The Los Angeles Clippers aren’t very good,
neither are the New York Knicks. That’s no reason to leave their best players off the All-Star team because Chris Kaman and David Lee can’t be blamed for their teams’ failures, especially considering they’re having career years.
Granted, Kaman ended up with a spot on the Western Conference squad, but that only came as a replacement for the injured Brandon Roy. It shouldn’t have come down to that. Kaman was clearly more deserving than Pau Gasol, voted as a West reserve even though he’s missed about a third of the season and has the lowest scoring average of his career. His selection solely came on the basis that the Lakers are leading the West, and Kaman was left off simply because the Clippers again find themselves with a losing record.
As important as Gasol has been to the Lakers’ success, it’s hard to argue he has been more valuable than Kaman has been to the Clippers. When Kaman has been out, the Clips have gone 0-6, compared to the Lakers going 11-6 without Gasol. Besides averaging a career-high 20.1 points –three better than Gasol – Kaman does at least just as good a job defensively and on the boards.
While it’s hard to say Gasol has been any more important to the Lakers than Andrew Bynum, Kaman has become the Clippers’ top player.
Still, Lee’s omission from the All-Star game might be considered an even bigger snub. Atlanta’s Al Horford was voted as an Eastern Conference reserve instead of Lee despite having significantly lower scoring, rebounding and assist averages. The reason is similarly unfair as to why Kaman was left out – Horford is playing on a team having a strong season and Lee isn’t. Also like the Gasol-Kaman case, Horford is far from the biggest reason his team has a great record and Lee may be considered the key to his team being anywhere near the playoff picture.
Lee is one of only five players in the league with at least 30 double-doubles and the other four are all All-Stars – Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash and Zach Randolph. Horford entered the second week of February with only 19.
Lee is averaging a career-best 19.9 points, about six more than Horford, and his 11.5 rebounds per game are about two better than the Hawks’ third-year player. Plus, Lee has developed into a very good passing big man, leading all centers with 3.5 assists per game. Granted, Horford is the better defensive player. But regardless of how good a defender he is, an All-Star should at least be a regular double-figure scorer, and Horford isn’t – Lee is.
The argument that Horford was listed as a center on All-Star ballots while Lee was listed as a forward simply doesn’t hold water. Yes, there had to be one backup center on the East behind starter Dwight Howard and voters looked to Horford even though Lee is clearly New York’s starting center, generally playing alongside two small forwards - and always guarding the opposing center.
The MVP race usually only includes players on elite teams, and rightfully so. But with 24 All-Star spots available, the selection process shouldn’t involve overly favoring players from top teams. That’s just what happened this season, and it’s why Kaman and Lee were overlooked when the All-Star reserves were voted upon. While it turns out Kaman will be appearing in the All-Star game – only thanks to an injury – there is no good reason Lee won’t be there with him.
neither are the New York Knicks. That’s no reason to leave their best players off the All-Star team because Chris Kaman and David Lee can’t be blamed for their teams’ failures, especially considering they’re having career years.Granted, Kaman ended up with a spot on the Western Conference squad, but that only came as a replacement for the injured Brandon Roy. It shouldn’t have come down to that. Kaman was clearly more deserving than Pau Gasol, voted as a West reserve even though he’s missed about a third of the season and has the lowest scoring average of his career. His selection solely came on the basis that the Lakers are leading the West, and Kaman was left off simply because the Clippers again find themselves with a losing record.
As important as Gasol has been to the Lakers’ success, it’s hard to argue he has been more valuable than Kaman has been to the Clippers. When Kaman has been out, the Clips have gone 0-6, compared to the Lakers going 11-6 without Gasol. Besides averaging a career-high 20.1 points –three better than Gasol – Kaman does at least just as good a job defensively and on the boards.
While it’s hard to say Gasol has been any more important to the Lakers than Andrew Bynum, Kaman has become the Clippers’ top player.
Still, Lee’s omission from the All-Star game might be considered an even bigger snub. Atlanta’s Al Horford was voted as an Eastern Conference reserve instead of Lee despite having significantly lower scoring, rebounding and assist averages. The reason is similarly unfair as to why Kaman was left out – Horford is playing on a team having a strong season and Lee isn’t. Also like the Gasol-Kaman case, Horford is far from the biggest reason his team has a great record and Lee may be considered the key to his team being anywhere near the playoff picture.
Lee is one of only five players in the league with at least 30 double-doubles and the other four are all All-Stars – Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Steve Nash and Zach Randolph. Horford entered the second week of February with only 19.
Lee is averaging a career-best 19.9 points, about six more than Horford, and his 11.5 rebounds per game are about two better than the Hawks’ third-year player. Plus, Lee has developed into a very good passing big man, leading all centers with 3.5 assists per game. Granted, Horford is the better defensive player. But regardless of how good a defender he is, an All-Star should at least be a regular double-figure scorer, and Horford isn’t – Lee is.
The argument that Horford was listed as a center on All-Star ballots while Lee was listed as a forward simply doesn’t hold water. Yes, there had to be one backup center on the East behind starter Dwight Howard and voters looked to Horford even though Lee is clearly New York’s starting center, generally playing alongside two small forwards - and always guarding the opposing center.
The MVP race usually only includes players on elite teams, and rightfully so. But with 24 All-Star spots available, the selection process shouldn’t involve overly favoring players from top teams. That’s just what happened this season, and it’s why Kaman and Lee were overlooked when the All-Star reserves were voted upon. While it turns out Kaman will be appearing in the All-Star game – only thanks to an injury – there is no good reason Lee won’t be there with him.
