All-Star Starters Revealed (2012)

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/02/0 ... ef:nbahpt1

We’ve already penciled in the starters, based on the second returns announced last week. So barring any surprises, the starters for both sides in Orlando should look like this:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Heat forward LeBron James
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony
Magic Center Dwight Howard
Bulls guard Derrick Rose
Heat guard Dwyane Wade

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Clippers forward Blake Griffin
Thunder forward Kevin Durant
Lakers center Andrew Bynum
Clippers guard Chris Paul
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant

I like what I see pretty much. Blake and Carmelo probably aren't the choices I would have made but no surprise as their popularity is up there. As for Dwight and Bynum both aren't having the best season but they probably are the best centers anyways. Then there is Chandler I believe who is superiorly efficient but perhaps not so much if asked to be a volumn player.

Last edited by NovU on Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

So on the east...whos playing pf?

Melo or Bron obviously. All star ballot selections in Forwards don't have to be 1 each at SF and PF. Same goes for the guards.

The starters you could really predict accurately before voting even began. I interested to see some of the reserves. I'm really hoping Varejao gets the backup center spot in the East. Besides Howard who is the starting center, he has the biggest impact on his team of any center in the east and he's also leading the league in offensive rebounds per game (he just had 20 rebounds ten of them offensive in the cavs last game). In my mind their is no question he deserves it but it's up to the coaches to realize that.

Even though the season has only been going for like five weeks, this would be as good a thread as any to post all-star reserve picks. Here are mine (actual predictions in parentheses)

East:
Brandon Jennings (Deron Williams)
Tyson Chandler (Roy Hibbert)
Rajon Rondo
Joe Johnson
Kyrie Irving
Andre Iguodala
Chris Bosh


West:
Steve Nash (Kyle Lowry)
James Harden (Russell Westbrook)
Paul Millsap (Dirk Nowitzki)
Tony Parker
LaMarcus Aldridge
Kevin Love
Marc Gasol

Besides Howard who is the starting center, he has the biggest impact on his team of any center in the east and he's also leading the league in offensive rebounds per game (he just had 20 rebounds ten of them offensive in the cavs last game). In my mind their is no question he deserves it but it's up to the coaches to realize that.

Well. I hope the coaches realize Tyson Chandler's jaw dropping 142 Ortg and 98 Drtg. Isn't he the best player ever?

Come on. There's Hibbert as well. Varejao is a level behind.

What I said to Lamrock in FB:



So, my reserves would be:

East
Deron Williams
Amar'e Stoudemire
Rajon Rondo
Joe Johnson
Roy Hibbert
Andre Iguodala
Chris Bosh


West
Kyle Lowry
Steve Nash (Westbrook will get more spots in coming years)
Dirk Nowitzki
Tony Parker
LaMarcus Aldridge
Kevin Love
Marc Gasol

Besides Howard who is the starting center, he has the biggest impact on his team of any center in the east and he's also leading the league in offensive rebounds per game (he just had 20 rebounds ten of them offensive in the cavs last game). In my mind their is no question he deserves it but it's up to the coaches to realize that.

Well. I hope the coaches realize Tyson Chandler's jaw dropping 142 Ortg and 98 Drtg. Isn't he the best player ever?

Come on. There's Hibbert as well. Varejao is a level behind.

If you can say Varejao is a level behind these guys then you obviously haven't seen him play recently. I posted some of his stats earlier but I wasn't saying that was the only reason he deserved to be an all star. He deserves just as much credit as Kyrie Irving does for helping the Cavs go 8 and 12 to start the season. If you don't believe me just look up some of the highlights from the Cavs last few games against the Celtics and then tell me Varejao is a level behind. Hibbert and Chandler are having solid seasons but not all star seasons.Doc Rivers on Anderson: http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/doc-rivers-anderson-varejao-is-an-all-star/

then tell me Varejao is a level behind.

Most likely three levels,in popularity of course,because that is what also gets you in the allstar game.

And also i still think in my opinion that there should not be an allstar game this season.

My predictions:

East:
-Rondo
-Deron
-Iggy
-Stoudemire
-Josh Smith
-Tyson Chandler
-Bosh

West:
-Westbrook
-Rubio (It will probably happen even if I don't agree with it)
-Ellis
-Aldridge
-Love
-Gasol
-Gasol

Love to see Iggy in the ASG also if its about highlights then Rubio should be in.

if Kyle Lowry doesn't make it, coaches must be out of their mind. Blake will be the new Vince Carter and will be a starter even after he's past his prime

oh and jerseys were also revealed

I like Lowry but I think Nash still is a better PG. But neck to neck comparing to Westbrook, and definitely better than Monta Ellis.

If you can say Varejao is a level behind these guys then you obviously haven't seen him play recently. I posted some of his stats earlier but I wasn't saying that was the only reason he deserved to be an all star. He deserves just as much credit as Kyrie Irving does for helping the Cavs go 8 and 12 to start the season. If you don't believe me just look up some of the highlights from the Cavs last few games against the Celtics and then tell me Varejao is a level behind. Hibbert and Chandler are having solid seasons but not all star seasons.Doc Rivers on Anderson: http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/doc-rivers-anderson-varejao-is-an-all-star/

Doc Rivers is stupid if he truly believes that. But it's obvious he was rather complementing his game after the game against Cavs. No need to go distance taking his words too seriously. Varejao may do the stuff that might not show up on the stats sheet sorta like Battier, but that's the only case he has. His stats are not as impressive as Hibbert or Noah. Forget Chandler because he's up there with Wilt. A level behind and Varejao is on the worst team out of all those guys. So tell me where Varejao really stands out compared to those others. Here's his stats.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... jan01.html

What I said to Lamrock in FB:

How did you do that "me gusta" button?

if Kyle Lowry doesn't make it, coaches must be out of their mind.

