The NBA All-star game is in 10 days and a week ago the teams were announced. I have to admit for once the NBA coaches and GM’s did a good job, but that doesn’t mean they made all the correct choices.
Below is a chart of the All-star teams (East and West). Both rosters are made up of four guards (two starters, two reserves), four forwards (two starters, two reserves), two centers (one starter, one reserve), and two wild card players meaning they can play any position (both reserves).
Position | East | West |
Starting Guard | Derrick Rose | Chris Paul |
Starting Guard | Dwayne Wade | Kobe Bryant |
Starting Forward | LeBron James | Kevin Durant |
Starting Forward | Carmelo Anthony | Blake Griffin |
Starting Center | Dwight Howard | Andrew Bynum |
Reserve Guard | Paul Pierce | Russell Westbrook |
Reserve Guard | Joe Johnson | Tony Parker |
Reserve Forward | Chris Bosh | Dirk Nowitzki |
Reserve Forward | Andre Iguodala | Kevin Love |
Reserve Center | Roy Hibbert | Marc Gasol |
Wild Card | Deron Williams | Steve Nash |
Wild Card | Luol Deng | LaMarcus Aldridge |
Now again you ask what does “snub” have to do with anything? Well ask Hawks Forward Josh Smith, Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo, Jazz Forward Paul Millsap, and Golden State Guard Monta Ellis. They are as pissed as this guy.
Now the NBA doesn’t just add roster spots for the players who are snubs but players are only snubs when there is a player on the roster that hasn’t had as good of a season as the snub guy.
Now you can’t just look at stats and say “oh he averages more points a game so he should be in the game” because it’s an All-star game of the best players this season, not those who score the most points. You also have to consider the team the player plays for record. But like everything in life, there’s an exception or an excuse. Take into note the team records are affective as of Thursday February 9th at 7pm eastern time.
So who do I remove to add the snub guys? Well in the East I’d take out Hawks Guard Joe Johnson and add Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo. First let’s look at the team’s record. The Hawks are 17-9 and the Celtics are 14-10. So the Hawks are one game ahead of the Celtics in the standings (you just look at losses because not every team has played the same number of games so far this season). Rondo is averaging 13.6 ppg (points per games), 4.8 rpg (rebounds per game), 9.8 apg (assist per game), 1.69 spg (steals per game) and a 19.3 PER (player efficiency rating). Compared to Johnson’s 18.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.85 spg, and a 18.2 PER, Rondo has a better overall stats and with the Celtics one game behind the Hawks in the standings Rondo got SNUBBED!!
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| SNUBBED Celtics Guard Rajon Rondo |
Next in the East I’d take out Nets Guard Deron Williams for Hawks Forward Josh Smith. Because Williams was selected as a Wild Card Player I can remove the Guard Williams and add the Forward Smith. Williams Nets are 8-19 and out of the playoff picture compared to Smith’s Hawks team that is 17-9. Williams’ stats are 20.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.6 apg, 1spg, and 20 PER compared to Smith’s 15.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.45 spg, 2 bpg (blocks per game), and 19.7 PER. While Williams’ stats aren’t overall much better than Smith’s they are slightly better but Smith gives much on the defensive end than Williams. Plus the Nets have 10 more losses than the Hawks just puts icing on the cake for Smith’s All-star SNUB!!
Now the West, I’d take out Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki for Jazz Forward Paul Millsap. Nowitzki’s NBA Champion Mavericks are 15-11 but Nowitzki’s numbers are all down from last year. His stats this year are 17.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.77 spg , 0.55 bpg, and 19.3 PER. All those stats are lower than they were last year. Millsap’s Jazz team is 13-11 and his stats are 16.5 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 1.42 spg, 0.75 bpg, and a 24.3 PER. The teams have the same number of losses (eleven) but besides Nowitzki averaging 1.1 ppg more than Millsap, Millsap’s stats are much better than Nowitzki’s. The reason why Nowitzki was on the team is cause he is a future Hall of Fame Player and a former MVP. Despite the down year the coaches and GMs gave him the nod over the more deserving Millsap…. SNUBBED!!
Last snub is a much close controversial one. I’d take Suns Guard Steve Nash off for Warriors Guard Monta Ellis. Now remember before when I stated “You also have to consider the team the player plays for record. But like everything in life, there’s an exception or an excuse.” Now do you remember that? Well I’m going to make an exception for Ellis.
Ellis’ Warriors record is 8-14 compared to Nash’s Suns record of 11-14 so they have the same number of losses but the stats are closer than the other three snubs. Ellis’ stats are 22.6 ppg, 6.3apg, 1.76 spg, and a 19.2 PER. Nash’s stats are 15.1 ppg, 10 apg, 0.57 spg, and a 24 PER. Ellis scores more and steals the ball more but his assist are lower and his PER is almost five less than Nash’s. So you say less assist per game and a much lower PER why is Ellis a snub? Because Nash’s team has been has been mostly healthy minus a few games he missed (which less games means better stats/per game) compared to Ellis’ team where his side kick and back court teammate Guard Stephen Curry missed eight games due to an ankle injury. Ellis is putting up those stats despite being the main offensive threat on the perimeter when Curry was out injured.
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| Warriors Guard Stephen Curry injuries ankle, causes him to miss eight games this season. |
Whether you agree with me or not, the stats clearly prove that four players will be playing in the game in Orlando on February 26th when four other players should be.
