2011 NBA All-Star Weekend Predictions

Charles Barkley said it best:  The NBA All-Star weekend is THE greatest such event in all of sports, in terms of the quality of the festivities and the celebration of the sport.  Charles, among the other great analysts on TNT, makes for great entertainment himself – both on TV and at the party scenes throughout the weekend.  Has there ever been such a weekend where he HASN’T lost his voice?  If so, the weekend festivities should forever be banned from that city.  That’s a pretty safe standard to set for the All-Star weekend city selections every year.

As far as the weekend itself – both fans and players love it.  For those who aren’t involved, they get a good weekend of rest in the midst of the regular season grind to either go home or partake in the off-court events with their peers.  It’s such a great weekend, though, that a lot of players forgo potential time to spend with family on this weekend to attend this.  All sorts of parties are going on, and a high concentration of basketball wives probably file for divorce during this time frame every year. 

LA's Staples Center is the place to be for all athletes and sports fans this weekend

All-Star weekend is the one weekend where I don’t mind being a complete hermit – where I stay in and watch the games.  Since I’m friends with mostly older, boring married people, that’s seemingly what I’ve been stuck with doing lately, anyway.  But for this one weekend only, I don’t really mind.   It’s also a set of games where I prefer not to watch it in a public setting where I can't hear the commentary (i.e. a bar or restaurant showing the games on TV).  All of the great personalities on TNT cover every event of the weekend, and it is really worth watching and listening to them.

I'm going to take a look at each of the events on Saturday and Sunday night in Los Angeles this weekend.  Since I didn’t have time before the Rookie/Sophomore game to put together an assessment, I obviously am not posting a prediction for it.  For the record, I thought the Sophs would win – simply because the Rookie Teams won just once in the past 8 years.  In all fairness, this and the Sunday All-Star game are the hardest to predict, since they’re both the friendliest of competitions.

This weekend comprises of more partying than actual competition, so predicting the events is a bit useless.  But it’s still fun to take a look at the participants and break them down.

Shooting Stars:

Participants:

Team Atlanta: Al Horford (Hawks), Coco Miller (WNBA's Atlanta Dream), Steve Smith (Legend)

Team Chicago: Taj Gibson (Bulls), Cathrine Kraayveld (WNBA's Chicago Sky), Steve Kerr (Legend)

Team Los Angeles: Pau Gasol (Lakers), Tina Thompson (WNBA's L.A. Sparks), Rick Fox (Legend)

Team Texas: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Roneeka Hodges (WNBA's S.A. Silver Stars), Kenny Smith (Legend) 

Predicted Winner:  Team Texas (Dirk, Hodges, Kenny Smith)

This is an event that’s not taken very seriously – especially since it involves WNBA and retired players.  Still, I enjoy watching it.  If you’re not familiar with this competition, it’s a contest where three players on each team score from designated spots on the court as fast as they can.  Each of these teams has one representative each from the current NBA, current WNBA, and retired NBA player groups.  I’m not gonna lie:  I don’t know about 99.5% of WNBA players.  But I do know that a lot of them are better shooters than a lot of NBA players.  In this prediction, I am assuming all 4 WNBA representatives shoot comparably well and offset one another.  

This event is exactly what the name implies:  it comes down to shooting.  Let’s compare the retired guys:  Steve Smith and Steve Kerr are obviously two of the greatest shooters of all time, but I think they spend a bit more time on air than Kenny Smith does.  Therefore, I think Kenny has more time to keep up with his play than the other two.  In contrast, Rick Fox probably spends absolutely 0 time playing basketball, and most of his time on his “acting” career and hitting on washed-up celebrities.  I expect him to be completely washed up himself, and drag down Team LA. 

Team Texas is poised to defend their 2010 title

On a side note, I don’t think the NBA on TNT would be nearly as amusing without Kenny Smith.  As I’ve said multiple times, the three-man booth of he, Barkley, and Ernie Johnson has been by far the best sports TV studio crew.  Chris Webber has really added to the great mix of personalities, also.  Take a look at the one of many great clips of their escapades.  My personal favorite moment was when Barkley lost a bet, where he didn’t think Yao Ming (in his rookie year) wouldn’t score 19 points in a game and had to kiss Kenny’s ass.  Everyone knows Charles is hilarious, but Kenny’s presence makes the studio show even more entertaining.  C-Webb has only been in the studio for a couple years (after just retiring in 2007), but he has been a great addition to the team after some of his own great-but-uncivilized moments with Gary Payton on NBA TV (here’s one of the many great segments of theirs making fun of Joe Johnson).  Anyway, I’m glad that TNT covers this weekend every year.

