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Who will be the West's starting All Star center?

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170998.8 in reply to 170998.7
Date: 1/19/2011 4:53:40 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
Really? MVP? I see it a completely different way.

Kevin Love is perhaps the most selfish player in the NBA. He stated at the beginning of the season that he is out to win the rebounding crown. He checks Dwight's rebounding numbers daily. The guy is more worried about that than anything else.
The Timberwolves would win more games IF he worried less about his stats and more about the game.
Sure, he gets boards... but I his team and individual defense has actually gotten worse.
He appears to be more concerned with the rebounding title than how his team does.

If the award was for "most impressive statistical improvement" - then it's his. Felton has improved more as a "player of the game" than Love has.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
This Post:
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170998.9 in reply to 170998.8
Date: 1/19/2011 6:35:41 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
103103
Perhaps. Be tough to motivate yourself to win everyday when you play for a 15 win team. If winning the rebounding crown has motivated him to play hard everyday, great. Some may see it as his teammates dont get the stats because Love is a ballhog, a statwhore.

What I see when I watch him play is a guy who plays hard every single night, whatever his motivations. I Saw him do it at UCLA too. Many of us out west wont soon forget Love getting boo'd by his hometown crowd because he chose a scholarship from UCLA. How did he react? Nothing short of a monster game and lopsided victory for Love and the Bruins. I say if you dont think he wants to win as bad as anyone in the NBA, you havent watched him enough.

This Post:
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170998.10 in reply to 170998.9
Date: 1/19/2011 6:43:31 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
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Plus, here is a big post player shooting over 85% from the FT line. Hallelujah!

This Post:
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170998.11 in reply to 170998.10
Date: 1/19/2011 6:46:38 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
If he were less worried about individual glory, and more worried about his team, then the Wolves would have won a few of those close losses. Which - by the way - they've had 4 of (single digit losses) in January alone. 9 more in December, 4 more in November and how did they open their season? With a 1pt loss against Sacramento.
So thus far this season, that's 18 games lost by single digits. I'm guessing if Love were in the right frame of mind, then they might have 6 more wins under their belt.
That's not going to even put them in the playoffs... but if it were 10, then it puts them right up there.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
This Post:
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170998.12 in reply to 170998.11
Date: 1/19/2011 9:00:36 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
103103
I guess its all opinion and speculation. One could argue that they were only close because of him, or how many close wins would they lose without him?

If we all liked the same players, teams, and personalities, it would be a dull sport, I suppose.

These same arguements were made about alot of players who have had no talent around them at periods of their career. Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant are two that come to mind. Both of those players started winning championships when they got more guys around them they could count on. Not saying Love is like these guys, just comparing the argument. 'They will never win with him hogging the ball, he is the problem', then Pippen or Gasol come in and it's championship city.

Last edited by buzzerbeatme at 1/19/2011 9:12:07 PM

This Post:
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170998.13 in reply to 170998.12
Date: 1/19/2011 10:20:49 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
No offense intended, but Love - Jordan/Bryant? Chalk and cheese. Remember, Kobe had 3 rings before Gasol joined.

The other primary difference is that Love has come right out and said he's aiming to win the rebounding title. That smacks of hubris for me.
And it's not speculation that his defense is worse. That's simply fact. I've seen him not rotate so that he can be in a better position to rebound.

You also mistake me: I'm not saying that they'd be better off without him, just that they'd be better off with him playing a team-first brand of basketball.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
From: Bballin

This Post:
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170998.14 in reply to 170998.1
Date: 1/19/2011 10:31:07 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
968968
Personally id like to see Cousins at the all star game, but i think Al Jefferson should be the starter, hes had a very solid season andim impressed by him.

From: malice

This Post:
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170998.15 in reply to 170998.14
Date: 1/19/2011 10:49:36 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
532532
Obviously I'm biased, but given the current parameters of the AS game, I think it *should* be Andrew Bynum.

http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan
This Post:
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170998.16 in reply to 170998.13
Date: 1/20/2011 4:37:49 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
103103
Kobe had three rings......with Shaq.

And Hubris in the NBA? Isnt that what its all about, stats and showboating?

Love played pretty solid defense on a good UCLA team, I bet he does it on a good NBA team too.

Last edited by buzzerbeatme at 1/20/2011 4:40:06 PM

This Post:
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170998.17 in reply to 170998.13
Date: 1/20/2011 5:04:02 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
103103
Dont get me wrong, I hate it when players are selfish and stat-driven in sport. It happens alot, mainly because it's how they get paid. Few players get the big bucks just by playing defense these days. Rodman was one of them, and he claimed he was going to win the rebounding title every year. When I think of selfishness and stat motivated players Iverson is always the first to come to mind. He couldnt even win when he finally did have some guys around him. AI isnt a basketball player, he is a scorer.

If it is as you say that Love's defense is suffering to a measurable level to win a title, that sucks. However it is easy to say 'if I had the chance I would play my guts out every game for the worst team in the league' from the living room, some ultra competitive guys may have trouble with it though and winning some title may be the only way. I believe if and when gets on a team with someone else to share the load, he will play the way I have seen him play in the past. Could be wrong though, never know.

This Post:
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170998.18 in reply to 170998.17
Date: 1/20/2011 5:28:28 PM
Overall Posts Rated:
103103
To answer the question though, I think Jefferson should be the front runner, followed by Duncan, then Bynum.

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