The Western Conference starters for the 2011 NBA All Star game were announced this past Thursday and there weren’t any real surprises. As expected, Kobe Bryant was voted on by the fans to his 13th consecutive NBA All-Star game and received the most votes of any of the starters.
Joining Kobe on the starting West squad are New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony and Houston’s Yao Ming.
Now that the starters have been established, the most difficult part is left to the 15 Western Conference coaches to pick the remaining 7 reserves for the West All-Star team. This year the West is overflowing with worthy All Star participants and there will be plenty of players that will be billed with the unfortunate All Star snub tag.
Here is how the remaining 8 (7 remaining spots and Yao Ming’s replacement) Western Conference All Star Reserves will be selected:
- The 15 Western Conference head coaches will vote for any 7 players from the Western Conference teams with the exception of a player from their own team.
- They will need to vote for at least 2 forwards, 2 guards, one center and the 2 remaining spots being open for any position.
- They will rank their choices from 1 through 7.
- The great thing about the coaches’ vote is that unlike the fan vote, they aren’t relegated to voting from a list of players at a certain position; meaning that they can name a forward and place him in the center position if they so choose. (This was done last year when the coaches voted for Pau Gasol as the lone center for the Western All Stars despite playing primarily the forward position and being listed as a forward on the fan ballot)
- David Stern will select all injury replacements for the All Star team after the announcement of the reserves. As of when this was written, Yao Ming is the only player that will not be able to attend the All Star game and Stern will hand pick his replacement.
- The results will be announced on TNT this coming Thursday, February 3rd, prior to the start of the Miami/Orlando game.
The Los Angeles basketball fan base is especially interested in the announcement of the remaining West All Star squad as both local teams have a few players that deserve some All Star consideration; being that Los Angeles is hosting this year’s All Star game, both Clipper and Laker fans might have a chance to cheer on their hometown heroes up close at Staples Center.
So will we see Odom, Bynum or Gasol join Kobe at the All Star Game?
Is it possible that we’ll have both L.A. teams represented on All Star Game day at Staples?
Let’s take a look at this year’s potential NBA All Star cast.
Next: Close but not quite
Will not make it but definitely worthy:
Zack Randolph, forward, Grizzlies: The pudgy, but skilled forward is putting together a similar year to last year which earned him an All Star bid, but this year the field of forwards in the west is far too congested. He still has a chance to make the squad as his numbers are right there with his main competition at the forward position and the Grizz are making a playoff push. His down fall tough will be the attention that the other forwards in the west are receiving and that he simply is not getting.
Monte Ellis, guard, Warriors: Super explosive scorer for Golden State has the numbers to warrant an All Star selection, just doesn’t have the notoriety and team success to justify placing him over the other guards in the West. In the East, Monte would make the team with no problem.
Eric Gordon, guard, Clippers: To say Gordon has range is to say that Blake Griffin has hops, the description just doesn’t do it justice. Gordon’s lower body strength allows him to shoot from just about anywhere on the court. His game isn’t restricted to the outside as he ranks 11th at getting to the stripe, right behind Kobe Bryant. Great statistical year so far but his wrist injury takes him out of the All Star discussion. If the Clips can ever put it together he and Blake can become perennial All-Stars.
Tony Parker, guard, Spurs: The lighting quick point guard is the catalyst of the NBA’s best team record wise and will definitely get a look from NBA coaches on making the squad. However, Tony’s production is not quite that of the other guards in the West and I can’t see the coaches overlooking that this year.
Next: Sure money bets to make the squad
Absolute locks to make the team:
Pau Gasol, center, Lakers: With the way that Gasol has been playing recently its no wonder that Gasol has openly questioned his chances of making this year’s All Star team. Pau need not worry as there won’t be any denying him from making his third straight appearance as an All Star in a Laker uniform. Pau is well respected by the coaches and is considered to be the most skilled big man in the game. He is coming off two straight championships and coaches aren’t falling for the Lakers being in their usual hibernation mode half way through the season. He’ll be listed as a center to make room for the surplus of All Star worthy forwards.
Deron Williams, guard, Jazz: Prior to the recent swoon of the Jazz Deron Williams was putting together a MVP year by leading the Jazz to the upper bracket of the West playoff picture despite losing 3 starters from last year. Deron has dropped about 1 assist a game from last year but has increased his scoring by more than 3 points to 21.9, so he has obviously decided to take this Jazz team on his back. He is in the discussion of being the best point guard in the league right now and those type of talents aren’t left off the All Star team.
