Boogie and that All Star slot
- Thread starter Bricklayer
- Start date
Those really aren't relevant in the end. Cousins was never going to get voted in with the starters. Fan voting is just dumb, but the league won't ever let it go because it serves a promotional purpose. So you just have to accept that the fans are going to be stupid, and move on. The key is the coaches picking the 7 reserves. And there its going to be very tight with Dirk still doing just enough to give them an excuse, with Anthony Davis playing for the All Star Game host city, with even old decrepit Duncan coming on a bit now. Cousins has to keep on trucking, and find a way to stay on the floor. Make it an historic snub if they are going to snub him. At 20-10 they can find an excuse. At 22-11 it gets tougher. At 24-11 it gets much talked and debated if they do it. Love and Aldridge are the only two bigs (Durant is also "frontcourt") ahead of him in scoring. They are at 23.2 and 23.7pts. Those would be good targets. Be the highest scoring big in the Western Conference at the turn and dare them to exclude you anyway.
As an interesting aside, I thought I'd look up the stats of the big men (PF/C) in the Western Conference currently scoring at least 15 points per game (12 total) and look at their per-36 ranks amongst themselves, in six categories (Points/36, Reb/36, Ast/36, Stl/36, Blk/36, FG%). Here is a result of the mean ranks of all 12 guys:
Cousins: 2.7
Davis: 4.5
Howard: 4.8
Griffin: 5.2
Nowitzki: 5.3
Love: 5.8
Aldridge: 6.0
M. Gasol: 7.2
Lee: 8.5
Randolph: 9.0
Pekovic: 9.2
R. Anderson: 9.8
Cousins is #1 in Points and Steals, #3 in Rebounds, Assists, and Blocks, and #5 in FG%. Cousins' worst rank is 5, only two other guys even average better than that.
Cousins is incredibly well-rounded for a big man - basically among the top big men in every single facet of the game. If those numbers continue, he would be a HUGE all-star snub were he to miss the game.
Cousins: 2.7
Davis: 4.5
Howard: 4.8
Griffin: 5.2
Nowitzki: 5.3
Love: 5.8
Aldridge: 6.0
M. Gasol: 7.2
Lee: 8.5
Randolph: 9.0
Pekovic: 9.2
R. Anderson: 9.8
Cousins is #1 in Points and Steals, #3 in Rebounds, Assists, and Blocks, and #5 in FG%. Cousins' worst rank is 5, only two other guys even average better than that.
Cousins is incredibly well-rounded for a big man - basically among the top big men in every single facet of the game. If those numbers continue, he would be a HUGE all-star snub were he to miss the game.
Jerry said in a recent game that if Cousins cut down the TOs and played better defense, he'd be the best in the league which prompted me to think to myself, who's better now?
These stats don't cover TOs or defense. I don't know how to measure defense although blocks and rebounds are part of it but just not all of it.
These stats don't cover TOs or defense. I don't know how to measure defense although blocks and rebounds are part of it but just not all of it.
There are 3 backup front court positions, and two "wildcard" am I right? Very likely that the two wildcard spots will go to guards (Harden, Curry, Parker, Kobe, Paul, Westbrook, possibly Liliard). Assuming starters are Howard, Griffin and Durant, Cousins will have to fight for one of the 3 backup frontcourt spots. Aldridge should be in due to the Blazers' record and him playing relatively well. Davis too if he comes back in time and plays well. So it will be between Dirk/Love/Cousins .. Both the Mavs and the Wolves are .500 teams right now. And until Cousins actually plays 36 minutes I don't think we can use his per 36 numbers. Definitely going to be tough decision for the coaches.
No, its almost always 7 frontcourt, 5 backcourt. Used to be 2 centers, 5 forwards, 5 guards. but they mushed the centers and forwards together.
