As everyone knows, the All-Star reserves were announced today, and no Cavs’ players were on the list. This should surprise absolutely no one. Mo was the only real possibility in terms of how the people making the selections think. Shaq doesn’t play enough minutes to qualify in most people’s minds, and it’s not as if there’s anyone else on our roster who could’ve slid in on the fan vote.
People in Cleveland, I’m sure, are up in arms about this situation. Their argument is always that the Cavs have the best record in the league, and the teams with the top records have to have some of the best players. Therefore, by definition, multiple All-Stars should be coming off the Cavs’ roster automatically.
The whole situation is worsened in their minds by the fact that two of the three teams below the Cavs in the East (but still seen as contenders) all have at least two players going to Dallas. The Hawks are sending Joe Johnson and Al Horford, and the Celtics are sending Garnett as a starter (fan vote) and both Pierce and Rondo as reserves.
Da-wight, of course, is the only Orlando player with a ticket, even though the Magic are only percentage points below the Hawks in the Southeast division and have both superior in-conference and in-division records. But no one wants to mention that.
Here’s the thing: the All-Star selection process is bogus. As much as I disagree with the final decision on some of the fan votes, those are the rules that are in place. If people want to see Iverson play in the All-Star game even though he’s arguably the worst “great” player in NBA history, then they have a right to that until the rules change. Shaq came in second to Da-wight in the fan vote for centers, even though he’s only averaging 23 minutes a game. If he’d gotten in somehow I’m sure Andrea Bargnani fans everywhere would have been appalled, and they would be making the same argument that some Cavs fans are making about Mo’s “snub.”
The bigger problem is the coaches’ vote. Here is a group of guys, who, in theory should really understand the game enough to pick the true stand-out players — even if they’re not the guys who are the best-known to the casual fan. Yet here are the East reserves:
Joe Johnson, G, Atlanta: 4-time All-Star
Rajon Rondo, G, Boston: 1st-time All-Star
Derrick Rose, G, Chicago: 1st-time All-Star
Paul Pierce, F, Boston: 8-time All-Star
Gerald Wallace, F, Charlotte: 1st-time All-Star
Chris Bosh, F, Toronto: 5-time All-Star
Al Horford, C, Atlanta: 1st-time All-Star
You could look at this list one way and say, “Wow, the coaches were really open-minded. They selected 3 of 7 players to be first-time All-Stars.” But any kind of measured analysis immediately makes that idea crumble—even if it’s just as basic as regularizing scoring, rebounding, and assists by looking at per-36 minute numbers rather than the infamous per game numbers.
Take Derrick Rose. All of his per-36 min numbers are basically identical to last season’s, with the exception of his scoring. In fact, his FT%, rebounds, and assists, are all down while his TOs have risen. Yet, this season he’s suddenly All-Star quality for some intangible reason.
Meanwhile, both David Lee (19.2 pts and 11.2 TRB per 36 min) and Andrew Bogut (17.4 pts and 11.1 TRB per 36 min) demolish Al Horford (14.2 pts and 10.2 TRB per 36 min) at Center. Yet because Horford is on a supposed contender, he apparently gets in. Hell, Horford isn’t even the best big man ON HIS OWN TEAM, but God forbid the coaches pay attention to Josh Smith, who only scores, assists, blocks, and steals light years better than Horford with only a 1.1 rebound per 36 difference.
If I tried to break down the primary stats for each one of these guys, along with a player or two at each position who should be in in All-Star jersey instead, I’d be here all night. Suffice it to say that I have no problem whatsoever with Rondo, who is a beast, or Gerald Wallace. I can even accept Bosh.
But the rest of the players selected seem to be dictated more by highlight reel plays and/or their team’s record than by individual performance. Which means that the same group-think mentality that riles me up when it comes to fans and media pundits actually permeates the coaching ranks too.
The Wages of Wins Journal is currently making essentially the same argument right now, but through the lens of the selections for the Rookie / Sophomore Game instead of the All-Star game. They go much more in-depth about it than I have the time or energy to tonight.
Once you’ve read their post, though, kick back and accept that the process is flawed. More importantly, recognize that the true beauty of the game is that the snubbed players will have an opportunity to prove to the world just how wrong the fans and the coaches were when they play these All-Star’s actual teams in the second half of the season and the playoffs. Until then, everything else is just noise.
-T
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