Tim Duncan, forward, Spurs: A slight decline in his production will not keep the future Hall of Famer and best Power Forward in history (arguably) from getting either the coaches or David Stern’s vote. Tim will make the squad based on reputation and team success, not production.
Manu Ginobli, guard, Spurs: Manu appears to be back to form and healthy for the first time in a few years. He has played in all of San Antonio’s 47 games this year and has arguably been the biggest factor in the Spurs resurgence to the top of the West. His production doesn’t jump out at you but he plays on a team with balance and opportunity for putting up big numbers just isn’t there. Like Kobe, Manu is the Spur’s closer and big play guy. The Spurs impressive first half record will warrant at least 2 Spurs and my money is on Manu being named over Parker.
Dirk Nowitzki, forward, Mavs: Dirk showed his importance to the Dallas team when they went 2-7 while he was out with a knee injury. His numbers will garner MVP attention as he ranks 10th in the league in scoring while shooting impressively at a high efficiency from both the field and 3 point range; 52% and 41% respectively.
Russell Westbrook, guard, Thunder: He will no doubt make his first of many All Star game this year. The guy is putting up monster numbers on a team that will compete for one of the top 4 seeds in the West. Russell is the only player in the league this year that is averaging at least 8 assist and 5 rebounds per game. Durant might get all the pub as the #1 guy but Westbrook is making a strong case for being #1b on this Thunder team. Laker fans know of his talents all too well as it was Russell, not Durant, that was killing the Lakers in last years first round series against the Thunder.
Next: On the Bubble
Can go either way:
Lamarcus Aldridge, forward, Trailblazers: He has become the go to guy for Portland since Brandon Roy went down to injury and has kept the team afloat in the West playoff race. That fact combined with his rise in scoring production should be enough to get him on the squad most years; not this year however as L.A.’s numbers are significantly lower than the other forward’s production in the West vying for a spot. This year Lamarcus is just out shined by the other forwards in the West to warrant an All Star bid. I say he is OUT.
Kevin Love, forward, Timberwolves: What K-Love has done this year is staggering. He has had three 30/20 (points/rebounds) games with one of those being a hard to fathom 30/30 game which the league hasn’t seen since Moses Malone in 1982. He has a league high 42 double/doubles and is averaging the most rebounds per game since Ben Wallace averaged 15 in 2002-2003. Kevin Love has developed an outside game to supplement his scoring around the hoop. Love is shooting an efficient 44 percent from 3 point land which ranks 7th in the NBA. While it will be hard for the West coaches to ignore the Wolves putrid 11-36 record, this is the year that the exception to the rule will have to be made. Love is IN.
Next: 7 players already accounted for only leaves just two choices
Lamar Odom, forward, Lakers: Odom has put together one of the best seasons of his career and definitely the most consistent. Coaches love his versatility and size at the position. Another thing he has going for him is he is playing for the defending champs who currently sit at a very respectable #2 overall in the Western Conference. This might be Odom’s best chance to ever make the All Star team and it will really come down to the coaches assessment of value on either winning or raw production. If the coaches find more value in winning over the absurd numbers that the other forwards in the West are putting up then Odom is in. I don’t see that happening this year and I predict Odom will unfortunately miss out again. I say he is OUT.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2VLEGtRuz4
Blake Griffin, forward, Clippers: You’ve seen him nightly on highlight reels flying over opponents and throwing down rim shattering dunks. Posterization doesn’t quite explain what he did to 7 foot 1 inch center Timofey Mozgov and shortly after Danilo Gallinari of the Knicks (see video above) as posters are usually of flash in the pan pop stars like Justin Bieber and made of flimsy material, that eventually wilts away. This was more like a great oil painting on canvas from a renowned artist like Picasso in which future generations can admire and cherish.
Outside of amazing highlights, Blake Griffin is putting up unbelievable numbers for a guy that is in his first year and coming off knee surgery that kept him out an entire season. Actually, at 23 ppg, almost 13 rebounds per game and being 2nd in the league with 39 double doubles he is producing well for a guy at any point in their career.
If the coaches don’t vote him in, David Stern will not be able to resist taking this opportunity to show off his flashy new toy in the NBA’s showcase game in front of the home L.A. crowd. Stern and NBA fans are drooling at the mouth at the big play possibilities that Blake can bring in a game where defense is optional and the pace of the game is frenetic. I say he is IN.
What I can state most confidently is that regardless if Blake makes the team this year or not, he will be a perennial all star going forward. As for Odom, this might be his last and best chance to reach this feat. While I doubt that he will make it, I wish Odom luck on making the team.