The biggest danger to disrupt that pattern is if they tried to add Klay Thompson, and cheated by calling him a small forward/frontcourt to make room for another true guard. But there are so many dominant bigs running around in the West right now that seems like a longshot possibility. If Dirk makes it that could easily result in them leaving a 22.5pt 10.5reb big sitting at home. If they gift another old man with a spot in Duncan, in recognition of the Spurs team, not him, they might lose Anthony Davis too and leave both the two best young bigs in the game at home. They need more frontcourt spots, not fewer. Actually need more backcourt spots too. The only real solution would be just to dissolve the Conferences and let the West spill over into the East's "All Star" list.
The biggest danger to disrupt that pattern is if they tried to add Klay Thompson, and cheated by calling him a small forward/frontcourt to make room for another true guard. But there are so many dominant bigs running around in the West right now that seems like a longshot possibility. If Dirk makes it that could easily result in them leaving a 22.5pt 10.5reb big sitting at home. If they gift another old man with a spot in Duncan, in recognition of the Spurs team, not him, they might lose Anthony Davis too and leave both the two best young bigs in the game at home. They need more frontcourt spots, not fewer. Actually need more backcourt spots too. The only real solution would be just to dissolve the Conferences and let the West spill over into the East's "All Star" list.
Yea, it makes me cringe a little bit when we use his per 36 to compare his numbers to other players. If he wasn't playing 36 minutes because we were blowing out teams every night and he was getting rest it might make some sense. But since the play time is due to a fouling problem it comes off as a homer move to inflate his numbers. It really isn't necessary either, as his numbers are great as they are.
Last year's West (see here)
Starters: Durant, Griffin, Howard, Bryant, Paul
Frontcourt reserves (4): Aldridge, Duncan, Lee, Randolph
Backcourt reserves (3): Harden, Parker, Westbrook
In 2012 there were also four frontcourt reserves: Aldridge, Gasol, Love, and Dirk
Now, if the votes follow the pattern so far:
Starters: Durant, Howard, Griffin, Bryant, Paul (same as last year, shocking!)
As has been said above, the votes are irrelevant for the reserve positions. Now, can Boogie sneak into one of the four frontcourt reserve spots? Dirk's absence last year (although he was injured for the first couple months) shows that the coaches don't necessarily treat it as a lifetime achievement award, so I'm not worried about Duncan. Given Portland's success, and the media's talk of his "MVP" numbers that aren't actually much/any better than Boogie's, I imagine Aldridge is an easy choice. Love, probably, as well. And, unless he's still hurt, I imagine Davis gets in given the monster start and his team being the host city. I think it comes down to Dirk and Boogie. The Kings front office should be lobbying to have head-to-head results be the tiebreaker!
Starters: Durant, Griffin, Howard, Bryant, Paul
Frontcourt reserves (4): Aldridge, Duncan, Lee, Randolph
Backcourt reserves (3): Harden, Parker, Westbrook
In 2012 there were also four frontcourt reserves: Aldridge, Gasol, Love, and Dirk
Now, if the votes follow the pattern so far:
Starters: Durant, Howard, Griffin, Bryant, Paul (same as last year, shocking!)
As has been said above, the votes are irrelevant for the reserve positions. Now, can Boogie sneak into one of the four frontcourt reserve spots? Dirk's absence last year (although he was injured for the first couple months) shows that the coaches don't necessarily treat it as a lifetime achievement award, so I'm not worried about Duncan. Given Portland's success, and the media's talk of his "MVP" numbers that aren't actually much/any better than Boogie's, I imagine Aldridge is an easy choice. Love, probably, as well. And, unless he's still hurt, I imagine Davis gets in given the monster start and his team being the host city. I think it comes down to Dirk and Boogie. The Kings front office should be lobbying to have head-to-head results be the tiebreaker!
wow, read this......
http://theleaguenews.us/demarcus-co...ear&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
DeMarcus Cousins Should Be an All-Star This Year
The Sacramento Kings have been a train wreck so far in the Western Conference as they are 6-15 and are one of the worst teams in the NBA. This is fact but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an all-star representative in New Orleans this year. DeMarcus Cousins is having a career year and statistically speaking the best big man in the NBA right now...
http://theleaguenews.us/demarcus-co...ear&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
DeMarcus Cousins Should Be an All-Star This Year
The Sacramento Kings have been a train wreck so far in the Western Conference as they are 6-15 and are one of the worst teams in the NBA. This is fact but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an all-star representative in New Orleans this year. DeMarcus Cousins is having a career year and statistically speaking the best big man in the NBA right now...
