NBA ALL STAR SNUBBS

The reserves for this years NBA all star game have finally been announced.  As usual their are a few names on this list that completely baffle me.

For some reason the consensus around the league is that a player on a winning team is more deserving of an all star appearance than a player from an average or mediocre team.  I strongly disagree with that notion.  No player can control the front office decision making of a franchise.  As a player all you can really do is work hard and be ready when called upon, some more often than others.  Although I do not agree with this notion it is an unwritten rule around the NBA.  I wonder what the coaches were thinking when Joe Johnson was named to this years team as a reserve.  Joe remains one of the best off guards in the league with his back to the basket.  At times this year he's looked  like the perennial all star he once was in Atlanta.  Those moments don't come too often and frankly 15.7ppg 3.4rpg and 2.8apg don't cut it as all star worthy.  Especially from a player on an underachieving team.  Sorry Joe!

Next I want to talk about the snub of all snubs.  On a yearly basis a few guys with stellar numbers will be left off the squad.  Anthony Davis being left off this years team is quite frankly a slap in the face.  Davis missed time earlier this season which may have played a role in him being snubbed.  Davis actually returned way ahead of schedule and managed to still play in 37 games.  Davis is averaging 20ppg and 10rpg.  Not only is he leading the league in blocks at 3.27 per game but also leads the league in total blocks at 121.  All from a guy who missed significant time.

Two guys who definitely deserve some recognition this year are Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins.  Cousins numbers are without a doubt all star worthy.  In fact I cannot remember a time in NBA history when a guy averaged 22.6ppg and 11.6rpg and was left off the all star team.  Cousins reputation around the league may have did him in.  He is known amongst NBA coaches as being unprofessional and a bit of a cry baby.  In years to come if Cousins learns to harness his emotions he will be a perennial  all star.  IT2 is having an amazing season and I hope everyone takes notice.  The feisty guard has posted excellent averages of 19.9ppg which is tied for 16th in the NBA  and 6.6apg which is 13th in the NBA.  IT2 has still has work but he has a shot at being one best players in league history under 6 feet tall which is a short list no pun intended.

The Last player I want to talk about today is Aaron Afflalo.  I am well aware and don't need to be reminded that Afflalo is on the second worst team in the league.  However Afflalo's steady improvement has been special to watch.  His scoring average has improved every year he's been in the league.  Afflalo doesn't really have an all star type of game.  He is one of the most efficient players in all of the NBA.  Averages of 20ppg 3.7apg and 4.3rpg while shooting 47% from the field at least deserve some recognition.  I didn't hear much about Afflalo when the coaches decision on reserves was being announced.

Lebron or KD who is the best player in the NBA today?

Tonight for 48 minutes the best two basketball players in the NBA today will square off in South Beach.  It wasn't long ago when the matchup of the year consisted of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James squaring off.  A combination of injuries and the slow decline of the of his athleticism has knocked Kobe off his throne and thrust Kevin Durant right to the top of the list as the NBA's elite. 

When Russell Westbrook went under the knife for the third time since last years playoffs due to continued swelling in his surgically repaired knee the onus to keep OKC as one of the elite teams out west fell on KD's shoulders. 

Durant has been nothing short of spectacular during the time Westbrook has been out.  Love or hate Westbrook but he is one of the top 15 players in the NBA today.  In fact Westbrook is arguably the most athletic point guard in NBA history.  His 21 points and seven assist are difficult to make up for but KD has been up for the task.

With three scoring titles under his belt KD is in the midst of his best season thus far.  Durant lost last years scoring title to Carmelo Anthony by percentage points and is right now cruising towards his fourth scoring title in the last five years. Durant is averaging 31.3 points per contest and has scored 1408 points this season.  Currently the second highest output in the NBA this year is 1139 points put in by Anthony which shows just how dominant Durant has been this year.  Durant is also in hot pursuit of the shooters triple crown.  Durant has shot 51% from the field, 42% from three and 88% from the foul line.  Durant is averaging 1.09 points on isolation plays which is tops in the NBA this season.  Kevin Durant is having one of the top ten seasons in league history in terms of efficiency.

