Help pick the 3rd Team All-NBA Team

[smokeablount]

Opening up voting on the All-NBA 3rd Team in the above poll.

We voted on the 1st and 2nd Teams here:

1st Team: https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=99512.0

2nd Team: https://forum.celticsstrong.com/index.php?topic=99537.0

Please let me know if I missed anyone, especially forwards, where it looks like I might be a little light.  Thanks, and sound off here in the thread!

[Who]

C - Gobert
F - LeBron
F - Griffin
G - Kemba
G - Westbrook

Leaving out Beal was a tough choice. Very close between him and Kemba.

[Androslav]

IMO, Lebron "I've chosen 1, make that 2 more wins" James isn't deserving.
Just like Jimmy isn't too.
Injuries, poor results, alienating teammates takes a toll on his case.

My forwards:
1st Giannis & Durant
2nd Kawhi & PG 13
3rd Blake & Aldridge

[jambr380]

I went with KAT, Griffin, Aldridge, Kemba, Westbrook.

I realize I let stats play a big part in choosing KAT and Westbrook, but their numbers are too eye-popping to ignore.

I actually had to look up who 'DLo' was. Guess I am getting old 

[gouki88]

KAT
Blake
AD
Westbrook
Beal

I think LeBron will sadly get in, but I hope he doesn't. Would be the perfect bookend to a season that saw DWade miss the playoffs, the Lakers & LeBron miss the playoffs and the Lakers front-office go up in flames.

[Moranis]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

[gouki88]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

[Androslav]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

I don't think that even Kenny Atkinson believes he is the best PG on his team.

[smokeablount]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

Yeah I think I'd rank Russell ahead of Beal because he lead his team to the playoffs.  Beal had a monster year but it didn't affect winning at all really.  But I have Kemba over both because Kemba's still in the playoff mix with a rookie coach and an awful roster with 1 game to go.

I had Kemba, Westbrook, James, Griffin, KAT.  I didn't want to pick James but I didn't really see a viable alternative. 

[Moranis]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

better passer, better shooter, better defender, and of course better team success

[Androslav]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

better passer, better shooter, better defender, and of course better team success

Is Russell a better defender than any other NBA player?
Injured IT excluded.

[Big333223]

Lebron and Griffin as forwards.

Westbrook is insane. He's putting up counting stats that should have him in the MVP conversation but his efficiency numbers (and the padding of those counting stats) have to drag him down. But not out of the top 15, I don't think. So I've got him in.

If Gobert is the favorite to be DPOY again and he's scoring 16 ppg on 66% from the floor, there's an argument he's the best player on a 50 win team. That trumps KAT's amazing stats.

And then I've got Beal narrowly over Kemba. It's amazing how close their stats are when you look at them side-by-side. I give Beal credit for stepping up and trying to make a respectable season out of the dumpster fire year Washington was having. This is the toughest one, though.

[gouki88]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

better passer, better shooter, better defender, and of course better team success

Better shooter?? Are you serious?

This is Russell's first season at 36% or higher. Meanwhile this is the first time in Beal's entire career that he's shot below 37.5% from deep, but I think that can be attributed to him really being the sole offensive threat on the Wizards.

Better defender is also pretty arguable.

[Moranis]

Towns, Griffin, James, Westbrook, Russell

Interesting. Why do you think Russell gets in ahead of Beal? Team success?

better passer, better shooter, better defender, and of course better team success

Better shooter?? Are you serious?

This is Russell's first season at 36% or higher. Meanwhile this is the first time in Beal's entire career that he's shot below 37.5% from deep, but I think that can be attributed to him really being the sole offensive threat on the Wizards.

Better defender is also pretty arguable.

Sure but this is the season we are looking at and Russell had a better shooting season than Beal.  Why do I care about their past when I'm picking an award for this season?