Back to the competition:  out of the current NBA guys in this one, it isn’t even close – Dirk is by far the best shooter.  With Dirk and Kenny having the advantages over their respective counterparts, I pick them to win. Team Texas destroyed the competition last year, and I expect more of the same this time around.

Skills Competition:

Participants:  Stephen Curry (GSW), Chris Paul (Hornets), Derrick Rose (Bulls), John Wall (Wizards), Russell Westbrook (OKC)

Predicted Winner:  Derrick Rose (Bulls)

This event has only been around for a couple years, and it’s been very successful and entertaining (unlike the horrible H.O.R.S.E. competition the previous 2 years).   Point guards in the NBA are extremely skilled, and any one of these dynamic guys could win it.  In this contest, players go through dribbling and passing obstacles, with a shot drill in between. Usually, the competition comes down to who makes that one shot the quickest – as all of these players are similar in terms of speed and ball handling abilities.  There is also a bounce pass drill that is fairly difficult, unless Steve Nash is doing it.  Ultimately, this will come down to the player with the best combination shooting and passing, assuming speed and ball-handling skills are a push among the five players.

D-Rose can reclaim his 2009 title

Chris Paul is the most seasoned of the players, making him the favorite to win the competition.  Curry is the best shooter, but I get the feeling that the losing culture of being on Golden State will get the best of him somehow (just as it did in last year’s three-point shootout).  Rookie John Wall might be the most gifted passer, but his shooting woes have been well documented – the pressure to hit that one shot might be too much for him.  Eliminating Curry and Wall, it should be a toss-up between Paul, Rose, and Westbrook.

At the end of the day, I think Derrick Rose is set out to prove his worth as the NBA’s best point guard.  With an improved jump shot and his usual blistering speed and quickness, he has all the weapons to win.  Although this is a friendly contest, it can’t hurt Rose’s case for the title of best point guard if he goes on to win. 

Three Point Shoot-out

Participants:  Ray Allen (Celtics), Kevin Durant (OKC), Daniel Gibson (Cavs), James Jones (Heat), Paul Pierce (Celtics), Dorell Wright (GSW) 

Predicted Winner:  Ray Allen (Celtics)

Can KD get hot and be the three-point King?

In my opinion, this is the best event of the weekend in terms of pure competition.  The Slam Dunk Contest is a good way to wrap up the Saturday night festivities, but there haven’t been very many down-to-the-wire competitions.  The three-point shootout, on the other hand, usually comes down to 2 or 3 great shooters. 

As far as the prediction, I think this would only be fitting, as Ray has recently surpassed Reggie Miller as the NBA’s All-Time leader in three pointers made.  Surprisingly, he’s been in the contest four times (01, 02, 05, and 06) and has only won once (01).  Still, with his lightning quick release and devastating accuracy, he should be the favorite in every shootout he participates in.  After Paul Pierce pleaded for both he and Ray to be in it, I am predicting the contest to come down to the two of them. 

Pierce broke the scorers-cannnot-win stereotype last year, surprisingly out-shooting great gunners like Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups (as well as defending champ Daequean Cook).  But I just can’t see him winning two straight years.  James Jones, Dorell Wright and Boobie Gibson are all more of catch-and-shooters with slow and methodical strokes in rhythm, so I’m having trouble seeing them making any noise.  Durant has great range and consistency as a jump shooter, and I could see him being a sleeper.  I just can’t see back-to-back years of a scorer winning the competition.  I’m going with the Greatest Shooter Ever.

Slam Dunk Contest: 

Participants: DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Blake Griffin (Clippers), Serge Ibaka (OKC), JaVale McGee (Wizards)

Predicted Winner:  Blake Griffin (Clippers)

This is as foregone of a conclusion as the Rookie of the Year debate is.  This competition usually comes down to the atmosphere – the buzz from the crowd (and players in the crowd) usually dictates how this contest goes.  It’s really hit-or-miss. 

The problem with this contest is usually the lack of star power.  In the old days, all the high-flying superstars gladly participated.  Now, the great dunkers come up with one lame excuse after another.  In my opinion, LeBron really hurt his popularity by never participating.  At first it was because he didn’t want to be known as a “dunker.”  Now, he just side-steps the opportunity and quietly dodges any questions that try to prompt him to justify why he declines every year.  Many players outright decline to dunk, but LeBron tends to enjoy teasing the fans by declaring his intent to enter the contest (only to back out of it later on).  Out of all things people bash LeBron for, I’ll be bitching about that every time the subject of him and All-Star weekend comes up.

