So, this is probably not going to matter unless we start to win some games, but scanning some stats I came across something interesting: The West sucks. Been 20 years since you could say that. But the "frontcourt (including SF)" star talent in this league has starting shifting to the East. And that opens up a door here that deserves a thread. Boogie is hurt because of the NBA's asinine decision to bow to the noveau know nothings and try to extinguish centers as a separate position. So now instead we just get "frontcourt" & "backcourt" players. but I would imagine that the coaches will continue to largely select guys with some feel for position, and in any case right now there is such a dearth of frontcourt stars in the West that if you assume 7 frontcourt guys and 5 guards, its hard to find 7 that would get in ahead of Cuz on merit this time. To whit, West's top frontcourt guys -- all Cs, PFs and SFs averaging 15+ ppg:
SFs (extended to 14.5ppg because of lack of options)
Durant 29.6pts (.459) 6.2reb 4.0ast 2.0stl 0.6blk
Igoudala 14.5ppg (.569) 5.2reb 4.3ast 2.3stl 0.5blk
PFs
Kevin Love 27.2pts (.474) 14.7reb 5.0ast 0.5stl 0.7blk
LaMarcus Aldridge 23.6pts (.519) 6.4reb 2.4ast 0.8stl 1.0blk
Anthony Davis 23.0pts (.471) 11.5reb 1.7ast 2.0stl 4.3blk
Blake Griffin 21.7pts (.591) 11.3reb 2.8ast 1.2stl 0.8blk
David Lee 19.0pts (.542) 9.5reb 2.7ast 0.7stl 0.3blk
Dirk Nowitzki 18.5pts (.455) 5.2reb 2.7ast 1.3stl 0.2blk
Cs
Cousins 21.6pts (.478) 9.2reb 1.6ast 2.4stl 1.2blk
Howard 17.0pts (.547) 14.5reb 1.2ast 0.3stl 1.3blk
Kanter 16.8pts (.524) 8.3reb 1.2ast 0.0stl 0.5blk
MGasol 15.4pts (.500) 6.2reb 2.8ast 0.6stl 0.6blk
Out of those I see guys either starting via vote, or having hype , or winning teams being: Durant, Love, Aldridge, Davis, Griffin, Howard. That's 6. Leaving Cousins scrumming with Igoudala, Lee, Dirk, Knater and MGasol. He's better than any. Normally I think coaches would be reluctant to make Lee into a multiple time All Star too, but the danger would seem to come if there was a push to give Golden State a second All Star, and Klay isn't able to secure it in the backcourt. then Iggy or Lee is #7. Similarly Dirk is done, but if Dallas is a +.500 team he could still get the old fossil vote. If they respect the "Center" distinction, the competition is limited. More likely they just call Davis a C for their purposes. Anybody gets injured its hard to see the numbers to keep him out. At the least he would be the league's top snub.
SFs (extended to 14.5ppg because of lack of options)
Durant 29.6pts (.459) 6.2reb 4.0ast 2.0stl 0.6blk
Igoudala 14.5ppg (.569) 5.2reb 4.3ast 2.3stl 0.5blk
PFs
Kevin Love 27.2pts (.474) 14.7reb 5.0ast 0.5stl 0.7blk
LaMarcus Aldridge 23.6pts (.519) 6.4reb 2.4ast 0.8stl 1.0blk
Anthony Davis 23.0pts (.471) 11.5reb 1.7ast 2.0stl 4.3blk
Blake Griffin 21.7pts (.591) 11.3reb 2.8ast 1.2stl 0.8blk
David Lee 19.0pts (.542) 9.5reb 2.7ast 0.7stl 0.3blk
Dirk Nowitzki 18.5pts (.455) 5.2reb 2.7ast 1.3stl 0.2blk
Cs
Cousins 21.6pts (.478) 9.2reb 1.6ast 2.4stl 1.2blk
Howard 17.0pts (.547) 14.5reb 1.2ast 0.3stl 1.3blk
Kanter 16.8pts (.524) 8.3reb 1.2ast 0.0stl 0.5blk
MGasol 15.4pts (.500) 6.2reb 2.8ast 0.6stl 0.6blk
Out of those I see guys either starting via vote, or having hype , or winning teams being: Durant, Love, Aldridge, Davis, Griffin, Howard. That's 6. Leaving Cousins scrumming with Igoudala, Lee, Dirk, Knater and MGasol. He's better than any. Normally I think coaches would be reluctant to make Lee into a multiple time All Star too, but the danger would seem to come if there was a push to give Golden State a second All Star, and Klay isn't able to secure it in the backcourt. then Iggy or Lee is #7. Similarly Dirk is done, but if Dallas is a +.500 team he could still get the old fossil vote. If they respect the "Center" distinction, the competition is limited. More likely they just call Davis a C for their purposes. Anybody gets injured its hard to see the numbers to keep him out. At the least he would be the league's top snub.
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