Is Big Al an all-star this year?

[funkatron101]

The questions they should have asked themselves:

1. If Al Jefferson was on the Hornets, and David West was on the Wolves, who would have a bigger impact?

2. Would you, as a GM, trade Al Jefferson for David West straight up?

If you are going to look at team wins and base an all-star on that, then you make the assumption that player can carry a team on his back. David West can not carry the Wolves.

[thegreatblaze]

That's too bad. I was rooting for Al to make the team. Good luck the rest of the way.

[kandiking]

That's too bad. I was rooting for Al to make the team. Good luck the rest of the way.

Wow, thanks! it's a rare sight to see a blazer fan to respect us.

[Calinks]

I was pretty sure Al wasn't going to make it but having David West get in over him?

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeet...

[Basti]

It's not like he would have played 40 min at the game.

yeah but you need to factor in the traveling and stuff. let him get his rest in Minny.

it sucks nevertheless. David freaking West...

[deeney0]

The selection of David West is an absolute joke. There are half a dozen big men in the West more deserving that him. He deserved it last year, no doubt, but past performance should mean diddly squat. I actually think his teammate Chandler does more for that team than he does.

[Z0r]

West hasn't even played since the 17th, will he even be healthy enough by then??

[Chance1117]

Who is David West? That is really disappointing, I guess it give the wolves and Al even more motive to prove everyone wrong!

[shrink]

West hasn't even played since the 17th, will he even be healthy enough by then??

Maybe they picked him for the award, knowing he couldn't play, and that they'd be able to bring in another guy to fill his spot?

[shrink]

I said the following about Love .. it will be even more true for Al Jefferson:

2. This will probably get Kevin Love more exposure than if he had made the team.

Every year around HOF balloting, Pete Rose makes a fortune showing up and selling autographs. Writers need to make stories, and "Look how unfair life is .." stories are an easy topic. In the next two weeks, you'll see many articles about how Love was jobbed, and how "the writer" is very smart because he can demonstrate statistically how Love should not have been overlooked. Hollinger at ESPN will probably be writing about it within 24 hours.

[theGreatRC]

^
Even then, I think Melo will get in before Al.

[Chance1117]

I said the following about Love .. it will be even more true for Al Jefferson:

2. This will probably get Kevin Love more exposure than if he had made the team.

Every year around HOF balloting, Pete Rose makes a fortune showing up and selling autographs. Writers need to make stories, and "Look how unfair life is .." stories are an easy topic. In the next two weeks, you'll see many articles about how Love was jobbed, and how "the writer" is very smart because he can demonstrate statistically how Love should not have been overlooked. Hollinger at ESPN will probably be writing about it within 24 hours.

Very true. Maybe they are doing us a favor. Exposure and rest.

[Z0r]

^
Even then, I think Melo will get in before Al.

Why? Melo has been injured too.

[hijacktheparade]

I said the following about Love .. it will be even more true for Al Jefferson:

2. This will probably get Kevin Love more exposure than if he had made the team.

Every year around HOF balloting, Pete Rose makes a fortune showing up and selling autographs. Writers need to make stories, and "Look how unfair life is .." stories are an easy topic. In the next two weeks, you'll see many articles about how Love was jobbed, and how "the writer" is very smart because he can demonstrate statistically how Love should not have been overlooked. Hollinger at ESPN will probably be writing about it within 24 hours.

That's a good point. Al's name has been said more times than I can count on the last couple of TNT broadcasts and that's due to debates regarding his snubbing.

[theGreatRC]

Melo has actually been playing at a high level after his slump in the beginning of the season.

David West has sucked this season; all his numbers are down except his FT%. He hasn't even been the second best player on his team.

How we made it, we'll never know.

[Sejanus]

Big Al not making it is an injustice.

[shrink]

For the sake of argument:

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Points Per Game(22.7)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Rebounds Per Game(10.5)
Ranks #30 in the NBA in Field-Goal Percentage(0.492)
Ranks #15 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game(1.59)
Ranks #31 in the NBA in Minutes Per Game(36.5)
Ranks #27 in the NBA in Minutes Played(1605.0)
Ranks #4 in the NBA in Field Goals Made(418.0)
Ranks #5 in the NBA in Field Goal Attempts(849.0)
Ranks #39 in the NBA in Free Throws(161.0)
Ranks #33 in the NBA in Free Throw Attempts(216.0)
Ranks #6 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds(143.0)
Ranks #6 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game(3.3)
Ranks #11 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds(319.0)
Ranks #8 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per Game(7.3)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Total Rebounds(462.0)
Ranks #13 in the NBA in Blocks(70.0)
Ranks #8 in the NBA in Points(997.0)
Ranks #5 in the NBA in Double-doubles(24.0)
Ranks #9 in the NBA in Total Efficiency Points(1060.0)
Ranks #9 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking(24.09)

[shrink]

I said the following about Love .. it will be even more true for Al Jefferson:

2. This will probably get Kevin Love more exposure than if he had made the team.

Every year around HOF balloting, Pete Rose makes a fortune showing up and selling autographs. Writers need to make stories, and "Look how unfair life is .." stories are an easy topic. In the next two weeks, you'll see many articles about how Love was jobbed, and how "the writer" is very smart because he can demonstrate statistically how Love should not have been overlooked. Hollinger at ESPN will probably be writing about it within 24 hours.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-3 ... oenix.html

If David Stern names an injury replacement to the Western team, my money's on Minnesota's Al Jefferson.

Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson didn't make this team last year. And do you know what I wrote? "Play some defense! Jefferson might have the best right hand in sports. But without a commitment to defense, teamwork, and passing, all that gets you is a 'Junior Zach Randolph' badge."

Now, I can't say he has really mastered the art of defense yet. But his team has improved notably, and his numbers prove he is truly a bear. His PER is 14th best in the NBA. He's on track to have his second straight year averaging better than 20 and 10. At some point, that's good enough, even if your team is not elite.

In fact, Jefferson may be the strongest example yet that now, more than ever, the quality of your team matters as much as the quality of your play. I'm OK with winning being a factor. But I hope it's not a litmus test. If Danny Granger hadn't made it, you'd have to start thinking the players from also-ran teams weren't in the mix at all.