If players want to be like MJ, they should at least do the dunk contest

The other problem with the contest is that a lot of players are one-and-dones, especially if they feel they get jipped by the judges.  Andre Iguodala had one of the greatest slam-dunk performances in 2006 vs. Nate Robinson (especially with this incredible behind-the-backboard dunk), but got completely hosed in the final round.  He was so jaded by the experience that he refused to do it again.  Vince Carter, who had arguably the best display of all-time dunk-manship in 2000, decided not to defend his title in following years.  I guess players these days have a bigger fear of losing their pride.  MJ, Dominique, Jason Richardson – they all did the competition multiple times out of respect for the fans.  During All-Star weekends, you can put pride aside and make it all about the fans.  Unfortunately, today’s players can’t seem to grasp that.

The Slam Dunk title is Blake Griffin's to lose

Thankfully, Blake Griffin is more than willing to participate.  DeRozan is the only opposition in the field that I can see making some noise, if he comes up with some creative ideas.  McGee is a flashy put-back dunker, but I think he and Ibaka will both fail to shed the heavy discrimination that big guys receive at this contest.  Dwight Howard was an exception, as he anchored his athleticism with unprecedented creativity (embracing the label of ‘Superman’). 

At the end of the day, the heavily favored Griffin will be one of those guys that will command the crowd’s attention – ala Dominique, MJ and Vince.  Even simple dunks will look spectacular for him.  The others will have to really raise the bar with their creativity to make him sweat, and I just don’t see that happening. With his ups and powerful finishing abilities, Griffin is easily the favorite to win the contest. I also think he will be motivated to win to honor his friend and ex-teammate that died due to complications of Hodgkin's lymphoma on Wednesday.

All-Star Game

Participants:

EAST TEAM
Starters
Dwyane Wade, Guard, Miami Heat
Derrick Rose, Guard, Chicago Bulls
LeBron James, Forward, Miami Heat
Amare Stoudemire, Forward, New York Knicks
Dwight Howard, Center, Orlando Magic

Reserves
Ray Allen, Boston Celtics
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

WEST TEAM
Starters
Kobe Bryant, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Paul, Guard, New Orleans Hornets
Carmelo Anthony, Forward, Denver Nuggets
Kevin Durant, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
Yao Ming, Center, Houston Rockets (injured, will not play)

Reserves
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers
Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves (injury replacement)
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Deron Williams, Utah Jazz

Predicted Winner: East

Out of all the events, this is most futile to make a prediction.  First, you never know which players are hung over from drinking heavily over the weekend.  I suspect David Stern will never, ever allow an All-Star game to take place in Las Vegas ever again, after the 2007 fiasco.  Lots of variables are there off the court.  On the court, every player screws around for 3 quarters and whoever happens to have the lead clamps down and wins the game in the 4^th. 

I don’t know if East coach Doc Rivers will do this, but he has the option of playing all four of his guys (Rondo, Allen, Pierce, KG with a choice of Dwight or Al Horford at Center) at the same time.  Remember the 2006 game, when Detroit also had four All-Stars (Chauncey, Rip, Sheed, Big Ben)?  When all four of them were put in the game, the East went on a huge run and eventually won the game.   Generally, throwing 5 All-Stars (on different teams) on the court for one game doesn’t make for good chemistry – as greatly evidenced by pre-2008 USA Olympic team failures.  When four players with great chemistry are on the court together, they will pick apart five guys on the other team that never played together – even in a non-serious scrimmage-type atmosphere.   Because the possibility of that strategy being implemented for Doc, I am going with the East.  I’ll go out on a limb and say Derrick Rose will be MVP of the game, to further put his stamp  on the league as a star among stars. 

If East head coach Doc Rivers really wants to win, he can play all of his guys

In the end, you shouldn’t bet money making predictions on All-Star events.  Everyone involved is there to have fun, and that’s the beauty of it. Players want to party, not get hurt.  Coaches don’t really want to coach.  Still, it’s spectacular seeing so much star-power all together in the same place and it’s fun to break down the contests.  Next year, when the games take place here in Orlando, I am going do to everything I can to snag tickets for the event. I would really like to see what the atmosphere is like in person, as that is what the weekend festivities are really all about. 

Tribute to the Greatest Shooter Ever

You’ve taught him well, Denzel. 

Back in his Bucks days, Ray never would've thought he'd eventually  break his idol Reggie Miller's record

Yes, I am going to be one of approximately 521,874 people writing about Ray Allen today.  After breaking Reggie Miller’s record for all-time most three pointers made tonight vs. the Lakers (a perfect opponent to do it against), a usually humble Ray Allen embraced the spotlight.  By the way, did anyone else notice he tried even harder to break the record while Kobe guarded him?  And when he finally got there, look how Kobe made 0-effort to try to close out on him. They both knew very well that the highlight clip of him hitting the record-breaking three would be forever enshrined in all basketball media.  Kobe wanted no part of that, and Ray tried to make it happen.

