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Celtics Basketball => Celtics Talk => Topic started by: celticsclay on January 16, 2018, 01:40:37 PM

Title: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: celticsclay on January 16, 2018, 01:40:37 PM
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/16/16892432/nba-2018-all-star-game-starters-ballot

Bit surprising because I don't see him even making the team at this point. I think his other 9 starters make sense. Am I being too hard on Horford? If we were dominating the east a little more I would think he had a better shot. However, Raptors are only 3 losses of us now and will probably be even closer at all-star break given our upcoming west coast trip against the clips, warriors and Denver (all tough places to win).
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: kozlodoev on January 16, 2018, 01:52:33 PM
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/16/16892432/nba-2018-all-star-game-starters-ballot

Bit surprising because I don't see him even making the team at this point. I think his other 9 starters make sense. Am I being too hard on Horford? If we were dominating the east a little more I would think he had a better shot. However, Raptors are only 3 losses of us now and will probably be even closer at all-star break given our upcoming west coast trip against the clips, warriors and Denver (all tough places to win).
Horford is a nice player and all, but including him over Embiid, Porzingis, and Love is insanity.

Speaking about insanity, how about the fact that Kuzma had more votes than both Towns and Aldridge at the second voting return?
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: BMark on January 16, 2018, 02:07:57 PM
Horford may not be a "unicorn" as the term is commonly used now, but he is a quite unusual star player. He is a genuine two way, unselfish star who is devoted first and foremost to helping his team win.  Will be start? Probably not. Should he start? He certainly has a strong argument given his contributions to the first overall team in the conference.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: jpotter33 on January 16, 2018, 02:08:18 PM
I think Horford is definitely an All-Star, but certainly not a starter.

His box score stats won't blow you out of the water, but in the past year and a half we've seen just how integral he is to our success, especially defensively and his overall passing and playmaking.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: aefgogreen on January 16, 2018, 02:26:00 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Donoghus on January 16, 2018, 02:33:43 PM
Yeah, I mean he's been the ultimate linch pin on this team but all star starter seems pretty extreme. 
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: RodyTur10 on January 16, 2018, 02:38:37 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.

I made my own All Star teams yesterday and for the West I also had KAT over Aldridge. Apart from the center spots I had the same teams as this journalist.

East: Irving, DeRozan, James, Antetokounmpo, Drummond.
reserves: Wall, Oladipo, Simmons, Horford, Porzingis, Whiteside, Embiid.
just out: Walker, Beal.

West: Curry, Harden, Durant, Davis, Towns.
reserves: Westbrook, Lillard, Butler, George, Aldridge, Green, Cousins.
just out: Thompson, Jokic.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Chief on January 16, 2018, 02:40:12 PM
U can't win as many games as the Celtics and only have 1 all-star.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: celticsclay on January 16, 2018, 02:43:44 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.

I made my own All Star teams yesterday and for the West I also had KAT over Aldridge. Apart from the center spots I had the same teams as this journalist.

East: Irving, DeRozan, James, Antetokounmpo, Drummond.
reserves: Wall, Oladipo, Simmons, Horford, Porzingis, Whiteside, Embiid.
just out: Walker, Beal.

West: Curry, Harden, Durant, Davis, Towns.
reserves: Westbrook, Lillard, Butler, George, Aldridge, Green, Cousins.
just out: Thompson, Jokic.

As of today the 76ers are a lottery team. How would they get 2 all-stars? They are definitely gonna give a team like Cleveland (obviously not exceeding expectations but still the 3rd/4th seed) a second all-star before the 76ers or before they shut out Beal averaging 24-4-4.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: CelticsElite on January 16, 2018, 02:45:14 PM
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/16/16892432/nba-2018-all-star-game-starters-ballot

Bit surprising because I don't see him even making the team at this point. I think his other 9 starters make sense. Am I being too hard on Horford? If we were dominating the east a little more I would think he had a better shot. However, Raptors are only 3 losses of us now and will probably be even closer at all-star break given our upcoming west coast trip against the clips, warriors and Denver (all tough places to win).
Horford is a nice player and all, but including him over Embiid, Porzingis, and Love is insanity.

