I'd replace Pierce. Pierce is putting up good numbers, but the Celtics are tanking. Pierce has been the only option on his team for almost the entire year, and he still hasn't improved his numbers much. Its really hard to agrue against anyone except Magloire, but they have to have a backup center.
As a guard he can technically only replace Kidd, Davis, or Redd. Kidd's spot is automatic. Davis has seriously trailed off over the past month (although he's also missed about two week's worth of games), but for the first two months of the season, he was playing better basketball than anyone else, and his team dominated the East standings. Someone who shoots 39%/30% deserves criticism, but when you really think about it, few point guards (for size purposes I'm including Iverson) do shoot well. By the end of the year, Baron Davis would probably at best make 2nd-Team All-NBA (and I doubt that), but we're only ~50 games in, and right now 23/8/4/2.5 is really damn good. Redd and LeBron would be a coin flip for me, to be honest. LeBron's overall numbers are better (although there's no question that Redd is the more proficient scorer), but Redd is the first option on a 26-21 team that isn't any more talented than the Cavs. Balances it out. Anyway, I don't have a problem with LeBron not being there. When you really think about it, it's not really an outrage for him to not make it, because there's technically only 3 slots for a position that's heavily stacked.
The Redd debate is over with, we worse that out like a cheap whore, there are many other players on this roster that Bron could have replaced. I wish I had Steven Smith's list of 7 guys he would take over James, that would be nice.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">but Redd is the first option on a 26-21 team that isn't any more talented than the Cavs. Balances it out.</div> I take it you did not see me post the Cavs records before the trades were made. Fact is, the Cavs I would say have been better than the Bucks since the Davis trade. Who wants to look that up?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post"> Although Pierce could be the guy as well instead of Baron</div> I don't see how anyone could pick Lebron over Paul Pierce, but to me that point isn't worth arguing if it isn't already obvious. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Marbury isn't a chucker, his shot selection has improved a lot since his early years in the NBA, turned into a pass first guy instead of thinking score every time down the floor.</div> What are you basing that statment on? His fg%? Oh wait, that's been fairly consistant throughout his career. Increased assists? Nah, he was already averaging 9 assists in his 3rd year. With Marbury, you can't base his game on his stats, but anyone watching him play will tell you that he is still a shoot first pg. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allen Iverson does so much for his team and I don't quailfy him as a chucker, he has the biggest heart in the league, attacks the rim even when suffering with injuries, there aren't many guys who go all out for their team than AI</div> AI's acheivements and "heart" are often blown out of proportion because of his size. If Baron Davis was 5'11" (don't believe AI's listed height) you would be saying the same thing about him. I don't really buy that argument. Besides, there are plenty of guys who do all that AI does, minus the controversy and tatoos. There is such a thing as a quiet leader (look at the guy in your sig). <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">People sometimes need to realise stats aren't everything.</div> What does that have to do with anything that I said?
Bucks did beat the Cavs recently while winning 7 out of their 11 games I believe. It's going a bit too far saying Cavs have been the better team in that strench. The best 5 teams so far in the east are currently the top 5 seeds There shouldn't be any debate about that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What are you basing that statment on? His fg%? Oh wait, that's been fairly consistant throughout his career. Increased assists? Nah, he was already averaging 9 assists in his 3rd year. With Marbury, you can't base his game on his stats, but anyone watching him play will tell you that he is still a shoot first pg. </div> His season so far with the Knicks is what I'm basing this on, He has looked more for his team-mates than his shot many times this season. With Houston out his mind set may have to be changed for the Knicks to keep on winning.Anyone watching him play will say he is still a shoot first PG uh? I have certainly no got that impression watching the Knicks this season. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AI's acheivements and "heart" are often blown out of proportion because of his size. If Baron Davis was 5'11" (don't believe AI's listed height) you would be saying the same thing about him. I don't really buy that argument. Besides, there are plenty of guys who do all that AI does, minus the controversy and tatoos. There is such a thing as a quiet leader (look at the guy in your sig).</div> Not about his size, It's his competive nature, he is always playing hard every single minute, diving for loose balls ,going through the middle no matter what big guy in guarding the paint, something Baron Davis certainly doesn't do enough of, his overall energy is amazing for what he doe night in night out, maxed out minutes but still manages to get on with the job in hand, has had to play through plenty of injuries throughout his career. I respect him for that alone. Watching Baron I don't feel he does the same. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What does that have to do with anything that I said?</div> Wasn't just directed at you, but the public in general. They look at a players stats and get the wrong impression. Stats don't always tell the full story about a player or how he fits that team. Many factors are beyond stats.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">LeBron over Magloire. If the NBA wants a mandatory two centers per team, then the East squad should find a way to move players around to satisfy the league and make room for LeBron on the roster. Why not qualify Jermaine O'Neal as the other center? Or worst case scenario make K-Mart the backup center. Magloire is not having an All Star year, not even close, and he should not be given a spot by default. *I don't have a problem with Pierce and Davis being in it, after all they are L.A. natives!</div> Good point. Besides, K-mart has been in the C position for the Nets when their C's were down with injuries.
Only time will tell with these Cavs, it's unfair to knock them now because this is not the same team that with Davis and Miles. We also can't praise them too highly because they have to keep playing at this level for a little longer.