Anyway, what is there to say about the guy?  Unbelievable shooter, one of the hardest workers in the league, a total class act – he’s got the total package.  Jesus Shuttlesworth has the purest jumper the league has ever seen.  And unlike Reggie, he did it without kicking his feet out to get a few cheap calls to go his way.  His lightning-quick release and perfect technique makes him ridiculously hard to guard (especially in NBA 2K11 – just ask my friend Moy).  If you give him an inch, he’ll drill one in your face.  Even though he’s 35, he still knows how to utilize offensive sets and take advantage of screens in order to give him enough space to fire away.  If you want your kids to learn how to shoot, you need to show them tapes of Ray Allen’s routine.  If you’re older than 6 and haven't started practicing with good form, you’re already behind where he was. 

Ray was one of the league's most prolific scorers in his days with Seattle

One of the most interesting anecdotes I’ve heard about Ray:  when he was on the Sonics (sorry, Seattle fans), his coach at the time, Bob Hill, was getting on his players at a practice during the 2005-06 season.  I can’t find a record of the actual conversation that went on, but I remember something to this effect:

Bob Hill (to his other players):  You guys all need to step up, especially when Ray has a bad shooting night like last night.

Ray Allen:  Coach, I didn’t shoot poorly last night…

Bob Hill:  Huh?! You shot [some poor percentage].  What do you mean you didn’t shoot poorly?

Ray Allen:  They all felt good coming off my hand.  I shot OK, they just didn’t go in.

Again, not an exact transcript of what was said but that’s the gist of it.  That’s Ray in a nutshell.  He truly doesn’t care about numbers.  His shooting is about routine, hard work, and discipline. 

The TNT crew pointed something else out about the 3 point record:  Who’s in 3^rd place?  Jason Kidd.  He is a ridiculously distant (8,000 less 3’s or so) 3^rd behind Miller and Allen.  That shows how vastly superior Miller and Allen’s shooting abilities are compared to anybody else in the history in the league (or at least since 3 pointers started counting in the 70s).  But while we bring that up, how the heck does Kidd have a reputation that he can’t shoot if he’s 3^rd all time?  Remember, he used to be called “Ason” Kidd (Jason without a J).  That may be the most common misconception in basketball.  Jason Kidd CAN shoot, ladies and gentlemen – especially if freakin’ Reggie Miller and Ray Allen are the only ones who’ve made more 3’s than him. 

Ray's success from the three point arc carries over to his free throw shooting; he is 5^th all time in free throw percentage at 89.3%.  Why is he so good?  He said that when he practices free throws, he doesn’t just try to make them – he tries to swish them.  You can tell that when he shoots free throws, the net barely even moves after he makes them.   That comes from countless hours of working on his shot with a higher-than-standard approach.  Here is an interesting article by Jackie MacMullan on Ray Allen’s shooting preparation habits.  One of his quotes that caught my eye was his emphasis on his hard work, not his so-called gift of being able to shoot: "I've argued this with a lot of people in my life,'' Allen said. “When people say God blessed me with a beautiful jump shot, it really pisses me off. I tell those people, 'Don't undermine the work I've put in every day.' Not some days. Every day. Ask anyone who has been on a team with me who shoots the most. Go back to Seattle and Milwaukee, and ask them. The answer is me -- not because it's a competition but because that's how I prepare.” 

Ray's sweet-looking shooting stroke is widely regarded as one of the best - if not the best - of  all time

Now, you can’t discount his God-given abilities:  not many people are blessed with Ray’s muscle memory and hand-eye coordination.  If Ben Wallace or Dwight Howard practiced free throws as much as Ray, they sure as hell would still be shooting pretty crappy percentages.  But Ray is one of the few guys who put in the work in addition to getting by with his natural ability. 

The one thing you have to wonder about Ray:  why wasn’t he better?  He obviously is known for his shooting, but he has a complete offensive package.  He has great ball-handling ability and uses it to slash effectively, especially earlier on in his career.  He’s made more clutch shots than you can count, also.  You would think with all these skills, he could have been one of the greatest 2 guards in the game.  He is obviously still pretty damn good, but was never considered one of the greatest all-around players.  This goes to show how hard it is to become one of the elite players in the NBA; you need even more than Ray Allen’s set of skills.  Do remember, though, that he is on a loaded Celtics team by joining Pierce and Garnett, and has sacrificed his numbers and personal accolades for a chance to win titles. 

There are a lot of Celtics haters out there, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who actually dislikes Ray Allen.  A damn good player and a consummate professional, he is one of the most likeable athletes in all of sports.  Whenever he decides to hang up his sneakers, that three point record of his will be all but unreachable.   