Despite KD having a truly historic year, the four time MVP still resides in the city of Miami.  LeBron has been no slouch this year.  He may be currently overshadowed by Durant and Anthony recently topping the 50 and 60 point marks respectively.  LeBron's been there and he's done that.  In LeBron's last 10 games he is averaging 28 points, seven rebounds and six assist while playing a career low in minutes. 

LeBron's quest to win a third consecutive title will definitely be his toughest.  No team has won their conference in four consecutive seasons since the Boston Celtics from 1984-1987.  While Dwayne Wade's minutes continue to be monitored and Miami continues to compete with a depleted roster LeBron recognizes the importance of pacing himself.

Its been a while since the argument for the best player in the NBA has been so close.  LeBron has been the clear cut best player in the NBA for at least 4 years.  Kevin Durant wants what LeBron now has.  The key to the city.  The NBA finals wont be here until June.  Tune in tonight for a showdown and possible 2014 NBA finals preview.

KNICKS RECAP

The last time The Boston Celtics stepped foot in Madison Square Garden the Rondo less Celtics tuned the Knicks up to a 30 point beat down and probably their worst loss of the season.  So tonight's 114-88 spanking of bean town was nothing short of payback.

It may have been a win over a mediocre team and a franchise with a first year former college coach with zero NBA experience but the Knicks drubbing of the Celtics at the garden tonight may be the Knicks most important win of an obviously disappointing season thus far.

For obvious reasons the Knicks absolutely needed this win.  Entering tonight's game the Knicks boasted a 17-27 record only one loss shy of last years 28.  With the playoffs still well in sight it would be a deep blow to the Knicks moral to suffer a second loss at home to the Celtics during a rebuilding year in Boston.  Boston embarrassed the Knicks earlier this season and if the last years division champions intend on defending their crown a massage needed to be sent tonight.

Coming into the season the NBA's Atlantic division was thought to be a two team division.  Both of those teams reside in New York.  The Knicks and the Nets have both been sheer disappointments this season.  Brooklyn's recent resurgence as well as Toronto looming around the 500 mark but still in first place means the Knicks better get going on short notice.

It was definitely refreshing to see someone other than Carmelo Anthony contribute during tonight's game.  Carmelo is definitely in the midst of one of the  best stretches of his career.  Carmelo poured in another 24 points along with nine rebounds and four assist.  If New York can manage to finish the season over 500 Carmelo should definitely place himself in the thick of this years MVP race which seems to be a two man race thus far.

Tyson Chandlers performance tonight was encouraging.  It seems as if Chandler plays that much harder when the Knicks are losing.  His fire and desire reminds me of Charles Oakley during the 90's.  Chandlers 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half was a big reason the Knicks lead wire to wire.  We all know what the Knicks are capable of after getting off to a fast start.

For the Knicks to continue on this latest winning streak the team is going to need continue to get contribution from multiple sources.  JR Smith's 17 points tonight is exactly what the Knicks need from him. Nothing more and nothing less.

The Knicks next game is Thursday against the Cavs.  This is a prime opportunity against a disappointing team to string together back to back home wins and once again establish themselves as a dominant home team like they were last year. 

Well today is the day.  I know some of you guys have been hearing me talk about my new blog for a while.  For one reason or another life has thrown a few curve balls at me that threatened to knock me out of the game for good.  However, through perseverance and faith 2014 looks as if it may be a promising year for me.  I hope it is for you as well.

As many of you may already know I am an aspiring Sports Writer.  I am a native New Yorker and a descendant of the island of Jamaica.  If you know me well or have simply seen me around I am pretty sure you can tell I am deeply passionate about sports and life in general.

The purpose of this blog is to advance my career.  As a journalist I intend to relay information with objectivity while simultaneously chiming in with my own recollection and perspective on daily topics.  I want my readers to know me and I would like to get to know my readers.

In closing I would like to thank all of you for taking a short moment out of your day to read this.  Hopefully this can be the start of something big.  If you see me around don't hesitate to chat me up or even challenge me on one of my recent statements.