First off, can we please stop voting for Magloire? I don't think that anyone will come on here and try to defend him, so it really gets us nowhere. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">His season so far with the Knicks is what I'm basing this on, He has looked more for his team-mates than his shot many times this season. With Houston out his mind set may have to be changed for the Knicks to keep on winning.Anyone watching him play will say he is still a shoot first PG uh? I have certainly no got that impression watching the Knicks this season.</div> I guess that's true, but not really logical. I wouldn't make an opinion about a player over 15 games, when they have proven otherwise for the 8 prior years of their NBA career. But I see where you are coming from, I'm just skeptical. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not about his size, It's his competive nature, he is always playing hard every single minute, diving for loose balls ,going through the middle no matter what big guy in guarding the paint, something Baron Davis certainly doesn't do enough of, his overall energy is amazing for what he doe night in night out, maxed out minutes but still manages to get on with the job in hand, has had to play through plenty of injuries throughout his career. I respect him for that alone. Watching Baron I don't feel he does the same.</div> I dunno, I just wouldn't pick Lebron over Davis, that's me. As far as leadership goes, I would pick him over Tmac in a second. And that's a damn shame, Tmac should be ashamed of himself. Wasn't just directed at you, but the public in general. They look at a players stats and get the wrong impression. Stats don't always tell the full story about a player or how he fits that team. Many factors are beyond stats.[/QUOTE]
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess that's true, but not really logical. I wouldn't make an opinion about a player over 15 games, when they have proven otherwise for the 8 prior years of their NBA career. But I see where you are coming from, I'm just skeptical.</div> I can only judge what I have seen this season, I havn't managed to catch many Suns games when Marbury was there (This year of course) but in the limited games I managed to catch he looked like a guy more focused on getting the ball to his team-mates then seeing if there was an option with his offense. His time with the Knicks although has been limited has averaged over 11 assists I believe for the most part of his time there, While scoring around 17/18 points per game. That says to me he has been looking to his team-mates before his own personal scoring production. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I dunno, I just wouldn't pick Lebron over Davis, that's me. As far as leadership goes, I would pick him over Tmac in a second. And that's a damn shame, Tmac should be ashamed of himself.</div> I'm not totally sure of it either, Baron is just a guy that comes to mind that Lebron has been very close to this season. The question was who would you pick for Lebron to replace Baron Davis was the logical choice for me.
Someone mentioned today on ESPN that James is one of just 5 players to be doing 20, 5, and 5. I may be wrong, but I bet the other 4 are in the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not a knock on a player like Redd, Pierce, or Magloire. James has just hands down been better, more popular, and has had more of an impact that those 3 this season. You want to compare Redd to someone? Think about his twin brother, Allan Houston, and he has never been an All-Star despite appearing in 22 career NBA Playoff games, averaging 20.9 ppg in those games. Or ask the Bucks if they would be interested in a trade, James for Redd, sure they would reject that one Sorry mate, just had to go there, he is just a younger Allan Houston. James does so much more, people just ignore assists numbers again too.</div> LeBron would be accepted in a trade for almost anyone in the league, because he's an 18 year old megastar in the making. That is a distorted argument and you know it. And what difference does it make if you think he's like Allan Houston? (which he isn't by a long shot). Bottom line is he's been the centrepiece of a winning team ALL season, on a roster which was predicted by the same 'experts' you keep bringing up to be right down the bottom of the league. Of course LeBron has had a bigger impact than just about any guy this year; not surprising considering he's an 18 year old number one pick going to what was the worst team in the league last year. I love what he's doing this year, and I know he'll be an All Star the rest of his career. However he has not been 'hands down better' than Pierce and Redd this season, he has been on par and he was the one that missed out. It happens - if you want to look for conspiracies and so on fine, but don't do it by questioning the rights of other All Stars like Redd and Pierce who deserve to be there. And to use your example, ask the Bucks if they'd trade Redd for Houston if the salaries matched. They'd laugh in your face.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Lets see if we can name them Tracy Mcgrady Ray Allen Lebron James Who am I missing?</div> Pierce is another one, and yup they're all in the All Star game. Must be a hate campaign against LeBron here.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Must be a hate campaign against LeBron here.</div> Na, it's called the NBA trying to cash in on the first ever all star Friday action.
i think LBJ (along with Melo) should make the all star teams because it's gonna put crazy hype to the game and it's gonna be like millions times more worth watching than the teams with current roster... i'll go to this kicks2001 store, pretend to look for sth there, and watch the game there... i think LBJ (along with Melo) should NOT make the all star teams because this way they would not easily be content with the way they are playing now... IF by being selected to the teams makes them content and they don't improve in the next years this is only going to be a BIG disappointment to all of us and this is long-term and bigger damage than a short, one-weekend of fame, success and recognition. But, that's a big IF, I do not think rare players like them (esp. LeBron) cannot handle this, they've handled being on the top so well, I don't think being selected to the all star is going to have negative impacts on their careers. Final Shoutout: Melo and LeBron, you guys MUST put career averages of 30 pts, 8 rbds, and 7 assists each and I'm gonna love this game for eternity and bring my cable TV to my graveyard!
LeBron next on All-Star waiting list? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Someone is going to pull out of the All-Star Game with an injury. Someone always does. This disclaimer comes up now as a warning, because if that someone is an Eastern Conference guard or forward, guess what? The hubbub surrounding LeBron James' All-Star snub? It would only be just starting. Let's say Ron Artest's thumb injury worsens. Or Allen Iverson keeps getting knocked to the floor every night trying to carry his going-nowhere team. Or something totally unforseen happens in the next week. Commissioner David Stern would then have a difficult decision to make. A. Pick LeBron to replace the injured East guard or forward ... and endure a torrent of criticism for what will inevitably be seen as throwing the kid onto the big stage in the interest of better TV ratings. B. Or hold LeBron out on the ridiculously outdated premise that he's a rookie and hasn't put enough time in to be selected.</div> <font size="1"><font color="SlateGray">Don't wave goodbye to an All-Star spot yet, LeBron.</font></font> Full Story
