Who Deserves To Be A 2013 NBA All-Star? Paul George Vs. Joakim Noah

Now that the NBA All-Star 2013 starting lineups have been announced , the real debate begins to find who will join those 10 in Houston. In the nearly half season we’ve watched and written about so far, a number a quality candidates has separated themselves in each conference. Someone deserving will be left out, but before the All-Star reserves are announced on Jan. 24 and we break down who got snubbed, we wanted to open the forum to see who needs to be in Houston and why. Today, it’s an Eastern Conference showdown between a guard and a forward each from the Central.

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PAUL GEORGE, INDIANA

Paul George is a monster. Paul George is a beast. Paul George has single-handedly saved the Indiana Pacers’ season because of his tremendous leap and newfound confidence. Paul George has been given the reigns to the Pacers this season because of Danny Granger‘s lingering injuries and Roy Hibbert‘s ineffectiveness. I knew George was good. I knew he had potential, but potential is such a tender word.

In my dictionary, potential means you’re on the brink of something epic yet doubt still remains. For George, I knew he was a great leaper and solid defender coming out of Fresno State. I’ve heard stories of how his high school coach urged him to be more aggressive. He was more an altruistic player, though: selfless. He wanted his teammates to thrive. Unlike the innumerable ballhogs in the world, he never thought scoring should have been a first priority. Other things like rebounding, distributing, playing defense were embedded in his mind and game. Just like high school and college, George deferred and did things to help his team win. Now this season, he was given the green light a la John Legend and the ball was placed in his hands. This was the year to prove why he was coined as arguably the best wing player to come out the 2010 draft. He has surpassed expectations and has given me a reason as to why he should be in this year’s festivities.

After an abysmal start, many questioned whether the Pacers had the juice and hunger to compete without leading scorer in Granger. They traded Darren Collison and inserted George Hill as their front man to handle the rock. They entrusted their franchise in a role-player. They threw stacks of money to Hibbert last offseason to keep him from going to Portland. After an incredible year last season, Hibbert’s play deteriorated. His numbers nosedived from 13 points and nine boards per game to nine points and eight rebounds. Wait, the 7-footer’s field goal percentage even dipped from 49.7 percent to 41 percent. Lance Stephenson – who I love and is a New York City legend – was an unproven commodity. A second-round pick who was yanked in and out of the rotation prior to this season was an unknown.

So Indiana coach Frank Vogel opted to give his third year man Paul George the go ahead. I doubt he regrets ever making that decision. Why? George has exuded his poignant all-around game on both ends of the court. He’s averaging close to 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists a game. He’s doing it all, folks. While posing as the Pacers new scoring threat, he still hasn’t forgotten about his bread and butter – his defense. He’s still guarding the opposing team’s best player and grabbing closing to two steals (1.7) and registering almost a block per game (0.7).

By sliding George back to his primary position at small forward, Vogel has helped unleash the player’s natural game. Since coming to the league, George had to play out of position and adjust his game at shooting guard to accommodate his All-Star teammate in Granger. Granted, his game has improved since his rookie year, his points jumping from 7.8 to 12.1 to 16.9 per game. Because he was playing with Granger, David West and Hibbert who all demanded the ball, George opted to take the backseat and took only 9.7 shots a game last season. This year, he’s taking 15 shots a game. While becoming a daunting scoring threat, he’s still doing what he loves and hasn’t sacrificed his rebounding and dishing the ball, with eight rebounds and four dimes a game. More importantly, Indiana has regained their composure and are third in the Eastern Conference as of today at 24-16.

Let’s let George be part of All-Star Weekend. I’m not talking about the Dunk Contest again. I’m talking about the big game where the stars align and have the hardwood serve as their playground. I’m talking about the All-Star Game in Houston.

— Carl Lamarre , on Twitter at @TheRealCL24

JOAKIM NOAH

When Joakim Noah was left off of the All-Star starters list, I was shocked. I thought that Noah was going to be a sure-fire All-Star starter this season. I didn’t think that I would even have to write this about him. It turns out that I was wrong. Noah was left out of the starting role in favor of Kevin Garnett.

Not only does Noah deserve a spot on the team, he should be starting in the East. In a league
where many say that center — even if it’s technically no longer an All-Star position — is weak, Noah is easily the best center in the Eastern Conference. He’s averaging 12.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 4.1 assists per game. He’s a stat-sheet stuffer by the very definition of it.

If it weren’t for Noah’s all-around production, the Derrick Rose-less Bulls wouldn’t be where they’re at right now. The Bulls have a 22-15 record largely because of the defensive presence that Noah has been for the Bulls. Noah has a defensive rating of 98 and the Bulls are six points per possession better on that end with him on the floor according to 82games.com.

I know what you’re thinking: The All-Star game is about flare and showmanship. No one wants
to see defense in this game. It’s a traditionally high-scoring, high-flying game with a lot of dunks. Noah doesn’t seem like a flashy type of player, but that’s far from the case. Offensively, Noah is very good. Even though he has that whirly jump shot in his arsenal — it’s a spectacle to watch — it goes in the hoop more often than not. He’s crafted himself into a pretty good post player and is the premier passer in the league at the center position (Marc Gasol is his only competition there).

Noah can run high-lows all day. If he can do it with Carlos Boozer, why not with Garnett or Carmelo Anthony? Just imagine the pass that would be delivered with Noah on the high block and LeBron James coming from the wing and cutting to the rim. It’s going to lead to a thunderous dunk each and every time.

Noah can make the All-Star game with his skill on the perimeter and not only inside the paint. He’s a very good all-around player and has easily been the best center in the East. Who’s his only competition this year? Tyson Chandler? Garnett? Please. Noah is hands down playing the best ball at the center position on both ends in the Eastern Conference.

If people want to see pick and pop jumpers or rolls to the rim all game long, fine. Chandler and Garnett are your perfect combination. If you want to see quirky but effective moves, post passes that lead to dunks, and drives off the dribble from the center spot then Noah is your guy.

— Michael Sykes, on Twitter at @Mikey_NBA

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