PROTECT THE PAINT » NBA All Star

Chris Kaman: Gasol not All-Star Worthy?

Adam Sedie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:22:48 +0000

Chris Kaman has let his game do the talking for him this season. Until now, telling NBA Fanhouse the following after his Clippers were defeated oin Denver:

“I don’t think Gasol should be in it at all,” Kaman said when asked if he would be disappointed if Gasol, who starts at power forward for the Lakers, is slid over to be the backup center when West coaches vote for All-Star reserves. “He’s only played like 20 games (he played Thursday in his 25th out of 42 Lakers games) this year. I think there should be a number of games you should play. I think you should have to play like 80 percent of the games.

I stated yesterday I think Kaman is an All Star and should have been named the starter. What I disagree with adamantly is how Kaman is throwing Gasol under the bus. There is no reason to campaign in this manner. Whatever happened to the humble athlete?

I think Gasol is clearly the better overall player. It is understandable that Kaman, who is averaging more points (20.4 to Gasol’s 16.8), has a legitimate argument. However, Gasol is on a superior team, sticking to the team dynamic, and sacrificing personal statistics for the overall benefit it has for the Lakers.

Kaman needs to act like an All-Star. (Credit: picapp.com)

If you can imagine what sort of damage Gasol would do in a Clippers uniform, you start to understand how much better Gasol is than Kaman.

Kaman also stated “I don’t think he’s a center.” Well,standing at 7’0″ tall, Gasol sometimes will play the center position. Clearly, there is a discrepancy in this logic.

Obviously players who have missed time will be scrutinized if they get selected over players who have not missed a lot of games. This logic can be tossed out when you consider that Allen Iverson is somehow a starter.

The thing that bothers me about Kaman’s statement is how unprofessional his words come across. Throwing another colleague under the bus is never wise, regardless of profession, especially when it is done so publicly over personal accolades.

2010 All-Star Starters Announced on TNT

Adam Sedie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:34:38 +0000

The 2010 NBA All-Star starters were named live today on TNT at 7:00 PM EST.

There has been much discussion about issues with the voting, focusing specifically on Tracy McGrady, whom played in only 6 games, averaging 3 points a game this season. He is currently at home, exiled from the Rockets as they seek out a suitor for a trade.

Allen Iverson has also been a topic of massive debate. AI has played for two teams and conferences this season, and after failing in Memphis, foudn himself back in Philly, and is about to be named to his 11th all star game. He is averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3 rebounds a game. Those are hardly All-Star caliber stats for a 76ers team with a losing record of 13-28.

Iverson fails in comparison to the Easts best guard, Rajon Rondo, who is averaging 14 PPG, .527 FG%, 9.6 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.5 SPG, on a team whose winning record is 27-13.

Here are the voting results for the starters:

Carmelo Anthony (Forward)
Tim Duncan (Forward)
Amar’e Stoudemire (Center)
Kobe Bryant (Guard)
Steve Nash (Guard)

Kevin Garnett (Forward)
LeBron James (Forward)
Dwight Howard (Center)
Dwyane Wade (Guard)
Allen Iverson (Guard)

It is very fortunate that the Western Conference’s Steve Nash leapfrogged Tracy McGrady, ousting him in the waning moments to overtake the starting guard position. It saved the league further embarrassment after Allen Iverson was voted in.

Here is a list of players notably deserving to start:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chris Kaman

If not Chris Kaman, Tim Duncan should have been listed on the ballot at the center position. Both players are having substantially better years for their teams than Stoudemire. Kaman has been a beast this year, and has been leading the Clippers to respectability this season.

Kevin Durant

Durant is the reason to move Duncan to center. Durant as one of the starting forwards only makes sense. Durant is the league’s third leading scorer, and his team is in playoff contention this season after only winning 23 games total last year.