Speaking about insanity, how about the fact that Kuzma had more votes than both Towns and Aldridge at the second voting return?
porzingis and Embiid are on losing teams. Horford  destroyed them in head to head meetings
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Ilikesports17 on January 16, 2018, 02:50:04 PM
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/16/16892432/nba-2018-all-star-game-starters-ballot

Bit surprising because I don't see him even making the team at this point. I think his other 9 starters make sense. Am I being too hard on Horford? If we were dominating the east a little more I would think he had a better shot. However, Raptors are only 3 losses of us now and will probably be even closer at all-star break given our upcoming west coast trip against the clips, warriors and Denver (all tough places to win).
Horford is a nice player and all, but including him over Embiid, Porzingis, and Love is insanity.

Speaking about insanity, how about the fact that Kuzma had more votes than both Towns and Aldridge at the second voting return?
porzingis and Embiid are on losing teams. Horford  destroyed them in head to head meetings
Horford only "destroys" Embiid because we stick Baynes on him.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Moranis on January 16, 2018, 02:51:17 PM
U can't win as many games as the Celtics and only have 1 all-star.
Sure you can.  Has happened quite a bit historically. 
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: RockinRyA on January 16, 2018, 02:51:56 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.

I made my own All Star teams yesterday and for the West I also had KAT over Aldridge. Apart from the center spots I had the same teams as this journalist.

East: Irving, DeRozan, James, Antetokounmpo, Drummond.
reserves: Wall, Oladipo, Simmons, Horford, Porzingis, Whiteside, Embiid.
just out: Walker, Beal.

West: Curry, Harden, Durant, Davis, Towns.
reserves: Westbrook, Lillard, Butler, George, Aldridge, Green, Cousins.
just out: Thompson, Jokic.

As of today the 76ers are a lottery team. How would they get 2 all-stars? They are definitely gonna give a team like Cleveland (obviously not exceeding expectations but still the 3rd/4th seed) a second all-star before the 76ers or before they shut out Beal averaging 24-4-4.

Yeah I agree. Sure, Embiid can be an all-star, but having Simmons as well? Nope, you need a better record to justify your team having a second all-star.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Erik on January 16, 2018, 03:30:46 PM
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/1/16/16892432/nba-2018-all-star-game-starters-ballot

Bit surprising because I don't see him even making the team at this point. I think his other 9 starters make sense. Am I being too hard on Horford? If we were dominating the east a little more I would think he had a better shot. However, Raptors are only 3 losses of us now and will probably be even closer at all-star break given our upcoming west coast trip against the clips, warriors and Denver (all tough places to win).
Horford is a nice player and all, but including him over Embiid, Porzingis, and Love is insanity.

Speaking about insanity, how about the fact that Kuzma had more votes than both Towns and Aldridge at the second voting return?

For this season, I'd rather have Horford than anyone mentioned. He is the most important player on the best team in the East in which his salary represents about a third of the total payroll. His contribution offensively and defensively in our current scheme cannot be replaced by anyone outside of Karl Anthony Towns <--- the only player I'd trade for this season.

Not insanity for Kuzma. It's a popularity contest and a lot of Lakers fans compared to objective people / timberwolves fans.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: GreenEnvy on January 16, 2018, 05:08:43 PM
I don’t see how a 34-10 team can only have one all-star, unless you want to hand him the MVP right now.

Horford will make it as a reserve.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: tazzmaniac on January 16, 2018, 05:34:50 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.

I made my own All Star teams yesterday and for the West I also had KAT over Aldridge. Apart from the center spots I had the same teams as this journalist.

East: Irving, DeRozan, James, Antetokounmpo, Drummond.
reserves: Wall, Oladipo, Simmons, Horford, Porzingis, Whiteside, Embiid.
just out: Walker, Beal.

West: Curry, Harden, Durant, Davis, Towns.
reserves: Westbrook, Lillard, Butler, George, Aldridge, Green, Cousins.
just out: Thompson, Jokic.
Drummond?  He'd be behind all of 4 of your East reserve bigs.  Embiid dominates him on the court and statistically except for rebounding. 
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Celtics4ever on January 16, 2018, 05:39:23 PM
Quote
I don’t see how a 34-10 team can only have one all-star, unless you want to hand him the MVP right now.


Crazy fans is one reason.

As of Jan 4th . Lonzo Ball (LAL) had  120,817 votes and he deserves to be in the all star game about as Pres.  Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.   

