All Star Watch: The Nets Are Bad, But Brook Lopez Isn’t
Calling a player from the New Jersey Nets an All-Star is like calling The Real World/Road Road Rules Challenge a Golden Globe award-winning show. But even though the Nets are the league’s doormat, Brooke Lopez has been having a solid season and is making a good case on why he deserves All-Star consideration.
Why He’s In: There’s no doubt that Lopez is throwing out All-Star numbers right now. He’s averaging 19.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.2 bpg, while shooting 49.5 percent from the floor. That is more than 8 points, 2 rebounds and block shot more than Shaq and are comparable with Dwight Howard’s stats (18.4 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg). His post moves and basketball IQ are advanced for his age, he plays defense and he’s a lot more athletic than people think. Lopez has shown a lot of improvement from his rookie year and is only going to get better. He’s also shown the desire to want the ball down the stretch. And unlike O’Neal or Howard, you can go to Lopez late in games because he hits his free-throws (83.3 percent). He knows his role and doesn’t try to do things he is incapable of doing. He sticks to the low block and rarely shoots outside of 13 feet.
If Shaq is voted in as a starter, than there is no way Lopez will get in since the coaches will vote in Howard and most likely not carry a third center. If Howard is voted in, than Lopez has a shot because he has been more dominant and is throwing up better numbers than both Shaq and the Hawks’ Al Horford.
Why He’s Not: Very rarely, do good players on bad teams make All-Star rosters. It makes it even harder when you’re a good player on a very bad team like the Nets, who are sitting dead last in the NBA at 2-20. It doesn’t help the Nets broke the all-time record for worst start in NBA history (0-18). Shaq’s and Horford’s numbers might not be as eye-opening as Lopez’s, but they are on winning teams that can contend for a chip in ‘09-10. Neither O’Neal or Horford are their team’s number one option and if they were in Jersey, you can bet their stats would be a lot higher too. Plus, Lopez had his two worst games of the season against Howard. In his first game against Howard, Lopez went for just 11 points and 5 rebounds and on his second game it was even worse with 4 points and 5 rebounds on 1-12 shooting.
Final Verdict: Lopez is going to be an All-Star for many years to come, but unfortunately this year won’t be the year his run starts. The Nets are just too bad of a team and there are too many politics involved to give Lopez some serious consideration this season. Even if Shaq or Howard gets injured, the league will probably choose Horford or another forward as the replacement. But if Lopez continues to get better and the Nets start winning in a few years, you won’t be able to deny him.
Should Brook Lopez be an All-Star?
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December 10th, 2009 at 10:54 am
rban says:
Im looking for a lil Rodney Stuckey love around the league,
He’s putting up like 19 5 and 5 and defending the oppossing teams best 2guards night in and out.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Pet Society Help says:
No one plays D when they’re up by 20.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Patrick says:
I think Lopez is the most deserving, but the Nets are terrible. The only other somewhat deserving C candidates in the east are Noah, J Oneal and Shaq. Maybe you could say David Lee. Noah and Lee are both on teams that aren’t playing well so that shouldn’t give them a leg up. I would still take Lopez.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Shakers says:
I would take Perk over Noah, Horford, J O’Neal, or Shaq. That doesn’t mean he should be in the All-Star game. Can’t we just call Bosh the second center and bring an extra wing or PG? Any 2nd center choice in the East is a bad choice.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Mark says:
Andrew Bogut anyone? I know hes been injured a fair but but his numbers are still solid and when healthy is a quality big man, hes gotta be in the discussion if Noah and J Oneal are!?
December 10th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Juan R says:
It’s “He knows his role” not roll
December 10th, 2009 at 11:56 am
TJ says:
“He knows his roll”
This is someone who writes for a living.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Name (required) says:
Lopez cant be an all star, there are too many more deserving forwards that theyll most likely shift Bosh to the reserve Center, unless he gets voted in to start at PF, then the coaches will give it to Shaq. Also, if any Net gets to be an All Star it would probably be Devin Harris….. and no one could ever justify a 2-20 team having 2 all stars.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
rban says:
I know Ben Wallace isnt putting up allstar numbers but I just wanted to give him some props for the center spot.
Averaging about 10rbs 1.5blk 1.5stl and is top 3 offensive rebounder in the league, and the defense hes bringing every night is keeping Detroit in every game.
December 10th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
jvedo says:
rodney stuckey may be standing in front of other teams 2 guards but i wouldnt say hes guarding anybody hes 6 feet tal be real will ya
December 10th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Chaos says:
Who would you take after Dwight Howard
By the numbers:
Brook Lopez 19.3ppg 9.1rpg 2.2bpg
Shaq: 10.9ppg 6.8rpg 1.3bpg
Joakhim Noah: 10.2ppg 11.6rpg 1.7bpg
Al Horford: 13.5 ppg 9.5rpg 1.4bpg
Jermaine O’Neal: 14.3ppg 8.1rpg 1.2bpg
Andrea Bargani: 16.7 ppg 6.5 rpg 1.1 bpg
David Lee: 18.2ppg 10rpg 0.5bpg
Andrew Bogut 15.1 ppg 9.3 rpg 1.7bpg
Kendrick Perkins: 11.9ppg 7.5rpg 1.9bpg
Ben Wallace: 4ppg 9.8rpg 1.2bpg
December 10th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
dmitry of jersey says:
ehh not sure he plays defense. too many C’s have beasted him this year.
that said, i’m damn happy he’s the future of the Nets… hard to believe 9 teams passed on him in the draft.
December 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
IGP says:
@ Dime
I really hate to say it, but Gerald needs someone to proofread his sentences. I’m not sure what his title at Dime is, but if he is supposed to be a professional writer…
December 10th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
BiG ShoT BoB says:
Plain and simple Dwight is getting voted in. That leaves 2 fowards, 2 guards and 3 players regardless of position for the coaches to choose from. Bosh takes a foward spot on the bench since KG will start. Then you have Josh Smith 2nd foward. The 3 players regardless of pos. will be filled with guards. So your right although he’s doing well just not his time yet.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
dagwaller says:
I’m a Derrick Rose fan, but I’ve been saying it for a year now – Lopez over Rose for ROY. People got caught up in the hype last year.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:57 am
BiG ShoT BoB says:
Are you serious? Rose made the playoffs and took his team to the second round while giving the champs all they could handle. How is that hype?
December 11th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
ender says:
Bogut:
- has the numbers
- is a vital piece to his team (see the team’s record with him in and out of the lineup)
- has a team playing around 50% ball
January 11th, 2010 at 1:08 am
big d larry says:
really lopez is better than howard to all lopez has to do now is get stronger is offence is better rebs can be to just get stronger brook ok and you will be the only truely center to come in the nba in a long time