10 Potential All-Star Snubs: West
Deron Williams (photo. Christian Kozowyck)Following up the list of 10 potential Eastern Conference All-Star snubs, today we’re breaking down the West.
With one recent regular All-Star pick (Allen Iverson) having gone East, and others like Steve Nash, T-Mac and Carlos Boozer dealing with injuries and/or declining stats, that leaves some roster spots open. But as usual, someone will still get snubbed.
Given the typical All-Star roster set-up (at least four guards, four forwards, two centers, and two wild-card spots), I’d imagine there can be an absolute maximum of six guards taken, or six forwards, or four centers, but most likely it’ll be 5-5-2.
Here are some players facing the possibility of being snubbed come decision-time:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Likely starters: Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul (guards), Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki (forwards) and Yao Ming (center).
Potential snubs:
Steve Nash (15.4 ppg, 8.3 apg)
Pro: When the Suns have been able to run, he’s often looked like his old MVP self. And just like old times, everyone from Amare to Matt Barnes has produced a career game under his direction.
Con: Numbers are down from a year ago, and his defense isn’t any better. Was he really just a glorified system player?
Baron Davis (18.8 ppg, 8.1 apg, 1.9 spg)
Pro: Sixth in the League in assists, third-leading scorer among point guards behind Devin Harris and Chris Paul.
Con: The Clippers are the Clippers, but in this case, they’re also underachieving against their preseason hype.
Jason Terry (20.2 ppg, 1.6 spg)
Pro: Running away with the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Con: With so many more-talented and bigger-name guards in the West, a guy who doesn’t even start and who isn’t named Ginobili stands next to no chance.
Deron Williams (11.7 ppg, 10.2 apg)
Pro: Too good to not have an All-Star berth on his resume yet.
Con: Has already missed 13 games due to injury. Scoring and shooting is way down from last year; 39% from the field, 26% from three.
Carmelo Anthony (20.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg)
Pro: His 33-point third quarter against the Wolves yesterday will stick in people’s minds for a while.
Con: Missed a few games due to an elbow injury, which has also effected his shooting; he’s barely cracked 40 percent from the floor.
Zach Randolph, Dime #19Pau Gasol (17.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg)
Pro: By all rights the Lakers should have more than one All-Star, and Gasol is playing better than Andrew Bynum or anyone else after Kobe.
Con: Like Ilgauskas in Cleveland, Gasol could fall victim to the misnomer that’s he just another of Kobe’s minions.
Stephen Jackson (20.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 6.3 apg)
Pro: Was Mr. Do-It-All at the beginning of the year, playing everywhere from point guard to power forward and keeping the Warriors surprisingly competitive.
Con: Golden State has fallen into the gutter as of late, and S-Jack isn’t carrying them out of it. Perception could be he’s just another chucker on a team full of them.
Zach Randolph (20.7 ppg, 11.2 rpg)
Pro: Only six players in the League are averaging 20 and 10. Randolph ranks 4th in the NBA in rebounding.
Con: The 20-10 numbers Z-Bo put up in Portland were never good enough to warrant an All-Star selection. All that’s changed now is he’s playing on a worse team.
Al Jefferson (21.3 ppg, 9.9 rpg)
Pro: Numbers-wise, he’s the best center in the West and the second-best center in the League behind Howard.
Con: His team is bad and they’re never on TV.
Andris Biedrins (15 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Pro: NBA’s second-leading rebounder behind Dwight Howard. One of the few bright spots on a bad team.
Con: Not only does his team stink, their defense is atrocious, and that’s supposed to be his thing. Are his rebounds merely a byproduct of so many shots being thrown up in your average GS game, and from no one else on the team to compete with for boards?
December 11th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
K Dizzle says:
Carlos Boozer was killin before he got hurt…D-Will been killin since he got back, at least runnin the team wise.
Chauncey Billups been the 2nd best point since comin home but could also get snubbed.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Scott says:
Here’s a question, could Paul Milsapp be a snub? He’s like last years Jose Calderon, backup player taking advantage of a starters injury to have his first career year (sort of, heh).
December 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Amar says:
Millsap isn’t an all-star — and i’m the biggest jazz homer who reads dime.
Deron is the Jazz’ best player, and he hasn’t been playing like an all-star this season so far. aside from a pair of 15 assist games (maybe more, I don’t memorize boxscores), he hasn’t delivered all-star stats. Stats are a huge part of being an all-star. additionally, utah needs to get a few more wins under their belt before we can even start to talk about deserving an all-star.
Having Deron not make the all-star team this season would be fine with me. for one thing, it surely would motivate him to take it out on the other western conf. coaches for the 2nd half of the season and playoffs like the last two years.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
srb says:
someday dime will do a top 9 list
December 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Rafa23 says:
will dirk really start?
dont you think melo gets more votes?
December 11th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
karizmatic says:
Jason Terry’s performance has been impressive. How long do you think that will last?
