Basketball from a fans perspective
Part Deux
I have the numbers now and can make a more accurate assessment of All-Star voting. In the Western Conference back-court Steph Curry and James Harden were selected as starters. As for the raw count NBA fans are the culprit, to refresh your memory fans had 50% stake, players 25% and media 25%. Consider this little tidbit of information media members and fellow NBA players placed Westbrook at the top of their list. NBA fans voted Curry 1,848,121, Haden 1, 771,375 and Russell 1,575,865.
All-Star connection
Frank read my comment regarding Russell Westbrook and asked me the question. “Has an MVP had ever been a non-starter for the All-Star game?” The process for selecting All-Stars’ has changed over the years however it’s occurred eight times in history. I located this information on quora.com a question-and-answer site. In addition I spot checked several portions on NBA.com.
1956 - Bob Pettit [1956 NBA All-Star Game Box Score] The eventual started on the bench. He did go on to play the most minutes of any player in the game.
1961 - Bill Russell [1961 NBA All-Star Game Box Score] In Bill Russell's second MVP season he started on the bench behind some guy named Wilt Chamberlain.
1962 - Bill Russell [1962 NBA All-Star Game Box Score] Apparently being an MVP incumbent did nothing for Russell's credibility. He played behind Wilt again!
1969 - Wes Unseld [1969 NBA All-Star Game Box Score] In a fun turn of events, it was now Bill Russell starting in front of a future MVPer.
From 1975 on, we have voting records, huzzah!
1977 - Kareem Abdul Jabbar [1977 NBA All-Star Game Voting] Kareem started behind a more popular Dan Issel. By voting strength he was the 6th most popular player out west though.
1982 - Moses Malone [1982 NBA All-Star Game Voting] Like Russell before him, Kareen went from being snubee to snubber. Of course, Malone was still only the 8th most popular westerner.
1995 - David Robinson [1995 NBA All-Star Game Voting] - Robinson earned the second most votes out west, but sat behind the reigning MVP -- Hakeem Olajuwon. Of course, even after winning his MVP, Robinson would lose in the playoffs to the Dream, who went on to earn his second title. And to add insult to injury, the Admiral lost his starting spot to Hakeem in the 1996 All-Star game as well, by a larger margin!
2005 - Steve Nash [2005 NBA All-Star Game Voting] - Nash was the 6th most popular player out west. He was far behind in voting for the guard position compared to Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. The next season he'd go on to start in the All-Star game, it helped that McGrady, who was still more popular, was moved to the forward position.”
www.quora.com
How the mighty have fallen
Bleacher Report contains a section rating NBA centers at the half-way point of the season. I believe until recently Anthony Davis was at the power forward, they have him listed as a center and number one in the NBA. I’ve got no argument with his production but question is he really a center? They have a true center (Cousins) listed in second place.
As for the headline Dwight Howard of the Hawks was rated number 12. The 12th best center in the NBA, at one time Howard was rated the number two or number three center at points in his career. It’s clear the Superman image Howard once claimed is long gone; Howard’s numbers are certainly above average but nowhere near the dominance once exhibited. How far the fall is is for Howard, Sixer center Joel Embiid yet to complete his first season in the NBA is rated ahead of Howard.
Do what you do best
Jamie Foxx is a good actor, how good you ask? He was able to give an Academy Award performance for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the movie Ray. Foxx is also free to voice his opinion; I am also free to offer a rebuttal to his opinion. Appearing on ESPN a discussion centered on the best six players all-time in the NBA. Foxx said; “Kobe Bryant’s name should be left off the list because he wasn’t a team player.”
I realize we travel in different social and business circles, perhaps Foxx has first hand information regarding Kobe I’m not privy too I’ll give him that. How about this for a rebuttal, other than the movie Ray I don’t believe Foxx has distinguished himself in any other movie or television role I‘ve seen. There I’m making a judgment too without any background same as you Jamie. Although I don’t believe you are a particularly great actor I believe you should do what you know acting. Your celebrity status allows you to offer your view of Kobe Bryant which is okay, a smaller number of folks will read this but there I said it.
Shooting it good
I’m always complaining about poor free-throw shooting, how about the good ones‘? The NCAA Division I leader is Matt Harris UMass-Lowell River; he’s shooting 94.8% from the line. Unfamiliar with Harris I wanted to ensure he was on the line an adequate number of times, as this is written he’s 55-58 from the line. In the NBA the leader is the Pacers Paul George at 92.8%. I just witnessed a college game that could have been closed out if the player had only sunk his free-throw. He hit the first one and bricked the second; the game is now in OT.
