OT - 2012 NBA All-Star Rosters
The reserves were announced today and now the rosters are final, assuming no injuries. This is how the two sides will look:
WEST(Starters)
PG- Paul [LAC] SG- Bryant [LAL] SF- Durant [OKC] PF-Griffin [LAC] C-Bynum [LAL]
(Reserves)
Nash [PHX], Parker [SA], Westbrook [OKC], Aldridge [POR], Nowitzki [DAL], Love [MIN], M. Gasol [MEM}
EAST(Starters)
PG- Rose [CHI] SG-Wade [MIA] F- Anthony [NY] F- James [MIA] C- Howard [ORL]
(Reserves)
Hibbert [IND], Deng [CHI], Pierce [BOS], Bosh [MIA], D. Williams [NJ], Iguodala [PHI], J. Johnson [ATL]
Any thoughts on snubs or guys who just don't plain deserve to be there? With the fans voting, the NBA All-Star game can sometimes turn in to a popularity contest, but there doesn't appear to be any absurd starters this year. The one glaring mistake (obvious bias aside) in my eyes is the lack of Greg Monroe. He deserves to be there more than Hibbert. Only other change I would make is replacing Iguodala with Josh Smith. Discuss.
PS
This isn't the place for your NBA hate; don't like the thread, shouldn't have clicked on it.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:37 PM ^
Snub:
Rudy Gay
Josh Smith
Shouldn't be there:
Steve Nash
Roy Hibbert
Paul Pierce
Andre Iguodala
February 9th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
Iguadola has been AWESOME this year. He deserves his spot.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:47 PM ^
I'm sorry but I can't say that a guy averaging 13 ppg deserves an all-star spot.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
I don't follow NBA, so I can't comment on his season. However, it frustrates me when people think that scoring is the only aspect to basketball. There are 10 guys on the court, and only 1 ball. There are plenty of things beyond scoring that you can do to help your team win.
Edit: I went to look up his stats, and saw that he has the same birthday as me. Thus, he absolutely deserves to be in the all star game.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
I only listed Iguodala's points, but across the board Josh Smith has been better.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:55 PM ^
Then yes, Josh Smith deserves to be in the all star game, assuming that he also has the same birthday as me.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:54 PM ^
But it's more than that to the coaches. Iguodola is probably the best man on man defender is basketball. He's really had a great across the board year, filling a lot of stats. Averaging more than 5 assists a game at the SG/SF is impressive, and it leads his team. (Which has had a very nice start to the season)
February 9th, 2012 at 7:49 PM ^
Iggy has been good, Josh Smith has been better.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^
Nash especially. Amongst NBA players with a usage rate over 20, hes 1st in true shooting percentage.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:12 PM ^
Dirk.
He doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the floor at this year's ALL-STAR GAME, except sitting courtside with a wireless mic...
February 9th, 2012 at 8:59 PM ^
the NBA assists leader and the only reason the Suns arent 3-28 shouldnt be an All-Star.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
They're all deserving but I think it's kinda lame almost the entire West starters play in LA. Should be showcasing talent around the country not from one city.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:40 PM ^
Usually I would agree, but I think all four guys have legitimate arguments for being best in their conference at their position. Only change I would make is to replace Bynum with Love.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^
Oh I mean I can't disagree with the selections, which is why I said they're all deserving. I just think its lame. If college football had an All-Star game I'm sure the defense would be (deservingly) about 9 guys from Bama or LSU and 2 guys from the rest of the country combined. Doesn't mean it wouldn't be lame.
There's absolutely zero argument about Bryant, Paul, or Griffin -- those 3 are easily tops at their position. Bynum is also probably the best pure center in the West, but I do like your idea of switching in Love since its the All-Star game.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:52 PM ^
Talent v. Production is always an interesting consideration when picking All-Star rosters. I would pick Love because he's producing at a much higher level than Bynum. Love's PER is 3 points higher, and is +8PPG, +1.3RPG, +.4APG. Bynum has a higher FG% and is a better shot blocker, but Love's ability to stretch the floor and his similar turnover rate, despite higher usage, puts him over the top in my book.
February 10th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
I put Lamarcus Aldridge above Griffin easily.
February 10th, 2012 at 12:18 AM ^
Good lord, take Love out? I agree Bynum has had a nice year but still Love has been awesome.
February 10th, 2012 at 3:12 AM ^
Huh? I said I wouldn't start Bynum in favor of Love. Love is my 2nd favorite non-Piston. In other words, I love Love.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:39 PM ^
These teams are as turrible as my golf swing. -Charles Barkley
February 9th, 2012 at 7:45 PM ^
Nowitzki has been dreadful this season. Not an all-star on merit.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:48 PM ^
You're right, not sure how I didn't point that out in the OP. I've been ripping him all season, especially after all the "Top-15 All Time" talk he got after the FInals.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 8:07 PM ^
Because of the lockout and the fact they are closing off the voting so early and announcing the teams for marketing purposes, It's such a small sample size so its tough to have enough accurate info. Do you take the guys who you think are ultimately the best players? that leaves you susceptible to putting a guy in on reputation.
Or do you put in the guys who have played the best over the 1st 20 -25 games. That leaves you susceptible to overrating a small sample size only for a guy to regress over the second 2/3 of the season.
I'm not so sure Dirk wont look like a no brainer all star by the end of the year.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:56 PM ^
No Jeremy Lin? China must be disappointment
February 9th, 2012 at 8:00 PM ^
Ironically (or maybe not?) your comment read like a Chinese restaurant menu.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^
He's born in the US.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
their logic about not letting in guys on losing teams and needing to reward guys on winning teams was emberrasing.
They were completely clueless as to how a team could be good without one of the best 12 players in their conference or how a team could be bad with one of the worst 12.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:19 PM ^
The Pistons are awful, but Monroe is a double double machine and probably deserves the backup C spot.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 8:28 PM ^
Coaches vote for the reserves.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:30 PM ^
I REALLY don't think Dirk deserves to be on the All-Star roster this year. I think the NBA-ALL Star games name should be changed to the "most popular players" game. Because that is truely what it is.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:35 PM ^
I always felt like Carmelo Anthony is one of the most overrated players in the league. For all of his scoring, he never seems to help the players around him and the team always struggles. Just look at Carmelo's stat line last year against Houston:
50 points - 0 assists - Nuggests lost the game
February 10th, 2012 at 12:22 AM ^
I have made this point for some time. Mello makes no one better. He is this gens T-mac(who I think in his prime was better then Mello). He will never be a winner. I got laughed at work for saying I would never trade Deng for Mello stright up. Deng gives you 20,7-8 rebs and makes the team better. Also covers the teams best play on most nights. Good for Deng to finally make it. Mello can keep chucking.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:44 PM ^
No Yao Ming? I thought the Chinese would still find a way to vote him in as a starter post-retirement.
February 10th, 2012 at 12:09 AM ^
I'm a little sore that Monroe doesn't get as much hype as other people in the league (hard to blame them when the Pistons have sucked for most of the year), but he has put in a great year. Not saying he deserves the nod over some other players, but the guys is dependable and very underrated nationally.
February 10th, 2012 at 12:48 PM ^
My first thought when I saw this was, "Wow! Steve Nash still plays basketball?!"