to overcome a losing spell. If we roll into January with a losing record, its over, no matter how great Kemba is playing. The coaches will reward the teams that are winning (like it or not) and with the depth of point guards in the East, that means if the Hornets are losing there are other point guards who are winning.
3. Kemba will have to break through the glass ceiling. All-Star games are a lot like trying to get elected in Washington. It's hard to get to DC but once you are there, it's much easier to stay. Old habits die hard. Fans and coaches tend to vote for the familiar, so players who have made the team before are always at an advantage compared to someone who is an ASG virgin. Just look at the starting point guards in the East who have previously been to the ASG - Rondo (4), Kyrie (3), Wall (3), Rose (3), Lowry (2) Teague (1), Thomas (1). Almost half of the teams in the East have a staring point guard who has already busted through the ASG glass ceiling. [probably a bad week to make an election reference]
4. The competition will be fierce. In addition to the seven point guards I mentioned in #3, there are several other guards who have a chance to break through as well. Dennis Schroeder - this might seem like a long shot, but if the Hawks are sitting in a top 3 spot in January it wouldn't be crazy to think he'll get a look. Reggie Jackson - he was knocking on the door last year with Kemba. Him being hurt to start he season helps, but he could come back strong very soon and if the Pistons are way above .500, he might get the nod. Jeremy Lin - I'll never discount the power of his fanbase. He just might get enough votes to start the game.
5. What position will Giannis be considered if the makes the team? There is good chance Giannis makes the team. No other young player in the East has as much hype as him. If the Bucks are near .500 I think he gets in. If he does make the team, the coaches might consider him a point guard.
6. Kemba has to stay healthy. Injuries will be a deciding factor, whether it be for Kemba or any of the other point guards in contention. Not that any of us are rooting for injuries to other players, but if two or three of Kemba's peers miss some time with injuries that helps his case. And there is also the possibility that a last minute injury opens up a 13th spot on the team for someone like Kemba who might have been snubbed.
7. How many point guards will be selected? In most years the number is three. One starter, one backup and one of the two wildcard spots. Kyrie is a lock. That leaves two spots to fill between Kemba, Wall, Thomas and Lowry, who I consider to be Kemba's biggest competition for the spot. It's possible with such a stacked conference of point guards we might see 4 point guards selected, but I would not bet on it.
The good news is Kemba is playing arguably the best of any of the point guards in the league so far. It's a small sample size and I don't think he can keep shooting at these percentages, especially not as we face tougher defenses and some of the longer road trips, but even if those numbers come down to 22ppg on 44%FG and 39% 3PT, those will still be career highs and awfully impressive. Also, history has often been kind to players who were snubbed the season before, who then came back even better. There was probably no other player in the East last year with a better case for the ASG who did not make it.
1. He will have to be selected by coaches, since there is little to no chance he would win a starting spot based on fan voting. That spot is most likely going to Kyrie. And lets hope it's Kyrie who gets that fan vote since he is probably the only other point guard in the East right now playing on Kemba's level. He is a lock to make it, so it would be better if he gets the fan vote rather than it going to players like: Wade, Rose, Rondo, Lin and other older, previously popular and/or borderline all-stars or someone from a losing team.
2. The Hornets will need to have at least a winning record come mid-January. The ASG has always rewarded players and team with hot starts and the Hornets have not had a hot start in recent memory and Kemba has done his best work in December/January after typically a slow start in November. The 6-2 start and Kemba's red hot scoring and shooting is a great beginning, but the team and Kemba have to at least keep it up long enough for the media to start noticing. Even if the team falls off a bit in January, Kemba and the team may have built up enough #Buzz to overcome a losing spell. If we roll into January with a losing record, its over, no matter how great Kemba is playing. The coaches will reward the teams that are winning (like it or not) and with the depth of point guards in the East, that means if the Hornets are losing there are other point guards who are winning.
3. Kemba will have to break through the glass ceiling. All-Star games are a lot like trying to get elected in Washington. It's hard to get to DC but once you are there, it's much easier to stay. Old habits die hard. Fans and coaches tend to vote for the familiar, so players who have made the team before are always at an advantage compared to someone who is an ASG virgin. Just look at the starting point guards in the East who have previously been to the ASG - Rondo (4), Kyrie (3), Wall (3), Rose (3), Lowry (2) Teague (1), Thomas (1). Almost half of the teams in the East have a staring point guard who has already busted through the ASG glass ceiling. [probably a bad week to make an election reference]
4. The competition will be fierce. In addition to the seven point guards I mentioned in #3, there are several other guards who have a chance to break through as well. Dennis Schroeder - this might seem like a long shot, but if the Hawks are sitting in a top 3 spot in January it wouldn't be crazy to think he'll get a look. Reggie Jackson - he was knocking on the door last year with Kemba. Him being hurt to start he season helps, but he could come back strong very soon and if the Pistons are way above .500, he might get the nod. Jeremy Lin - I'll never discount the power of his fanbase. He just might get enough votes to start the game.
5. What position will Giannis be considered if the makes the team? There is good chance Giannis makes the team. No other young player in the East has as much hype as him. If the Bucks are near .500 I think he gets in. If he does make the team, the coaches might consider him a point guard.
6. Kemba has to stay healthy. Injuries will be a deciding factor, whether it be for Kemba or any of the other point guards in contention. Not that any of us are rooting for injuries to other players, but if two or three of Kemba's peers miss some time with injuries that helps his case. And there is also the possibility that a last minute injury opens up a 13th spot on the team for someone like Kemba who might have been snubbed.
7. How many point guards will be selected? In most years the number is three. One starter, one backup and one of the two wildcard spots. Kyrie is a lock. That leaves two spots to fill between Kemba, Wall, Thomas and Lowry, who I consider to be Kemba's biggest competition for the spot. It's possible with such a stacked conference of point guards we might see 4 point guards selected, but I would not bet on it.
The good news is Kemba is playing arguably the best of any of the point guards in the league so far. It's a small sample size and I don't think he can keep shooting at these percentages, especially not as we face tougher defenses and some of the longer road trips, but even if those numbers come down to 22ppg on 44%FG and 39% 3PT, those will still be career highs and awfully impressive. Also, history has often been kind to players who were snubbed the season before, who then came back even better. There was probably no other player in the East last year with a better case for the ASG who did not make it.
