NBA 2010-2011: Players Performing Like All-Stars, but Could Be Snubs
The NBA season has been a wild one to say the least. Players who were role players in the past have catapulted themselves into All-Star Game conversations. Unfortunately, the NBA doesn't have the room to let all of these guys into the weekend's main event.
Here are some of the players who are borderline All-Stars this year, but should not feel bad about being snubbed if that eventually does happen.
Show Me Some Love
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Kevin Love
This is the guy I put as the picture of the main article for a reason. Playing for one of the worst teams, and possibly the worst team, in the league, Love has still managed to make himself a household name. The guy known for throwing outlet passes almost as beautiful as Kim Kardashian is finally living up to his potential.
Love is averaging 21.2 points per game and 15.7 rebounds per game...and no you did not read that incorrectly. 15.7 rebounds per game is insane. The guy works hard on the glass and does so even when his team is not winning games. He could easily give up and say, why do this if nobody is going to help me?
He has too much heart for that.
On top of the 15.7 rebounds per game, Love is shooting 44 percent from the three-point line. How can a guy who rebounds the ball that well, and shoots the ball that well for a guy 6'10'', not be an All-Star? Well, he happens to be playing in the same conference as talented forwards such as Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki and the next guy...
Griffin Ain't Easy
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Blake Griffin
The "rookie" of the year is his to lose at this point. And honestly, the only way he's going to lose it is if he gets injured again.
The human highlight reel has come into the league and replaced LeBron James as the guy who will be in the Top 10 every night, no matter how plain his dunks are. That's not the only thing he can do though.
The kid can ball. Griffin is averaging 21.8 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game. Blake looks like he's been in the league for at least five years and over the last couple of games has really looked special with a healthy Baron Davis. The team has been winning games with all of their players on the court (excluding Chris Kaman...who just so happens to be worse than DeAndre Jordan for the way Los Angeles plays).
Blake Griffin, like Kevin Love, could be a victim of playing in the same conference as Dirk, Melo, Durant and potentially...
Randolph the Red-Nosed Baller
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Zach Randolph
Z-Bo was an All-Star last season when he averaged 20.8 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game. Well, nothing has changed this season.
Zach is averaging 19.6 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game with a higher field goal percentage and less turnovers per game. Although his assists are down from last year, he is playing more within the flow of Memphis' offense. He is no longer the "get the ball and shoot no matter what" type of player that fans in Portland and New York hated. He plays smarter and plays to win games.
The double-double machine, who used to be considered a black hole, is suffering from not getting to the playoffs and he is doing everything in his power to get Memphis there. Unfortunately for him, that team has some issues on the court that head coach Lionel Hollins hasn't quite figured out. And also unfortunately for him, Griffin and Love playing so well could push him out of the All-Star spot he earned last season.
What You Talkin' Bout Ellis?
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Monta Ellis
Here is the guy who really never gets the consideration he deserves. It's weird that a guy can average 25.2 points per game, 5.6 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game and fly so far under the radar.
Monta has been consistently scoring the basketball like this the last couple of years, and this year he is passing the ball well. The guys on the team love him and David Lee called him the best player he's ever played with. He takes a lot of shots, but not out of the flow of the offense. He and Steph Curry form the most explosive guard combination in basketball and it's time Monta gets some recognition for his stellar play.
If people would only take the time to watch a Warriors game, they'd see how good Monta really is. It's hard to watch a guy with blinding quickness and an excellent feel for the game not get All-Star consideration.
Everybody Loves Raymond
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Raymond Felton
During the preseason, Knicks fans complained that this guy was no better than Chris Duhon. Well, now they can see how wrong they really were. Every knowledgeable basketball fan knew that Ray was due for a big season as soon as he could break away from Larry Brown's conservative system. I'm not sure people thought it would be this big...
Felton is averaging 18.2 points per game and 8.7 assists per game. He also had the first triple-double of his NBA career this season. Felton has been Amar'e Stoudemire's running mate this season and might be doing a better job than Steve Nash would be right now. He has the toughness and attitude that screams New York.
The team is playing great basketball and it is not only because of STAT. Without Felton, the Knicks would be under .500. He should be an All-Star this year, but he might get snubbed in favor of bigger names such as Rajon Rondo.
Al Be Back?
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Al Horford
Al Horford is exactly what you want from an NBA center. He plays hard, rebounds, plays defense and scores efficiently. The position seems to be gone nowadays in the NBA, but this guy plays it perfectly. Al made his first All-Star Game last season and he's playing like an All-Star again this year.
Horford is averaging 16.3 points per game, 9.6 rebounds per game and a block per game for the Hawks this year.
Horford is the unsung hero for the Hawks. Fans look at the team and see Joe Johnson and Josh Smith as the stars, but this team probably wouldn't make the playoffs without Horford. The problem is that Dwight Howard will take the starting spot for the East and it seems as though Andrew Bogut is going to steal the backup center spot from Horford. This is not definite, but it'd be hard to not give the league leader in blocks a spot on the team.
Carlos but Not Least
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Carlos Boozer
So Carlos Boozer missed the beginning of the season...big deal. He's been playing better basketball than every power forward in the East except Amar'e Stoudemire.
Boozer is averaging 20.6 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game in the 22 games he has started.
Boozer is the perfect complement to Rose. While Rose controls the wing, Boozer is a bruiser in the paint. He has excellent touch from mid range and finishes very well at the rim. There aren't many big men in the league tougher than Boozer right now.
Unfortunately for Boozer, it looks like Garnett is going to steal a spot in the All-Star game due to fan voting, and he could be the odd man out with the way Stoudemire is playing this season.