NBA "Villains"

At this very moment, I’m watching the Celtics and Lakers – the NBA’s best rivalry - on ABC.  Since I really enjoy reading Bill Simmons’ live diary columns, where he compiles all his thoughts at certain points throughout a game, I was tempted to mimic such a column on this game.  Watching the heated matchups between players, any game between these two teams would make for a very entertaining diary - especially if you’re allowed to quote players uncensored.  Since I can’t lip-read everything on TV and not rich enough to sit close enough to hear players constantly berating each other, I’m not able to come up with such diaries.  Plus, the Sports Guy kind of does that, anyway.   I’ll hold off on stealing people’s ideas, especially people whose columns I actually like. 

Anyway, it’s easy to see how all the great matchups in this game (Bryant vs Pierce, Garnett vs. Gasol, Allen vs. Fisher) create tension between players.  For the fans, it’s fun to watch.  It also gives fans more incentive to root for their teams, especially when a player on the other team is giving your favorite player a hard time.  There are so many guys that fall into the “You-Either-Love-Him-Or-Hate-Him” category.  But overall, certain guys are hated a lot more than they’re loved.  They have become villains of the NBA. 

I decided to give a crack at ranking the villains of the league – those who are enemies in most eyes but also have completely embraced that role.  Most of these guys, unsurprisingly, are playing in this game.

5.  Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett

Pierce and KG have been a formidable duo and are considered nightmare matchups for any opponent.  What really gets under the skin of their opponents (and fans) is that they’re not shy about rubbing it in their faces. 

Outside of Boston, there are mixed opinions on Pierce at best.  He is known for his smack talk to opponents, even in the middle of iso plays.  He relishes these opportunities, knocking down clutch shots on a routine basis.  But as all anti-Boston fans will remind you, there are other reasons for disliking him.  His pride, confidence and competitiveness often carry through to his demeanor off the court.  You can tell that it bleeds through things he says at press conferences.  Perhaps a lot of hate was generated toward him from Lakers fans during Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, where Pierce appeared to hurt his knee.  About 30 seconds after being carried off the court, he magically recovered and destroyed the Lakers in that series, earning Finals MVP honors.  While some saw this as a “Willis Reed” moment, most questioned the injury and Pierce’s toughness as he was carried off the court.  Personally, I don’t think anybody should question the toughness of a guy who was stabbed 11 times and had a bottle smashed over his head, only to return to full health just days later.  After Game 1 of last year's first round match-up between Miami and Boston, Quentin Richardson bashed both Pierce and Garnett, calling them "actresses."   Either way, you either love the guy or hate him. 

Like them or not, Pierce and KG will talk a lot of trash - and back it up

As for KG, well, I have already mentioned previously that he is easily the NBA’s premier trash talker (btw – notice how many of SI’s top 10 trash talkers are on this list also).  Even Joakim Noah recently had to vent about him.  It seems like his popularity with other players and fans has declined somewhat –somewhat noted by not being voted as a starter to the All-Star game for the first time in ump-teen years.  As this is the latter phase of his outstanding career, he uses his savvy veteran tactics a lot more than sheer physical ability – including verbal jousting to get inside his opponents’ heads.  This particular season, he’s had numerous run-ins with many players (examples of late:  Dwight Howard, Channing Frye, and Mickael Pietrus) – and picking up technical fouls more often than he did earlier in his career. 

4.  Derek Fisher

From an opponent’s standpoint, is there a more irritating guy to play against?  Widely regarded as the best “flopper” of the NBA, he is easily leading the league in terms of how many times he’s tricked NBA officials.  And who can argue against the label of being a dirty player?  In the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals, Fisher took a complete cheap shot at Houston’s Luis Scola. 

Also, can you blame the entire state of Utah for absolutely loathing this guy?  In their eyes, he went from a loveable  figure (with the condition of his daughter during the 2007 playoffs, where he famously showed up late after taking his daughter to a doctor in New York for treatment drained a game-winning 3 pointer to help the Jazz K.O. Golden State) to a complete scoundrel.   Not just because he ditched the Jazz that offseason to join the Lakers, but also for the reason behind it:  he apparently thought that there were no doctors near Salt Lake City that were good enough to treat his daughter.  Huh?  Talk about adding salt to the wound.

The weirdest part about this is the fact that Fisher is the President of the NBA Players Association.  If you’re a player and you get in trouble with the league front office – be it a fine or suspension – D-Fish is the guy you need to stand by your side.  How weird must that be for guys that hate playing him (and vice versa)? That’s like asking your ex-girlfriend to put in a good word for you to your future wife’s parents.  Maybe he’s good at not holding grudges.  But I doubt it.