It's Spanish or Argentinian I guess.

East Reserves:
Joel Anthony
Brian Scalabrine

West Reserves:
Well, I don't know.

With the second best record in the West, I guess one of the Nuggets are going to make it to Orlando. Coaches usually take team record into the consideration so... If anyone rightfully deserves an All-Star spot from Denver, I'd say it's Gallinari over Lowry. He alone has made the Melo deal look like a crap deal for the Knicks with his improved, productive, and efficient performance. Only thing that stops him from being selected an All-Star is his position though. He has to compete against guys like Nowitzki and Aldridge despite him playing a SF.

NovU, I agree except that the all-star from Denver should be Lawson

I wouldn't be surprised if Lawson was selected but I'm just saying Gallinari has been the bigger factor to the team's success. Lawson also, of course has lessor competition deal with at his position in All-Star ballots.

What I said to Lamrock in FB:

How did you do that "me gusta" button?

Yep, as Badger said, my Facebook's language is Spanish

Amare's play last night bought me. He has to be in the ASG with his 34-11 against the Bulls.

Jennings has to make it!

I like Lowry but I think Nash still is a better PG. But neck to neck comparing to Westbrook, and definitely better than Monta Ellis.

If you can say Varejao is a level behind these guys then you obviously haven't seen him play recently. I posted some of his stats earlier but I wasn't saying that was the only reason he deserved to be an all star. He deserves just as much credit as Kyrie Irving does for helping the Cavs go 8 and 12 to start the season. If you don't believe me just look up some of the highlights from the Cavs last few games against the Celtics and then tell me Varejao is a level behind. Hibbert and Chandler are having solid seasons but not all star seasons.Doc Rivers on Anderson: http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/02/doc-rivers-anderson-varejao-is-an-all-star/

Doc Rivers is stupid if he truly believes that. But it's obvious he was rather complementing his game after the game against Cavs. No need to go distance taking his words too seriously. Varejao may do the stuff that might not show up on the stats sheet sorta like Battier, but that's the only case he has. His stats are not as impressive as Hibbert or Noah. Forget Chandler because he's up there with Wilt. A level behind and Varejao is on the worst team out of all those guys. So tell me where Varejao really stands out compared to those others. Here's his stats.

I realize the past few years Varejao hasn't been at All Star level. He was more of a Shane Battier type player as you said earlier. However this year he is playing at an all-star level. Also since you want to bring stats into this, Varejao is 4th in the league in rebounding behind Howard(all start starter), Love(west), and Bynum(west) and is also averaging over 10 points a game. And if you don't think Doc Rivers really meant that Andy was an all-star then look at some of these articles.(http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1049954-anderson-varejao-is-a-keeper-for-the-cleveland-cavaliers,http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/2012/01/anderson-varejao-all-star/,http://www.stepienrules.com/2012-articles/january/anderson-varejao-all-star.html,http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1051360-anderson-varejao-is-the-nbas-most-valuable-role-player) Obviously I'm not the only one who feels he should be an all star and I'm not saying he will be. However he is the only center in the east besides Howard who is playing at an all star level.

I'm fine with those starters, I'd say at least 7 or 8 of the players should be the starters based on their performance this season and they're obviously people want to see at the All-Star game. Melo I think you could argue against a little and Bynum's kind of become an All-Star starter by default, due to the lack of quality centres in the league at the moment. I think Blake's a decent enough choice, he's averaging around 21 and 11, is a rising star and he's exciting to watch. I have no problem with that selection.

As far as the reserves, I'd go with Chris Bosh, Danny Granger, Rajon Rondo, Andre Iguodala, Amar'e Stoudemire, Deron Williams and Roy Hibbert in the East; Russell Westbrook, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry and LaMarcus Aldridge. Other names I'd throw out there would be Paul Millsap, Ricky Rubio (solid numbers, standout rookie, just the kind of player that can make an All-Star game exciting), Kevin Martin, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce. I have a feeling they'll miss the cut though, with Rubio having the best chance (and probably making it over Lowry if he does).

If Thibs ends up being the East teams coach, Deng will probably make it to reserves...

I would love to see Lowry in the All-Star Game, it'd be nice to have an All-Star from the Rockets again. However, since it is more about the highlights, I think Rubio will most likely make the cut over him. Lowry just doesn't produce as good jaw-dropping highlights as Rubio. Lowry has the all-around numbers, and if that's what most coaches look at, he will probably make it.

Can't really argue with the All-Star starters. I didn't vote this year (thanks to a shortage of time), but with the exception of Melo (and possibly Bynum), I probably would have voted for those players. Assuming I didn't go homer and pick all Rockets players.

If Thibs ends up being the East teams coach, Deng will probably make it to reserves...

Deng might make it if he can return soon, but Thibs coaching the East won't have anything to do with it. The coaches pick the reserves and you can't vote for your own players, if I recall correctly.