But because of LA's he gets a ton of votes even though he does not deserve to be in the game in terms of his playing ability or skill level in regards to his relative standing with other players.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: keevsnick on January 16, 2018, 06:20:53 PM
The general consensus seems to be that Al should be a reserve, but not a starter. I agree with that, he should make it on.merit. the record of the team has nothing to do with all star merit in my opinion. Stars can be on crappy teams, and teams like last year's celtics can be pretty good with one or even zero stars.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: celticsclay on January 16, 2018, 06:42:16 PM
Agreed he should get selected by the coaches, but not a starter.  Other choices looked fine though I may take KAT over Aldridge at center in the west.

I made my own All Star teams yesterday and for the West I also had KAT over Aldridge. Apart from the center spots I had the same teams as this journalist.

East: Irving, DeRozan, James, Antetokounmpo, Drummond.
reserves: Wall, Oladipo, Simmons, Horford, Porzingis, Whiteside, Embiid.
just out: Walker, Beal.

West: Curry, Harden, Durant, Davis, Towns.
reserves: Westbrook, Lillard, Butler, George, Aldridge, Green, Cousins.
just out: Thompson, Jokic.
Drummond?  He'd be behind all of 4 of your East reserve bigs.  Embiid dominates him on the court and statistically except for rebounding.

Drummond has played in 30% more games than Embiid and the rebounding gap is pretty huge (15-11). Plus Drummond actually averages more assists (pretty shocking he averages almost 4) with 50% less turnovers. Drummond is also shockingly approaching respectable free throw shooting 63% and making him more of an offensive factor. Embiid actually has the worst turnover to assist ratio in the entire league. I think Embiid probably still may slightly deserve a spot over Drummond but it certainly is not as clear cut as you make it (dominates) and Embiid still has a lot of warts on his game (to say nothing of missing nearly 1/3 of his team's games). 
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: nickagneta on January 16, 2018, 06:42:44 PM
So an ex-Celticsblog writer chose Horford over more deserving players for theAll-Star team. Wow!!!Surprising ;) ;D :P
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Fireworks_Boom! on January 16, 2018, 07:02:56 PM
I love Horford. He can be our All Star. Let the league misunderstand him and his contributions. He is the king of dirty work and solid fundamentals and helps establish both ends of the floor. Very much the unsung hero of this team.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: KGs Knee on January 16, 2018, 07:06:58 PM
In terms of overall impact on winning games, I do not think there has been a better big man in the East this year, so yes, Horford should start.

He'll never get the votes over the bigger names putting up better individual counting stats, though.  But I do expect him to at least be a reserve.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Snakehead on January 16, 2018, 07:30:34 PM
One thing I have to say to a lot of media people is: how good do you think the Celtics defense is?  If you are buying it, as I think you have to now, who are you giving credit?  I think basically no one gives much that I have seen besides Al from a small crowd (and very deservedly so).  I think Smart gets way too little credit (he dominated in the second half on defense in the 76ers game).  Baynes is great.  Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can both be very good.  Kyrie is good. Theis is good.  Rozier is good.  I'm rambling and some do give the credit of course but I don't see it enough to talking about them compared to some other players right now. 

To the point of the thread, Al's has been great.  And how great he is in the screen and roll (even passing out of it) and how much that improves other players really matters.   He is the best all around player on the team (no disrespect to Kyrie, who has been quality on defense).

I am a homer to Al of course given he plays here so I was quiet on this for a while, but given how we see things now: how wouldn't you take Al Horford over Kevin Love?  One will do anything and fit in seamlessly and selflessly.  Sure, he won't get a ton of rebounds and maybe he doesn't make the flashly long outlet, but he plays great defense and is even better because again he embraces the role.  He doesn't care if he scores or not.   And on the the other end, the defense is always there.  You can play him at C and not feel at a loss, like you do with Love I think clearly, to defend.

I think here this may not be a hot take at all but I think to a larger NBA crowd it would and it should not be.
Title: Re: Kevin O'Connor has Horford as all-star starter
Post by: Moranis on January 17, 2018, 03:48:56 PM
Golliver, from SI.com, went with Embiid, but was torn between Embiid and Horford, so apparently Horford is getting a lot of love from the press.