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K
I looked but can't seem to find it, it was a very brief topic, it was in the segment short take which is like quick fire questions but yeah Skip even went on to say that before 2010 draft he predicted Cousins would have a much better career than Wall and the reviews were glowing along with the he's got to mature thing.
We may have a bad record but this team would be a playoff team in the East, even if we keep ourselves with an outside chance of getting the 8th seed Cousins should be an All-Star assuming he continues producing. Wasn't Kevin Love an All-Star on a terrible T-Wolves team? West All Star bigs should be Aldridge, Love, Cousins, Howard(voted in).
7 frontcourts normally go:
KDurant 38.1min 28.6pts (.487 .879) 8.2reb 4.8ast 1.5stl 1.0blk 3.4TO -- #1 in fan voting
KevLove 35.8min 25.0pts (.443 .822) 13.6reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.4blk 2.6TO -- #4 in fan voting
Aldridge 36.7min 23.6pts (.486 .788) 11.0reb 2.8ast 1.1stl 0.9blk 2.0TO
Cousins 30.8pts 22.4pts (.492 .736) 11.0reb 3.0ast 1.8stl 1.1blk 3.5TO
Nowitzki 32.7pts 21.1pts (.492 .926) 6.0reb 2.8ast 1.1stl 0.7blk 1.7TO
BlGriffin 36.6pts 20.3pts (.518 .667) 10.3reb 3.1ast 1.0stl 0.7blk 2.7TO -- #3 in fav voting
AnDavis 33.6pts 18.8pts (.498 .846) 10.2reb 1.6ast 1.6stl 3.6blk 1.4TO (injured)
Howard 33.6pts 17.4pts (.569 .560) 13.2reb 1.7ast 0.8stl 1.8blk 3.2TO
the rest:
RAnderson 21.7pts 5.7reb 0.7ast
Gay 19.2pts 6.8reb 2.2ast
Lee 17.2pts 9.8reb 2.1
Parsons 17.0pts 4.9reb 3.9ast
Hayward 16.9pts 5.3reb 4.6ast
Randolph 16.1pts 9.7reb 2.2ast
Pekovic 16.0pts 8.6reb 1.0ast
MGasol 16.0pts 7.1reb 4.3ast (injured)
PGasol 14.7pts 9.3reb 3.0ast
Ibaka 14.5pts 9.5reb 1.0ast
Batum 13.9pts 6.3reb 5.3ast
Duncan 13.9pts 8.9reb 3.2ast
Favors 13.6pts 9.1reb 1.3ast
Igoudala 12.9pts 3.9reb 6.0ast
Notes:
#1 -- Kevin Love trails Blake Griffin by about 15,000 votes in the popular vote for the 3rd frontcourt starting spot. Look at the numbers -- it would be in Kings fans' best interst to vote Love as well as Cousins, because Cousins has better numbers than Blake, and if you can get him out of the popular vote, and with CP3 already guaranteed a slot for the same team, there is a chance coaches could put Cousins in instead of Blake. Or at least they should
#2 -- old man Duncan has had a couple of strong weeks. He still trails wildly, and it would still just be the embarrassing reward the old guy on a winning team nonsense, but he'll be a danger up until the day they shovel dirt over him because people are sheep.