If Robert Horry were still playing, I think the two of them would be tied at this spot.   The fact that both of them can get inside their opponents’ heads and hit ridiculously clutch shots throughout their careers has given plenty of ammo for anti-Lakers fans to hate them.

3.  Bruce Bowen

I know, I know – he recently retired.  But he really deserves to be on this list.  Aside from many players who have publicly trashed Bowen in press conferences, how many of Bowen’s opponents have completely avoided any questions from the press regarding their opinions about him?  Probably about 100. Drawing criticism from both coaches and players (and famously dubbed the “Edward Scissorhands” nickname from Phil Jackson, citing Bowen’s physical-player grab-and-hold tactics), Bowen is both respected and hated for his ability to get under his opponents’ skin.  From Ray Allen to Steve Francis to Vince Carter to Steve Nash, Bowen has been constantly accused of playing dirty. 

Ray Allen, among many players, have expressed disdain over Bowen's play

Questions about Bowen’s defensive tactics came to light particularly after he puts his foot underneath players after they shoot –same manner in this video of him guarding New York Knicks guards Steve Francis and Jamal Crawford.  In fact, Isiah Thomas reportedly told his players to “break his ------- foot” if they saw Bowen do that to another player.  How does he get away with this?  I say it’s because of his super nice personality off the court.  I’m sure he’s very diplomatic with NBA officials and the league office whenever he’s asked about his defensive strategy.

Dirty or not, Spurs coach Greg Popovich has used Bowen masterfully, having covered top scorers like Dirk Nowitzki very effectively.  But effective or not, Bowen’s physical play did not make very many friends (or fans outside of San Antonio).  And he’s succeeded and won championships because of it.

2.  Kobe Bryant

Before this off-season, Kobe has been the clear-cut number 1 on this list for several years. 

Now before I break down all the things he’s done to solidify his villainy, I’ll say this:  his popularity has definitely recovered since the mind-boggling rape accusations (a tremendously HUGE blow to his image, regardless of whether or not he was at fault).  To his defense, Kobe has been in a no-win situation -both on and off the court.  In games, he is criticized whenever his team loses and he takes too many shots.  When he doesn’t shoot that much and the Lakers lose, he is criticized for not carrying the load.  When the Lakers lose and Kobe gets on his teammates, he is seen as a total a-hole. 

As much as Laker fans want to defend Kobe, it’s hard not to hold him accountable as to why he’s had so much more difficulty with keeping a good image than most superstars in the NBA.  Now I know this is irritating to both Kobe and Jordan fans (and me), but I’m going to compare Kobe to MJ’s golden standard:  Did Jordan get the same criticism for shooting too much (or too little)?  Maybe he did very early in his career, but he was winning championships left and right ever since.  Did MJ ever (publicly) demand a trade?  Absolutely not. 

Before I go on and on comparing Kobe to MJ, take a look at this must-read article:  an extremely solid case breaking down MJ vs. Kobe by Skip Bayless.  It will save me from spinning wheels trying to explain this. 

Why was Kobe so hated?  For one, he was widely regarded as a not-so-pleasant teammate.  Many sources blamed him for his rocky relationship with Shaq and breaking up the Shaq-Kobe duo.  In all fairness, Shaq was probably not the easiest teammate to play with – just ask Penny Hardaway.  But Kobe’s competitiveness often got the best of him in many interpersonal situations with teammates and coaches.  In his earlier days as a Laker, Kobe was widely regarded as a loner.  He has made more of an effort to be outgoing and social with his current teammates, but he clearly had problems getting along with people early on in his career.  Even coaches have publicly complained about him.  Phil Jackson famously described Kobe as “uncoachable” in his book.  Is he a good teammate?  This can be questionable as well.  If I’m Andrew Bynum, I don’t think I could stand playing with him.  He was infamously caught on tape bashing Mitch Kupchak’s decision to refuse trading Bynum for Jason Kidd.  Remember when he accidentally injured Andrew Bynum in the middle of the 2008-09 season?  Pay close attention to his initial reaction.  It really seemed as though he was feeling more upset about possibly missing out on a title than he was genuinely concerned for his teammate.

Shaq and Kobe couldn't put their egos aside, and Shaq moved elsewhere

We all know Kobe wants to win more than anybody.  But how is his attitude when his team faces adversity?  Kobe has had several games where he quit on his team.  I don’t know how you can spin it any other way.  The two such episodes that come to mind are Game 7 vs. Phoenix in 2006 and Game 6 vs. Boston in 2008.  In that game vs. Phoenix, Kobe took one shot attempt during the entire 2^nd half.  Even Charles Barkley called him out, saying Kobe was trying to prove a point and flat out quit on his team.    Even during his offensive “explosions” of scoring 60+ points, some of his teammates were reportedly not particularly pleased.  Trevor Ariza got an unfriendly glare from Kobe after not giving him the ball on a possession during a 61 point, 0 rebound, and 3 assist effort vs. the Knicks.  A 61/0/3 stat line is quite the individual accomplishment, but hardly indicative of any teamwork whatsoever.  