The fact that he is in Oklahoma obviously hurts his chances due to low national visibility, the only reason that logically explains, albeit unjustly, Durant’s exclusion from the Western Conference starting line up.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Rajon Rondo

Rondo has experienced some of the worst bias in fan voting I have ever witnessed. Rondo has been nothing less than the best Point Guard in the Eastern Conference all season long. He is member of one of the best teams in the East. He averages 5 more assists per game shooting 10% better from the field than Iverson.

Rondo has helped his team overcome injuries to Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and continue to win to the tune of a 27-13 record.

Aren’t All-Stars supposed to be star players on winning teams? Out of fairness to any other player starting this years All-Star game, Iverson is the only player on team with a losing record.

Ironically, the 76ers have as many wins as Boston has losses: 13. One would hope that fact alone should make voters rethink whom they vote for.

Chris Paul to China: The Nike promotional invasion????

Adam Sedie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:47:55 +0000

Chris Paul is heading back to China. He enjoys the “bigger than life”-way he is treated there.

According to news sources, he feels like he is a member of the Beatles.

Nike and the Jordan brand are utilizing their players popularity in China–adding a “Chinese flair” to their shoes.

Selling shoes in China baby! Oh yeah! (Credit: picapp.com)

A Protect the Paint writer recently returned his pair of CP3 II, as he felt they sucked. However, they are likely better than a pair of Starbury or Protégé sneakers.

Is this Nike piggybacking on the NBA’s attempt to capitalize on the world’s largest demographic? We think so. First was Kobe, and now Chris Paul? Is Dwyane Wade next? Maybe Yao would have been better off wearing Nike.

Is this brand Jordan’s version of the British Invasion? Bringing over NBA stars for a clinic is nice, but the Chinese want live NBA action. If Nike and the NBA want greater success in their pursuits, they need to plot a course better than basketball clinics.

Basketball clinics are nice and all, but lets face the simple fact that the Chinese blew the world away in how well they put on the Olympics. What this means is that China, if give the opportunity, would create something extraordinary to accommodate a regular season NBA game.

How about having multiple regular season games? Extend the NBA season by starting 1 week early, and use the NFL bye week rotation to allow 4 teams to be in China throughout a decent portion of the regular season.

Better yet: how about an All-Star game? If you want real expansion, give the people you are trying to sell basketball something worth buying.

I wonder which Beatle I would be...... (Credit: picapp.com)

An All-Star game in China would be far more successful and lucrative than one in Dallas Stadium. Don’t think anyone in the states would care that much.

At the very least, Nike and the NBA need to sort out a way to have regular season games in China.

This would be a major step towards converting the Far East to regular NBA parishioners subscribing to the NBA Package (if China allows that) and buying Nike.

Look Out Reggie Miller Here Comes Steve Nash.

Adam Sedie — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:54:21 +0000

Steve Nash displays his media savvy on Late Show with David Letterman

Steve Nash is leading a movement of athletes in media. We are bearing witness to another side of his genius. Already known for his amazing on court creation, we are now starting to see his creative side transcend into comedy. His deadpan face is a nice change of pace to his strictly business look while dribbling the ball into offensive sets for the Phoenix Suns. His personality on screen is highly likable, and warm.

The question now is: Who will Steve Nash end up broadcasting for once he retires from the NBA? He is making quite a impact on Late Night with David Letterman. His popularity amongst pundits and fans continues to grow and is proving his comedic and entertainment worth as a on air personality as well. He is an expert at his current job, a 2-time NBA MVP and an All-Star.

How much game does Steve Nash have left in the tank? How many more injuries can he or will he endure? The Phoenix Suns overall are a old team, and missed playoff contention this season.

Nash stands to make $12,250,000 in 2009-2010 which is impossible to walk away from in this economy. When his contract is up, he will be 36 years old. In a contract year and with the possibility of Phoenix trading expiring contracts for younger players in a effort to rebuild, Nash might find himself being traded away to worse team.

He does mentionon air to Letterman he would “love” to play for New York. He was a two time MVP playing for Mike Diantoni, current head coach of the New York Knicks.

Though 36 years of age is old for the NBA it is considerably young for being involved as a NBA TV analyst.