All-Star Game: Could We Get THREE?!?!

[ecuhus1981]

Here is the ballot page: http://allstarballot.nba.com/ballot?referrer=&cid=

We know that Deron is going; but what about the Robin and Alfred of Gotham? Usually, three ASG participants is reserved for elite teams. But, I think we'll have one of the 5-7 best records in the league by mid-season. With the injuries and off years we've seen thus far (along with Brooklyn media buzz), we could sneak in Deron, Joe AND Brook. Here's how I see it shaking out:

EAST
Rondo, Wade, Anthony, James, Chandler
Williams, Johnson, Deng, Bosh, Lopez
Irving, Pierce

WEST
Paul, Bryant, Durant, Griffin, Howard
Westbrook, Harden, Iguodala, Randolph, Duncan
Parker, P. Gasol

What frontcourt players deserve the nod over Lopez? Hibbert? Not with the season he and the Pacers are having. Horford and/or Smith? Comparable numbers, but they are anchored to a middling team. Noah? Monroe? Varejao? I tip my cap to their efforts, but I see being the prototypical 7' low-post scorer as more important and rare than undersized, passing garbagemen, albeit great ones.

Could Lowry, Teague, Jrue or either of the Milwaukee backcourt bump out Iso-Joe? Possibly, but I don't think any will have team records better than ours. That makes a HUGE difference with coaches, who decide the bench. Also, call me a homer, but I think their numbers will come back to earth (career #'s), while JJ has to get improve statistically.

Obviously, Rose, Love, Granger, Nowitzki and Bynum will have something to say about this list once they return, but I'm not sure any of them will be playing early (and well) enough to sway votes and/or opinions. Enough from me; what are your thoughts?

[vincecarter4pres]

3? I doubt it with the lack of a center slot now.

And let's not get ahead of ourselves with JJ. Even if he gets his efficiency way up, unless we're like 30 and 13 at the break chances are something like 16/4/4 is not getting a nod.

[ecuhus1981]

3? I doubt it with the lack of a center slot now.

And let's not get ahead of ourselves with JJ. Even if he gets his efficiency way up, unless we're like 30 and 13 at the break chances are something like 16/4/4 is not getting a nod.

Why not? Pierce has snuck in the last 3 years with those kinds of numbers, on the back of some very good Boston squads.

[Paradise]

3? I doubt it with the lack of a center slot now.

And let's not get ahead of ourselves with JJ. Even if he gets his efficiency way up, unless we're like 30 and 13 at the break chances are something like 16/4/4 is not getting a nod.

I think it's pretty possible.

If I'm correct, the NBA isn't supposed to allow fans to vote in injured players who are out indevintately aka Yao Ming rule, so Deron/Rondo will most likely start or get voted in as starters. Joe will probably get the coaches vote as always being the 2nd best SG in the East and difference maker assuming our wins are drastically improved by then and Lopez right now is the 2nd best productive C in the East, he should easily be the backup if Hibbert got it last year.

No reason why we can't get all three in if our wins are up and the production is up.

EAST
Starters: Rondo/Deron, Wade, LeBron, Anthony, Chandler
Reserves: Rondo/Deron, JJ, Pierce/Deng, Bosh, Lopez.

WEST
Starters: Paul, Kobe, Durant, Griffin, Howard.
Reserves: Westbrook, Iggy, Randolph/Duncan, Jordan/Gasol.

[therealbig3]

Well, remember, they changed the rules to 3 front court players, instead of 2 forwards and a center. So Lopez probably gets punished for that, even if he does have a season that would have gotten him in before.

LeBron, Anthony, Bosh, and Chandler are locks for 4 spots. That leaves 2 spots, and I'd think Pierce, Smith, and Garnett, off the top of my head, would get consideration before Lopez.

I think we only get one, and that's if we win games and Deron plays well. Because there was a lot of backlash last year when he got in, even though he was having a poor season and the team was bad. So he might not get the same sympathy this year if we're hovering around .500 and he's still only around 17/7.

But then again, what guards out there can really challenge Deron and JJ for an All-Star spot, outside of Rondo and Wade? All the other elite guards are in the West. I can see Irving take a spot this year as well. But that's still only 3 spots. I think Deron takes the 4th, and then in addition to the 6 spots for the frontcourt players, you have 2 spots for whoever. So maybe I'm wrong, JJ might make the team. Lopez has such a negative image around the league though (unfairly, but still), and like I said, there's quite a few front court players that will get consideration over him, that I don't see him making it this year. Maybe next year though, when his minutes are up and if he averages like 20/9.

[No-Man]

Right now only Lopez will go

[PetroNet]

none of our guys will get voted in, so 3 is extremely unlikely.

I'd think deron is probably the only guy who gets in unless we have a top 3 record, then maybe jj or lopez gets in

[jeff1624]

Lopez has been the best Center in the East thus far and it's not like he's playing out of his mind either. The only area where he's been overachieving has been blocking shots, but his scoring is down (due to touches, not efficiency), his rebounding still needs a lot of work and his FT shooting has been erratic. I say this to highlight how underrated this guy is and should be an all star candidate this year.

[DarkXaero]

Lopez has been the best Center in the East thus far and it's not like he's playing out of his mind either. The only area where he's been overachieving has been blocking shots, but his scoring is down (due to touches, not efficiency), his rebounding still needs a lot of work and his FT shooting has been erratic. I say this to highlight how underrated this guy is and should be an all star candidate this year.

His scoring hasn't been down, he's playing less minutes than usual. PER 36, Lopez is averaging 22.6 PPG.

[columbiaa14]

Joe johnson has been playing subpar, what makes you think he will make it as a reserve guard?

[Keith Van Horn]

I had thought in the preseason we could get 3 and Lopez would be the iffy one... now it seems as if Johnson will be the iffy one.

Regardless, all of them must step up their level of play. Haven't really been super satisfied with anyone yet this season.

[mj23foreva]

Brandon Jennings, Kyrie Irving, and Jrue Holiday are all playing better than JJ.

Noah, Horford, Bosh, Varajao, Pierce, and Monroe are all playing better than Lopez.\

I see maybe 1 of them slipping in but not both.

[NjNeTs1029]

check out nets.com .. i hate the team, but well played haha

[JoseRizal]

At this point, I think only Lopez can make it. If the coaches vote him in...

[PetroNet]

I had thought in the preseason we could get 3 and Lopez would be the iffy one... now it seems as if Johnson will be the iffy one.

Regardless, all of them must step up their level of play. Haven't really been super satisfied with anyone yet this season.

lopez has almost no shot to get in. he wont be voted in by the fans, and with no center spot being required he will be passed up for forwards with better numbers.

he would need to be at like 17/9 to have a shot

[Tron Carter]

It sucks after a performance like last night Lopez won't get serious consideration.

[vincecarter4pres]

I'm starting to think it's a near lock for Lopez to get in. He's really beasting on offense and playing some solid D. If he can simply rebound the ball just a little better and winds up with the 34 to 36 minutes a game he should be getting I don't know if the coaches can or will want to deny him.

If that did happen(rebounding) he would be putting up a line of something like 20/8/2/2 on great raw and advanced stats on a team that should be on pace for 50+ wins.

That should get him in more than likely.