Out of all the All-Star snubs that commissioner David Stern could choose from to replace the injured Kevin Garnett for next week's All-Star weekend, the best he could do was Rasheed Wallace? Forgive the juvenile protest, but puh-leeze.
There are two reasons why this makes absolutely no sense. One comes from the "teams should get awarded for success" theory, and the other is "the better player should be an All-Star" preference. In both cases, Wallace should not have been selected as a replacement.
First, the team perspective. Boston currently holds the best record in the NBA. Not just the Leastern, ahem, eastern conference, mind you. The entire league. Yet now they will have a grand total of one representative at the All-Star game. When was the last time that happened?
(I'd like to know what search tools those professional writers use to look up random trivia like that. Then I'd sound really smart by answering my own questions.)
Even without Garnett, Boston was able to pull off a big win at home against the Spurs. That makes Boston an impressive 16-0 against western conference foes, despite all the critics and pundits prematurely crowning whoever comes out of the dogfight for the western conference championship.
In case you haven't gotten the hint yet, Ray Allen is starting to sound like a fairly reasonable candidate (if not shoe-in) to replace his injured teammate. So far, that's only on the basis of team merit.
Individually, (again, a question that more professional writers with professional resources could answer), when was the last time someone played in the All-Star game averaging a paltry 12.9ppg and 7.3rpg? Sure, Ben Wallace has made the All-Star team averaging less points, but his rebounding numbers were in double figures. The AP release mentions in passing that Wallace leads his team in steals (1.36spg) and blocks (1.6bpg). The cynic within says, "Whoopdee-freakin'-doo."
Ray Allen on the other hand? A cool 18.3ppg. Not unreasonable for an All-Star, especially on such a loaded squad. And while some may have missed this transpiring, Allen has actually become the "go-to guy" in the clutch, winning a handful of games with his silky-smooth jumper to close it out. Doesn't it say something on his behalf that Allen is chosen over All-Star teammates Garnett and Paul Pierce that he gets the nod in clutch time?
Had Stern still been tempted to bypass Allen, there are a few other players that come to mind as replacements; players "more deserving" than Wallace, if such a phrase can indeed be used in this situation. Jose Calderon comes to mind. A more obvious option is Hedo Turkoglu, who has been nothing short of phenomonal in keeping the Magic firmly entrenched in third place the whole season. Heck, even Michael Redd should get a look before 'Sheed.
David Stern's had to put up with a lot of #### over the last couple years, mainly due to the mistakes of others (Suns players leaving the bench, cheating refs, players running afoul of the law, etc.). This time, though, Stern had the power, swung, and missed big time.
Rookie of the Year-Kevin Durant: Even if Oden were healthy, i'm not sure he would've beaten out Durant, simply because Seattle will depend more on KD than Portland would have on Oden. The same could be said for Atlanta's Al Horford. The former Gator has shown in the preseason that he can fill the stat sheet, but unfortunately is among the plethura of forwards that litters the Hawks' roster. While Durant at shooting guard may not be pretty at times, it should be enough to win him ROY.
6th Man of the Year-Andres Nocioni: I was trying to decide between Noc and Adam Morrison, but then the bomb dropped yesterday that 'Stache would be out for the season with a torn ligament. Nocioni has already shown this preseason that he can provide the offensive punch that Chicago will need off the bench. Gordon and Deng can only do so much, and Nocioni has the consistent firepower (and inner fire) to get the job done.
Most Improved Player- Andrea Bargnani: Everyone's been harping about Dwight Howard's improved offense, but the jump in stats from last year to this season may not be large enough to warrant the nod from voters. While Toronto is loaded at the guard and wing spots, their options in the middle are mediocre at best. Bargnani will see plenty of playing time, as GM Bryan Colangelo will want to see further returns from his #1 draft pick. Expect coach Sam Mitchell to tweak the offense around his dynamic duo of Bargnani and Bosh, now that he knows what the Italian sensation is capable of.
Defensive Player of the Year-Shawn Marion: Just as I can't support Marion on his recent rave about underappreciation, neither can I support that Marion has never been named to an All-NBA Defensive team. This includes last year, when he was somehow left off both the first and second teams despite finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year award. He's the only player in the league that can guard successfully all five positions on the floor. He's always among the league leaders in both steals and blocks. What more can you ask for?
Coach of the Year-Rick Adelman: The only concern with the running philosophy of Adelman being applied to Houston is whether Yao Ming will have the necessary stamina to do the job. When they set up in a half-court offense, however, Adelman will be sure to take advantage of Yao's exceptional passing, and teammates McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Steve Francis and Luis Scola should thrive, and hopefully do so past the first round. Orlando's Stan Van Gundy is another candidate here.
MVP-Kevin Garnett: His stats may not be impressive while playing with two other All-Stars, but KG could very well have the same effect on the Celts that Shaq and Nash had on their respective clubs in the 2004-05 season. Boston is bound to improve dramatically, and KG's effect, both statistically and otherwise, will be impossible to ignore. Nash, Nowitzki, James and Bryant will all be in the discussion, but Boston's renewal under a new face will likely give Garnett a few extra votes.
