"I'd much rather see the young guys go out there and play in the game" -Kobe Bryant
If you are wondering what he is talking about, it's the All-Star game and how he shouldn't be voted onto the team. He's played six games! He even said he may not be ready to go:
"I probably won't be able to come back (to the Lakers) soon enough to be able to make my stamp or be able to make my mark on a game," Bryant said. "So my advice would be to focus on younger players, the Damian Lillards of the world, because they're more than deserving to be out there and playing that weekend."
If you don't understand the point of this blog, it's that Kobe is currently the highest vote-getter for guards in the Western Conference after playing only SIX games, and didn't exactly set the world on fire in those games. (I don't care if he averaged 40 PPG in those six games, it's still only SIX games!)
I've complained about this every year since my blog has been in existence. (Here, here, and here) It just pisses me off how stupid fans (or maybe people in general) are. I don't care if Kobe is your favorite player, he doesn't deserve to be an All-Star this year! Kobe is my favorite of all time too, but that doesn't mean he deserves my "sympathy" or "life-time achievement award" vote.
To prove I'm a man of my word, here's what I wrote in 2012:
"Anyone who knows me, would probably be saying, 'Well you're gonna vote for Kobe even if he sucks!' WRONG! I don't even think Kobe is the best in the NBA right now. If Kobe starts averaging 12 PPG, I would gladly vote in Kyle Lowry, Tyreke Evans, Monta Ellis, or whoever else is outplaying him. I have no sentimental attachment when it comes to who are the elite players in the NBA. Let's face it, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it's not called "Popularity Contest Game." It's the All-Star Game! So treat it like one!"
Ironically Kobe is currently averaging 13.8 PPG, so I wasn't that far off. (Although it happened a little sooner than I expected.)
The real bummer of it all is the fact that the West guard talent pool is absolutely stacked. If voting ended today, the two starting guards would be Kobe and Chris Paul. No problems with that; if they were both healthy! CP3 recently went down and will probably miss the game as well, so fans should vote in droves to get some new blood in there! Any of these guys could make swell starters:
James Harden
Eric Bledsoe
Steph Curry
Jrue Holiday
Damian Lilliard (Already has Kobe's vote)
Tony Parker
and maybe even Klay Thompson as well.
Keep in mind that this doesn't even include Westbrook, who will also be injured during the game. But if I was willing to bet, I'm guessing Harden and Curry will end up starting, even though Kobe and Paul will still get voted in, and not play.
And just for fun, here are the standings for the Eastern conference guards:
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 565,455
2. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 524,000
3. Derrick Rose (Chi) 299,950
4. John Wall (Was) 210,988
5. Ray Allen (Mia) 143,714
6. Rajon Rondo (Bos) 111,335
7. Deron Williams (BKN) 74,047
8. George Hill (Ind) 66,030
9. Lance Stephenson (Ind) 50,444
10. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 48,744
I'll leave this one alone, but as you can see the same thing is affecting the East (to a lesser extent).
All you die-hard Kobe fans should do what he says, vote for young guys that can actually play in the game, and make it fun for us all. (Unless of course those same young guys are injured as well, then don't do that.)
"I probably won't be able to come back (to the Lakers) soon enough to be able to make my stamp or be able to make my mark on a game," Bryant said. "So my advice would be to focus on younger players, the Damian Lillards of the world, because they're more than deserving to be out there and playing that weekend."
If you don't understand the point of this blog, it's that Kobe is currently the highest vote-getter for guards in the Western Conference after playing only SIX games, and didn't exactly set the world on fire in those games. (I don't care if he averaged 40 PPG in those six games, it's still only SIX games!)
I've complained about this every year since my blog has been in existence. (Here, here, and here) It just pisses me off how stupid fans (or maybe people in general) are. I don't care if Kobe is your favorite player, he doesn't deserve to be an All-Star this year! Kobe is my favorite of all time too, but that doesn't mean he deserves my "sympathy" or "life-time achievement award" vote.
To prove I'm a man of my word, here's what I wrote in 2012:
"Anyone who knows me, would probably be saying, 'Well you're gonna vote for Kobe even if he sucks!' WRONG! I don't even think Kobe is the best in the NBA right now. If Kobe starts averaging 12 PPG, I would gladly vote in Kyle Lowry, Tyreke Evans, Monta Ellis, or whoever else is outplaying him. I have no sentimental attachment when it comes to who are the elite players in the NBA. Let's face it, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it's not called "Popularity Contest Game." It's the All-Star Game! So treat it like one!"
Ironically Kobe is currently averaging 13.8 PPG, so I wasn't that far off. (Although it happened a little sooner than I expected.)
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| couresty: USA Today |
James Harden
Eric Bledsoe
Steph Curry
Jrue Holiday
Damian Lilliard (Already has Kobe's vote)
Tony Parker
and maybe even Klay Thompson as well.
Keep in mind that this doesn't even include Westbrook, who will also be injured during the game. But if I was willing to bet, I'm guessing Harden and Curry will end up starting, even though Kobe and Paul will still get voted in, and not play.
And just for fun, here are the standings for the Eastern conference guards:
1. Dwyane Wade (Mia) 565,455
2. Kyrie Irving (Cle) 524,000
3. Derrick Rose (Chi) 299,950
4. John Wall (Was) 210,988
5. Ray Allen (Mia) 143,714
6. Rajon Rondo (Bos) 111,335
7. Deron Williams (BKN) 74,047
8. George Hill (Ind) 66,030
9. Lance Stephenson (Ind) 50,444
10. DeMar DeRozan (Tor) 48,744
I'll leave this one alone, but as you can see the same thing is affecting the East (to a lesser extent).
All you die-hard Kobe fans should do what he says, vote for young guys that can actually play in the game, and make it fun for us all. (Unless of course those same young guys are injured as well, then don't do that.)
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