KDurant 38.1min 28.6pts (.487 .879) 8.2reb 4.8ast 1.5stl 1.0blk 3.4TO -- #1 in fan voting
KevLove 35.8min 25.0pts (.443 .822) 13.6reb 4.0ast 0.8stl 0.4blk 2.6TO -- #4 in fan voting
Aldridge 36.7min 23.6pts (.486 .788) 11.0reb 2.8ast 1.1stl 0.9blk 2.0TO
Cousins 30.8pts 22.4pts (.492 .736) 11.0reb 3.0ast 1.8stl 1.1blk 3.5TO
Nowitzki 32.7pts 21.1pts (.492 .926) 6.0reb 2.8ast 1.1stl 0.7blk 1.7TO
BlGriffin 36.6pts 20.3pts (.518 .667) 10.3reb 3.1ast 1.0stl 0.7blk 2.7TO -- #3 in fav voting
AnDavis 33.6pts 18.8pts (.498 .846) 10.2reb 1.6ast 1.6stl 3.6blk 1.4TO (injured)
Howard 33.6pts 17.4pts (.569 .560) 13.2reb 1.7ast 0.8stl 1.8blk 3.2TO
the rest:
RAnderson 21.7pts 5.7reb 0.7ast
Gay 19.2pts 6.8reb 2.2ast
Lee 17.2pts 9.8reb 2.1
Parsons 17.0pts 4.9reb 3.9ast
Hayward 16.9pts 5.3reb 4.6ast
Randolph 16.1pts 9.7reb 2.2ast
Pekovic 16.0pts 8.6reb 1.0ast
MGasol 16.0pts 7.1reb 4.3ast (injured)
PGasol 14.7pts 9.3reb 3.0ast
Ibaka 14.5pts 9.5reb 1.0ast
Batum 13.9pts 6.3reb 5.3ast
Duncan 13.9pts 8.9reb 3.2ast
Favors 13.6pts 9.1reb 1.3ast
Igoudala 12.9pts 3.9reb 6.0ast
Notes:
#1 -- Kevin Love trails Blake Griffin by about 15,000 votes in the popular vote for the 3rd frontcourt starting spot. Look at the numbers -- it would be in Kings fans' best interst to vote Love as well as Cousins, because Cousins has better numbers than Blake, and if you can get him out of the popular vote, and with CP3 already guaranteed a slot for the same team, there is a chance coaches could put Cousins in instead of Blake. Or at least they should
#2 -- old man Duncan has had a couple of strong weeks. He still trails wildly, and it would still just be the embarrassing reward the old guy on a winning team nonsense, but he'll be a danger up until the day they shovel dirt over him because people are sheep.
K
A Davis came back WAY EARLIER than expected and put up 24 and 12 3steals and 3 blocks in a loss to the Clippers, not good news for Cuz All-Star chances but good news for the NBA fans in general since we get to see another stud big return. Can't wait to see the Pelicans vs. us next week the return of Reke and hopefully some Cuz vs Davis action.
I watched it but I have to say I don't remember them saying he was a lock for it. I do remember them saying he's in with a legitimate chance this year, and pretty much sang his praises all night. Not saying you're lying or that they didn't say that, but I must have missed it. I specifically remember them saying he has a real chance at it though.
it's always nice to hear affirmations from the opposition, but i maintain that cousins' reputation as a great player on a bad team will haunt him as far as this season's all-star selection is concerned, particularly since the league idiotically decided to remove the center position from the ballot. if the kings weren't quite so awful, he would, indeed, be a lock, but the win/loss column is as good an excuse as any to give the nod to someone else. if DMC continues to improve, however, it will be difficult for the coaches to hold him out next season. he's just been too statistically dominant to ignore forever, losing team or not.
K
This next stretch of 3-4 games are going to huge imo for Cousins All-Star hopes, first it's AD, than the Heat again (will be all over news) than it's the last legit 20/10/3 guy who is still playing in HOF Tim Duncan and than a rematch with Howard.
Than two weeks after that over a 10 day period he's got Pekovic (has sometimes struggled against), Hibbert twice (DPOY) and Davis/Howard again so huge next month for Cousins and has a chance to say he is the legit #1 C if he comes out of it with flying colours.
Than two weeks after that over a 10 day period he's got Pekovic (has sometimes struggled against), Hibbert twice (DPOY) and Davis/Howard again so huge next month for Cousins and has a chance to say he is the legit #1 C if he comes out of it with flying colours.
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