G Damian Lillard, F LaMarcus Aldridge selected as All-Star reserves!

It's the East. Does anyone think Johnson or Stephenson should even be in All-Star consideration in a real conference?

As a side note, Joe Johnson is probably the worst 6-time AS in NBA history.

 

I think it has more to do with the Pacers being the best team in the NBA this season

 

But that's the point isn't it? It's the east. I'm sure no one would give two shits if both guys played in the West.

 

I think Stephenson is an alstar this season in the east, don't think he'd make it in the west.

 

The Thunder are the best team in the NBA this season.

 

That wasn't my question, though.

 

That should be what Chuck and the crew are talking about. How crappy the East is, and how guys from the West like Davis/Dragic/Cousins actually should be in ahead of the bottom 3 slugs from the East.

 

Because of Indiana's schedule?

Idk. I think their defense is ridiculous and the offensive has a good starting 5. They have a legit chance to beat the Heat this year.

 

They wouldn't be 35-9 playing 2/3 of their games against the West, IMO. OKC is 37-10, and has been missing one of their 2 AS players for a month. This is why I find the entire "Stephenson wuz robbed" debate to be a bit overdramatic.

 

I think they're good enough that it doesn't really matter.

As far as all-star talk, two guys I mentioned tonight having big games.

Goran Dragic - 23pts/6ast on 9-15 shooting

Lance Stephenson - 14pts/10reb/8ast on 6-11 shooting

 

I've watched Indy a few times this year, and I wasn't that impressed. They're a good team, but I don't put George on the same level as Durant or LeBron. Maybe one day but not right now. That team would be middle of the pack in the west. That's why they don't deserve three All-Stars imo.

 

I think they're a better version of Memphis (last year)

 

They have a better win % without Westbrick. Makes me wonder how important he really is to that team, or if he just gets in Durants way.

 

Not much.

Yes.

Back when Durant was more of a chucker, I wouldn't have said yes. But unlike Westbrook, Durant has steadily improved to the point where you just need a point guard who doesn't shit the bed.

 

Westbrook is missed in a 7-game series because you can't plan to stop him for 7 games. That was pretty much proven last year in the playoffs, IMO. You take the good with the bad with Westbrook, but I don't think there is a coach in the NBA who would choose to have Reggie Jackson running that team over Durant over four 7-game series.

 

Kinda like he was for Kobe, I think Derek Fisher is the best PG for Durant. Get in the corner, get out of my way and give me the ball.

Reggie Jackson really isn't even a PG. By label maybe, but he's a shoot first guy.

 

Eh, maybe. I'm getting the Lebron in Cleveland vibe from OKC right now, where Durant needs superhuman games, and they pile up a bunch of regular season wins because of Durant's game and personality. In the playoffs, that recipe typically doesn't work w/out another elite scoring threat.

 

I've felt for a while that RW is getting in the way of Durant becoming the best player in the league, and we're seeing that right now. LeBron might be the best overall player in the league, but I still think Durant has that killer drive that Kobe and MJ and Bird had. LeBron isn't that guy. He's probably the best talent in the league, but Durant is the guy that would kill someone to get the win. Westbrook was getting in the way of Durant fully realizing his potential. If you put Chris Paul on that team, might as well just pencil them in for the championship. It's too bad OKC (for them) that they didn't deal RW for Paul a couple years ago. Paul, Harden, and Durant would have been an epic team, and still very young.

 

Triple-double for Lance Stephenson

 

14 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds, 5 turnovers. Very Batum-like.

Sorry, I just find humor in you championing a guy who plays almost identical to the guy that drives you nuts.