On top of the turmoil with his own teammates and coaches, he doesn’t exactly get along very well with his peers on other teams, either.  Ray Allen publicly criticized Kobe for his request to be traded, basically saying that Kobe did not “get it” yet.  Raja Bell, Ron Artest, and Matt Barnes have all had heated (but hilarious) run-ins with Kobe.  A very physical player, Kobe is not shy about getting physical with his opponents.  Bell clotheslined Kobe in the aforementioned 2006 playoff series, and bashed him afterwards – calling him a “pompous, arrogant individual.”   Artest and Barnes expressed dislike for Kobe also, but I have no idea why they completely sold themselves out by joining Kobe in LA. 

One of these days, I will write an entry on how fortunate the Lakers have been to win all titles that they did during the past decade.  But I’ll address one of these reasons right now: if Pau Gasol doesn’t get gift-wrapped to LA (which, by the way, was the shadiest transaction in the history of the league – as the Lakers did not even have to trade their 10^th best player back to Memphis), does Kobe really “change” into a better teammate, the way he is now? Does he ever win a title in his career again?  I have my doubts.  For all we know, he would have been traded to another team (in all likelihood, Chicago – but thank goodness that didn’t happen; the MJ comparisons would never have ended). 

If you think I’m a Kobe hater, read this article by Bill Simmons before you judge.  He lays out everything I touched on in a very comprehensive and unbiased manner.  I will say this:  despite his reputation as a villain and being criticized often by fans, coaches, and players alike, Kobe has obviously had great success in his career.  He is immensely gifted and has a terrific work ethic.  His desire to win is unsurpassed by many, and he has 5 championship rings to show for it.  He may not be the most popular superstar of all time, but he may end up being one of the most successful ones.  You just gotta wonder if he would have had more success if you took away some of the self-inflicted drama he’s had in his career.    

1.  Lebron James

This is a no-brainer.  Remarkably, he probably wouldn’t have even been on this list prior to ‘The Decision.’  But at this very moment, he is THE most hated player – perhaps in all of sports.  I’ve seen approximately 20 videos mocking his Nike commercial, where he tries to defend the manner in which he handled his decision to leave Cleveland.  Everybody on this list has plenty of ill-wishers, but I’ve never seen it get to this level.  Has anyone been rooted this hard to fail to the point where voodoo dolls and witchcraft are summoned? 

Just like these LBJ jerseys, Lebron's popularity burned. Big time.

Honestly, I’m surprised he wasn’t more unpopular prior to free agency.  Everyone pays a lot more attention NOW to his poor choice of words in several press conferences.  But it’s not like he got worse – he’s never been known for being very articulate or making any sense.  Also, how about his constant teasing of the fans when it comes to entering the Dunk Contest?  If he truly cared about the fans, he would dunk.  Period.  MJ, Dominique, Kobe, Vince, Dwight – they all did it out of respect for the fans, whether they wanted to do it or not.  One of his excuses is that he doesn’t want people to think of him “as just a dunker.”  Well, that would be better than being thought of as a complete d-bag by 49 and ½ states, wouldn’t it? 

(On a side note, I can’t WAIT to see Blake Griffin in this year’s Dunk Contest.  He will be incredible.)

All of these guys have completely embraced their villain role, at the expense of their popularity with a majority of the world.  They are all motivated by the intense hatred towards them.  With so many people rooting for them to fail, these guys are wired in a way where they all feast off that criticism and ill wishing.  

My All-Star Picks

As an avid NBA chat reader, I remember ESPN's David Thorpe in a chat of his own answering a question regarding the seemingly superior Phoenix Suns trainers - given their reputation for helping keep older and historically injury-prone players (e.g. current Grant Hill, Shaq from 08-09) freakishly healthy. He responded by saying something along the lines of this: "Trainers are not unlike NBA players; some are better than others. Just because Mugsy Bogues and Shaq are both in the same profession, doesn't mean they'll produce the same results."

David is right on. This same logic goes with any occupation. Every profession has elite, average, and below average personnel. But obviously everyone in the NBA meets the standards of the being an NBA player. Similarly, every team has physical trainers that meet the standards of being a trainer (whether they have degrees, had specialized training, etc.), but clearly some are more skilled than others. For whatever reason (ahem, location), the Suns happen to have an All-Star team of trainers.