December 11th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
YOUNGFED..."I don't make it rain I make it hurricane" says:
How is Al Jeff the 2nd best behind Howard I’m assuming that statement is because Yao is already a lock. If thats so than point well taken.
Also D-Will ain’t going over Baron/Nash/Billups are you serious. So his chances are slim to none.
December 11th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
kevin k says:
WHERE IS OJ MAYO… HE IS HAVING A BETTER SEASON THAN ANY OF THE GUARDS YOU MENTIONED…
December 11th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Vinny says:
Yes imo nash is a glorfied system player. Dirk over Amare,or melo?
December 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
chinaman says:
west starters…
pg- paul
sg- kobe
sf- SUN YUE
pf-tim
c-yao
December 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
mules says:
@ fed
“number-wise” Al Jeff’s 21.5 pts and 10 rebs is better than Yao’s 19 and 9.7.
Kevin: Mayo’s been playing well enough to deserve consideration but being on a horrible team coupled with the whole “rookies don’t belong in the ASG” belief that some people have will probably keep him out…same with D. Rose for the East.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Mark says:
I’m one for ‘rookies don’t belong in the ASG’, but hey, All*Star is mostly about popularity anyway. Even with that mentality, did Grant Hill not lead the votes as a rookie?
As long as China votes, it’s almost a shoo-in for Yao. That said, is Timmy Duncan a F or C on the ballot? Cause I remember the drama from last year.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Ansonious says:
Who’s going to win the rookies- sophmores game any thoughts?
December 11th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
justice(knicks fan) says:
I never vote for the guys that i know the fans will already pick so where as my picks should be
-paul
-bryant
-Dirk
-Duncan
-Ming
they will be
-Billups
-Mayo or Roy
-Durant
-Aldrigde
-Jefferson
December 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
justice(knicks fan) says:
the rookies will phuck them up if Oden and Rudy play on the rookies, with mayo,rose,beasy,love…thats murder
December 11th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Ian says:
justice same starting 5 as u
but would like parker on the bench
and like u said the rookies will destroy the sophs
December 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Three Stacks says:
Rookies NEVER beat the sophomores, that’s about the surest bet you can make in basketball.
December 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
YOUNGFED..."I'm at the call of duty but my metal gears solid" says:
@mules
come on fam how you gonna say rookies don’t belong in the ASG. What about Derrick Rose
December 11th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
If Oden plays with the rooks, thats Rose, Mayo, Beasley, Love, Oden as the starting 5.
Who do the sophs have? Durant, Green, Thornton, and who else? its not going to be pretty, but it’ll be fun.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Youngfed
Funny thing Williams is way better than Boom Dizzle are you serious? Based on right now I wouldn’t put D-Will on there but he has two months for his stats to improve and they will. Melo might get voted in as a starter, but if not he’s probably in. Here’s what it will look like:
Starters
G CP3
G Kobe
C Yao
F Dirk
F Melo
Reserves
G Billups
G Nash
F Duncan
F Amare
C Gasol
11 Gay
12 Roy/Williams
December 11th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Amar says:
who was the last rookie to make the all-star game? yao?
December 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Amar says:
durant, green, thornton, hortford, yi, stucky, etc . . .
December 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Heckler says:
these are snubs.
none of these guys have performed like all stars anyway.
December 11th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
K Dizzle says:
@ post 20 - Gay?
December 11th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
mules says:
@Fed
I didn’t say I thought rookies didn’t belong in the ASG, just that there are a lot of people that think that way…time to brush up on your reading comprehension bro.
Between Rose and Mayo I actually think Mayo is a little more deserving of a spot. By this seasons performance alone, Mayo’s the 4th best SG in the West (behind Kobe, Terry & Roy) and Rose is the 5th best PG in the East (behind Harris, Calderon, Rondo & Duhon)
December 11th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ian says:
wait austin
is parker in or completly out since hes not in your snub list?
December 11th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
L.S. says:
Would Kevin Durant not be an All-Star snub? Sure, he’ll be in the Rookie - Sophomore game and he does have that whole 2-21 thing working against him, but the talent and numbers are there…
Also, I think Carmelo is a lock for the team…
December 11th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
jnuh says:
Every great player is a product of the system they are in.
December 11th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Ross says:
Either Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili will get snubbed, while the other will make it.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
VINNY says:
@jnuh- I disagree!
December 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
CK JESSe says:
WAT ABOUT THE ROOKIE OJ ?? HE’S KILLIN IT RIGHT NOW LAS TIME I CHECKED 21 PER? THATS crazyy.. nd VC is is helpin the nets win too with his 23ppg … so those 2 ARE GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST SNUBS!!
December 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
JCARR says:
@jnuh
…not true!
December 12th, 2008 at 1:23 am
johnsacrimoni says:
K Dizzle
His name came to mind because he is putting up great stats and is not a rookie like his teammate Mayo. The other guys to challenge his spot would be Biedrins, Durant, Jefferson. Maybe Durant over Gay.