G Damian Lillard, F LaMarcus Aldridge selected as All-Star reserves!

[Strenuus]

Why? Both of those guys are on certifiably shitty teams.

You can say that about the Kings... but the Pelicans healthy is a damn good up-and-coming team.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

You can say that about the Kings... but the Pelicans healthy is a damn good up-and-coming team.

I don't think that matters as much for All Star selections. They're still bad right now.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Why do you hate Lamarcus Aldridge?!

Ok, better worded as my favorite Blazer and favorite non-Blazer. I think LMA is amazing.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Why? Both of those guys are on certifiably shitty teams.

So it's the teams that are being voted to the All-Star team?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

So it's the teams that are being voted to the All-Star team?

We must have different opinions on what criteria should merit an All Star position.

 

[Boise Blazer]

[video=youtube;ZX0gMxfZkOk]

 

[Natebishop3]

So it's the teams that are being voted to the All-Star team?

It is a factor. Everyone knows it's a factor. The fact that the Blazers are tied for second in the west with San Antonio is definitely going to give a lot of weight to Lillard over someone like Davis or Boogie.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

We must have different opinions on what criteria should merit an All Star position.

Does your criteria only apply to the West?

 

[Natebishop3]

Does your criteria only apply to the West?

If they went strictly off winning in the east, it would be 6 Heat and 6 Pacers.

 

[ponderguy]

Cousins should be a reserve. He's been amazing this year and definitely deserves an all star spot. I would have been fine with him over Lillard. If I was a Sacramento fan I would be pissed

 

[Natebishop3]

Cousins should be a reserve. He's been amazing this year and definitely deserves an all star spot. I would have been fine with him over Lillard. If I was a Sacramento fan I would be pissed

He still might get in.

Why single out Dame though? Paul has missed the last month of basketball and yet he was still voted in. Parker hasn't been all that impressive lately either. I think a lot of people are slumping right now (except Durant.)

 

[ponderguy]

He still might get in.

Why single out Dame though? Paul has missed the last month of basketball and yet he was still voted in. Parker hasn't been all that impressive lately either. I think a lot of people are slumping right now (except Durant.)

I think the AS game should be for the best players. Chris Paul is one of the top 5 players in the league and even coming off an injury he is a better player than Dame right now. While Dame is certainly very good IDK if he is one of the top 15 players in the west this year. I think as he matures and refines different parts of his game he could end up as the best PG in the league but its not quite his time yet. I didn't think he would be named a reserve. With that said I am very happy for him and I'm excited to see him play in the game.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think the AS game should be for the best players. Chris Paul is one of the top 5 players in the league and even coming off an injury he is a better player than Dame right now. While Dame is certainly very good IDK if he is one of the top 15 players in the west this year. I think as he matures and refines different parts of his game he could end up as the best PG in the league but its not quite his time yet. I didn't think he would be named a reserve. With that said I am very happy for him and I'm excited to see him play in the game.

Best players by what metric? Purely stats? It's easier to put up numbers on a crap team because there's more shots. There's guys like Love who care more about stats than they do about team or winning. You will literally see him steal rebounds from teammates because he wants the numbers.

I don't think it's all about winning. I don't think it's all about stats. I think it's a combination.

 

[PapaG]

I don't think Lillard should've made it, even with the injuries, and certainly not if Davis and Cousins aren't in.

I'm torn over whether or not it would've been better for him not to make it. Some people react well to perceived snubs, and some people go into a funk. We think of him as the former, but as he's in a bit of a slump lately, maybe this'll give him a confidence boost. Also maybe he'll get greater pull with the refs.

I find it much harder to argue with the reserves than the starters, solely because NBA coaches know which opposing players they respect the most, while fans think the more commercials a guy has, the more deserving he is (see Kevin Love and Blake Griffin as examples).

 

[PapaG]

I remember a year where ZBo was a Blazer and was something like 23/12 at the Break. The coaches didn't vote him in, because his team wasn't very good. It may have been Roy's rookie year. Coaches tend to be consistent in rewarding players from good teams over players from bad teams. Probably because if these coaches don't win, they get fired, and they know how hard it is to have a very good NBA team.

 

[Natebishop3]

I remember a year where ZBo was a Blazer and was something like 23/12 at the Break. The coaches didn't vote him in, because his team wasn't very good. It may have been Roy's rookie year. Coaches tend to be consistent in rewarding players from good teams over players from bad teams. Probably because if these coaches don't win, they get fired, and they know how hard it is to have a very good NBA team.

I think it was the year before Roy... he was definitely snubbed a couple years while he was here.

Nope, you're probably right. His last year here he averaged 23 and 10.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

a little surprised but eager to see lillard do his thing, i have a feeling this is gonna be the kd show though

 

[BBert]

a little surprised but eager to see lillard do his thing, i have a feeling this is gonna be the kd show though

Showcase for the MVP race. Big money in additional endorsements to the top dog. LaMarcus can't bring the ball up and pass it to himself, plus he's a reserve. He'll be for all practical purposes out of contention after the A.S. game.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Kd and LeBron will be hogging the ball all night.

 

[blue9]

I don't think it's all about winning. I don't think it's all about stats. I think it's a combination.

Don't forget the marketing angle - that's the only explanation for Lillard getting in over Dragic. Lillard is infinitely more marketable.

 

[riverman]

Rasheed Wallace was snubbed probably more than any former Blazer and he was an allstar quality guy. Sheed laughed it off and always said he'd take the vacation over the Allstar game anytime.