...then it helps us in cap space. Not saying I want him to miss the team (dude has earned it and more!) but there is a bright side to look at it no matter what happens.
Curry, Westbrook, Paul and Thompson are probably all locks for the All-NBA guard spots. That leaves two spots for Lillard, Lowry, Wall, Harden and Butler. I'd probably go with Lillard and Lowry, but I could see voters going for any two of those five (though Wall is probably least likely). Butler probably also is at a disadvantage due to missing games.
Because the MVP award has always had a different flavor to voters, some mix of "lead dog" and "how much the player mattered to their team" as opposed to just a straight list of best players. Thompson falls behind by those metrics, but I think his mix of offense and defense will assure him of a spot. I could, of course, be wrong.
He's a better two way player. But Lillard makes everyone around him better on and off the court. If you build a team, Lillard comes before Thompson and I don't know anyone who would disagree with that.
First team Curry Westbrook Second Paul Klay third Lillard Lowry Where am I off? How is that doubtful?
My doubtful was in response to Denny saying that Lillard could be left off since there are a lot of good PGs. I said all PGs could make the team (instead of SGs) if they wanted. So read the thread first than post man!
I could see Lillard on the second or third team. As a Blazer fan it seems preposterous to leave him off the all NBA team, as it did the All Star team, but there are great arguements to be made by about 9 guards for 6 spots... even though none of them were pretty much the catalyst for the a team overachieving by almost 20 wins except lillard.