That said, I think of NBA All-Stars as the Phoenix Suns trainers' version of NBA players. Like the Suns' trainers, All-Stars should meet that elite level and have something to show for it - just as Phoenix has the health of Grant Hill and Shaq to show for their reputation. As Charles Barkley says, every NBA player is good. But only a few have something to show for it, whether they are reversing a franchise's losing history or helping continue a winning tradition. The obvious means for measuring that, of course, is team success. To an extent, good players on bad teams get shafted with this logic. But coaches have a long-standing tradition of voting for players on winning teams.

Assuming the starters will be those who are currently leading vote-getters, here's what you get:

This particular All-Star lineup favors the winningest teams, especially in the East. The one exception on the list is none other than Blake Griffin, whose performance on the NBA's worst franchise CANNOT be ignored. He represents all the hope that's left in the Clippers franchise. With each passing day he seems to get better, and so does his team. Anyone who gives that much hope to the Clippers should automatically be an All-Star, regardless of their current record. I do think they will climb their way back up the standings, though. Whether they make the playoffs, I'm not sure. I don't see it happening, though I am rooting for them. Griffin NEEDS to be on national TV during the playoffs. Has to, at least to make the first round watchable.

I'm sure some of you are going to accuse me of being a Celtics fan (I'm not). But can you ignore what any of those 4 have done? Which one would you take off the All-Star team? Pierce has been a steady, consistent scorer and remains their go-to guy. KG, as we all know, is their irreplaceable anchor on D. Rondo started the season storming out of the gates, greatly boosting the C's to a terrific start and breaking team assist records left and right. And the guy who most consider to be the 4th best player on the team, Ray Allen, may be their most valuable player in clutch situations. The C's would not have won many of their close games this season without him.

The other eyebrow raiser I should address is choosing Lamarcus Aldridge. Portland deserves at least one All-Star every year they are devastated by injuries (seemingly every year, now), yet manage to have a winning record. L.A.'s numbers may not blow you out of the water (21 ppg, 8.8 rbg, 1.2 apg), but he commands double teams and is undeniably Portland's No. 1 guy while the Blazers stay afloat in the playoff race.

Notable Snubs:

West - Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Luis Scola, Kevin Love, Monta Ellis

East - Al Horford, Andrew Bogut, Gerald Wallace

D-Will, Nash and Parker are perennial All-Star point guards, but can you really replace anybody on that list for them? The Spurs may deserve 3 All-Stars with their record, but it's harder for teams to have more than 2 All-Stars in the West. However, of all the snubs, one of these two is going to be the likely Yao Ming replacement in the starting lineup. My money is on Parker, given the Spurs' record. I know some of you will point out that Kevin Love should be on the team if Griffin makes it, but unfortunately there's not enough room for both of them. You gotta go with the guy that's reversing the Clippers' fortunes.

Between D-Will and Steve Nash, it seems unfair to cut either one of them in favor of Griffin or Aldridge.  Based on the way Utah's played of late, however, I'm not sure if anyone on that team deserves to make it. AK47's struggles have been a disturbing trend the past couple seasons, and Al Jefferson's arrival hasn't lived up to expectations.  Either Jerry Sloan or Deron Williams needs to be held accountable for AK47 and Jefferson's lack of production and involvement in the offense.  In the case of Griffin and Aldridge, their teams have no business making any noise in the regular season with a much weaker supporting cast (and with the Clippers, team reputation).  Utah kind of has to get punished, being a team that has high expectations.  I fully expect the coaches to vote D-Will in, just because of the numbers he's putting up (21.9 ppg, 9.4 apg).  But my selections are mostly based on team success versus expectations.

On a side note, is this the most polarized the league has been in years or what? So many teams having double-digit streaks, whether they're winning or losing. The East is very polarized, given that only 6 teams are above .500. The 7th and 8th seeds -- Charlotte and Indiana, respectively -- are currently 7 games below .500. 7!! The East is arguably more shallow this year than any other season. For every ridiculously good team, there's a ridiculously bad team. We might be witnessing the most lopsided NBA season to date. It's only going to get worse, as superstars on mediocre teams (e.g. CP3, Melo) will want to jump ship to a contender and team up with other great players. This spells trouble for a LOT of teams. With a probable lockout looming, contraction may become more of a reality than you think. Anyway, I'll talk more about this on another post as the season goes on.

The point is, there are not too many stars from winning teams to choose from in the East. I do think either Stephen Jackson or Gerald Wallace should be on the team, but only because there are not too many deserving players remaining in the conference.

Altogether, I think this is one of the more difficult All-Star selection processes there will ever be. Lots of great teams loaded with great players. There are many deserving guys that will get cut, but not ALL great trainers are able to work in Phoenix either, right?

Interested in seeing who all the NBA gurus out there think should be showcasing their skills in LA on February 20th!