Marc Stein's all-star selections

[Matt]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2317012

his bench is....

WEST:
Tony Parker
Chris Paul
Dirk Nowitzki
Shawn Marion
Pau Gasol
Elton Brand
Kevin Garnett


EAST:
Chauncey Billups
RIP
Dwight Howard
Chris Bosh
Ben Wallace
Michael Redd
Vince Carter

Instead of the Redd, i'd have & Pierce. Sure Boston suck ass, but Pierce has been brilliant and it's not like Milwaukee are lighting it up either. Gilbert Arenas gets left out, tough to snub Carter given that his high play has usually meant a W for Nets and he's carried the thin Nets well. Wizards are just plain bad.

[Abctest123]

as you said, id probably take redd out even though he is having a great season, for pierce. however, i dont think arenas should be left out, but once again, those were great selections so i have no one i can really take out for gilbert.

[iG®]

Now, I'm sure that a place for Kidd is there somewhere.

[John WB]

Not bad. I don't think CP3'll make it because he's a rookie though.

[Andrew]

Sound like solid picks to me.

[dada]

I dont mind Redd on the list, he has been having a decent year.

Good enough picks.

[Fitzy]

sound like good enough picks

[Matthew]

Chris Paul ahead of Carmelo?I dont think so..

[Mikki]

Chris Paul ahead of Carmelo?I dont think so..

Yeah, that's the only flaw for the West IMO. CP3 has been playing real good but Carmelo deserves it more. (Though that would leave the West with only 1 guard with Tony Parker). In the East though, I think Bosh and Redd need to be removed to give space for Pierce and Rasheed.

[Andrew]

I forgot all about Carmelo, though the criteria of positions does explain the snub. Looking over the list again I feel you could probably place Bosh ahead of Howard.

[Matthew]

Since when has there been a position criteria for the bench though?

Looking over the list again I feel you could probably place Bosh ahead of Howard

I'd also take Rasheed over Dwight Howard. I know Howard is one of the more explosive dunkers, but that doesnt mean he's an all star. Lets compare the pair
Howard: 15 ppg, 12.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.84 spg, 1.58 bpg
Rasheed: 15 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.59 bpg

Very similar numbers, but Rasheed has been a catylist for the Pistons record, surely that means somthing? I'd much rather watch wallace go up against the likes of Duncan, KG, Brand etc than Howard who has accomplished nothing.

[Andrew]

Since when has there been a position criteria for the bench though?

The coaches need to select two guards, two forward and a centre just like the fans, plus two players of any position. It's always been that way.

[hipn]

BOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matthew]

Well why not have KG as Yao's replacement as starter, then have this bench:
Marion
Brand
Camby
Parker
Allen
Melo
Dirk

[Andrew]

Yao's expected to play though, since he just returned recently.

[Matthew]

I hate Yao. Theres no way he deserves to play ahead of Melo

[maes]

He's right on all counts except for the typical temptation to vote for every single player on this year's best team (Hamilton better than Kidd, Carter, Redd, Pierce, and Arenas? Pleeeease.).

Even when the Bulls systematically destroyed the rest of the league during the 90s, only MJ & Pippen were selected.

[Colin]

He's right on all counts except for the typical temptation to vote for every single player on this year's best team (Hamilton better than Kidd, Carter, Redd, Pierce, and Arenas? Pleeeease.).

Even when the Bulls systematically destroyed the rest of the league during the 90s, only MJ & Pippen were selected.

Well I agree with you on the first count, that's a pretty crappy comparison. Chicago was MJ and Pip. No one talked about them as the team with role players that banded together. Or as the team greater than the sum of their parts.

[Matt]

He's right on all counts except for the typical temptation to vote for every single player on this year's best team (Hamilton better than Kidd, Carter, Redd, Pierce, and Arenas? Pleeeease

Hamilton's getting a nice 21+ppg on 50% shooting which is more efficient than any of these guys. He's also a better defender than Carter, Redd or Arenas and he's on a team that is way way way ahead of any team these guys play on. Make no mistake, he is just as much responsible for the Pistons record as is Billups.

[magius]

I'd prefer a guy that is average or even shit but knows how to make the crowd go over these lames

screw rip, lame ass boring player. iguodala should play instead... or nate robinson. fuck everything else, he booooring. go awaaay. lamer. rip hamilton?! eeeeeew. puke, puke.



seriously, rip should be at least on the bench if not a starter.

[Matt]

hey man, can't hate THE MASK!!!!!!!
Actually, i wouldn't mind Iggy, sure he's not exactly All-Star material yet, but he'd look nice on the end of a Billups/Wade/Kidd pass.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Good to finally see Gasol in there. If he has a 25+ point night tonight, he will boost his scoring average to 20ppg and if he can grab enough rebounds he'll be at the 10rpg mark. So he will be one of the few players averaging 20 and 10 and that will probably guarentee him a spot on the roster.

[fgrep15]

Very nice picks. In the West, their'll be like 5 forwards, one ranked as a C, and the 2 extra spots also going to forwards, they're just so stacked. I also like that he took Paul over Allen and Baron, I hope he doesn't get snubbed for them.

My East could be different though, I'd go:

EAST:
G - Chauncey Billups
G - Vince Carter
F - Paul Pierce
F - Chris Bosh
C - Ben Wallace
G - Rip Hamilton
G - Gilbert Arenas

Snub: Michael Redd

[maes]

Hamilton's getting a nice 21+ppg on 50% shooting which is more efficient than any of these guys. He's also a better defender than Carter, Redd or Arenas and he's on a team that is way way way ahead of any team these guys play on. Make no mistake, he is just as much responsible for the Pistons record as is Billups.

He's a catch & shooter, he runs his man through screens and then pops. All the guys mentioned above create their own plays, score unassisted when they have to.

50% FG is very nice, i respect accurate shooters as much as the next guy, but you do have to take into account if they're assisted or unassisted and not overestimate its importance.

Nocioni is shooting 48% from the 3 point line, Ray Allen is shooting 38%. I think it's safe to agree that Ray is a better shooter than Nocioni, and more valuable player (on offense).

I disagree the Pistons would run as well without Chauncey as without Hamilton. Chauncey is the playmaker. There are similarities IMHO between Billups & Kidd, and Hamilton & Jefferson. RJ is shooting 49% (close to Hamilton's) and scoring 19 ppg (again close to Hamilton), the Nets are totally dependent on Kidd but could survive without RJ.

[Matthew]

Why is Chris Paul such a good selection?