The Should and Should not Eastern All Star Reserves

Posted by Brandon LaChance  
February 4, 2010

The All Star team reserves were named last Thurday.  I took a week to evaluate every player just to make sure I  looked at all prospects with same time and desire to add or boot them from the team.

The value he brings as an individual, how the player affects his team’s chance to win and stats were the main things looked at.

There are always the issues of: he is over hyped, no one gets to watch him in the late night west coast games, he wouldn’t be as good without the star of the team and he is the awful guard/forward selected over the quality big low post threat.

I took those elements out of my selections.  The only two things getting you in the Bulls Home All Star reserve list is individual talent and how much you positively affect your team.  In this case,  no Gilbert Arenas.

First we’ll go who got in.  Then I’ll tell you if I agree or not.  If I don’t, I’ll say who should get the nod.  The process will be the exact same as the starting squad.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Derrick Rose- Thderrick_rosee first superstar caliber player the Bulls have had in 12 years, of course I agree.  I think he will be an absolute stub in this league.  In the near future, he will be battling with Rajon Rondo for the East’s starting point guard.  He is putting up huge numbers for his 2nd year in the league.  His 20 points a game put him at 21st in the league.  Rose is also helping his team out.  6 assists a game has him 14th in the league.  A little extra stat, out of the 13 players ahead of him on the assist list, only 2 have a better assist to turnover ratio.  AGREE

chris_bosh_wr11Chris Bosh- Bosh could have arguably been a starter.  I didn’t put him there, but he is definitely starter material.  His defense can be questionable but he can put up huge numbers on any night.  He dropped 44 a couple of weeks ago.  Bosh is 8th in the league with 24 ppg.  He is also a great re-bounder with 11.5 a game.  He is currently 5th in the league but the 15 he grabbed tonight could move him up the ladder.  AGREE

rajon-rondoRajon Rondo- He should be a starter.  Rondo is a great point guard on all aspects of the game of basketball.  He can steal, score, rebound and assist.  Boston picked up a true” old school” floor general.  Rondo puts up solid numbers on a team full of great talent: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace and Ray Allen.  He is 1st in the league in steals with 2.5 a game and 3rd in assists with 9.7.  .3 more and he would be averaging a double-double with the help of his 14 ppg.  AGREE

piercejosh-smithPaul Pierce- Pierce is a great player and a true Celtic Warrior, but I don’t think he should be an All Star.  He doesn’t really show up every game.  Don’t get me wrong, he is the true scoring threat on his team but doesn’t do much else.  DISAGREE Josh Smith is who I would replace him with.  Smith brings it every night.  Pierce averages 19 and Smith only 15 but Smith has him in almost everything else.  Smith gets 8 rebounds to Pierce’s 5 and 2.5 blocks a game to Pierce’s .4.  Smith is a high energy bring it to the whole guy while Pierce would rather shoot a mid-range jumper.  Smith scares people around the hoop.  Opponents know he is around to swat the ball into the bleachers or grab a rebound to clean up the garbage.

gerald_wallaceGERALD WALLACE- Wallace is an over looked stud.  He is the most underrated player in the game.  Yes, even over Joe Johnson.  People know Johnson can play, no one can remember Wallace from his days of sitting on the Sacramento King’s bench behind Peja and Doug Christie.  He plays both sides of the ball as well.  His 11 rebounds a game have him 7th in the league and he is in the top 25 in ppg with 19.  AGREE

joe-johnson1Joe Johnson- Johnson is the 2nd most underrated player in the NBA.  I like his game a lot.  He can hit a shot from basically anywhere on the court.  He contributes to his team with his defense and passing ability.  Johnson plays with a lot of heart and he has a killer mentality to him every night.  Not quite Kobe Bryant,  but still, killer.  The “mini killer” is 10th in the league with 22 ppg and in the top 25 with 5 assist a game.  Johnson is also shooting 36 % from long distance. AGREE

al 3noah 2Al Horford- I do not like this decision at all.  I think he is talented and maybe one day a star, but not All Star.  I think his team could survive without him.  He is almost averaging 10 rebounds a game but it isn’t good enough.  The baskets he makes for his 13 ppg are garbage buckets or free throws.  DISAGREE     Joakim Noah- I might be a Chicago Bull’s homer, but why not.  Noah is 2nd in the league with 12 rebounds a game and adds 11 points.  He is an effort guy, who puts his body on the court whenever it is needed.  He is also 11th in the league in blocks with almost 2 a game.  Noah should definitely be in before Horford.

Who do should be on a reserve on the Eastern Conference All Star team??

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