Will the Sixers have an All-Star in 2010-2011?

by Jordan Sams on Sep 2, 2010 6:00 AM PDT in Features

The Sixers haven't had an All-Star since Allen Iverson in 2006. The only other franchises who haven't had an All-Star since then are the Bucks, Warriors and Kings. Will a current player end the drought this February? Let's take a look at the reserves for last year's Eastern Conference All-Stars.

I think Rose, Rondo, Pierce and Bosh are all locks to make it again, barring injury. I also think two spots will be occupied by Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire, who moved to the Eastern Conference this summer. And David Lee is out since he's no longer in the East.

As far as the starters 'Bron, Wade and Dwight are locks. Joe Johnson and KG probably won't start again, but I'd bet on Johnson still making the team. KG is a question mark, so it's hard to assume he'll be an All-Star again.

So we got Wade, LeBron, Bosh, Dwight, Joe Johnson, Rose, Rondo, Pierce, Boozer and Amare as my near-locks. That leaves two spots open for Sixers. Here are my two candidates, and the odds I've given them to make the team.

Andre Iguodala (35 to 1)

Three things need to happen for Iguodala to have a chance. Most importantly, the Sixers record has to be over .500. The odds of that happening in itself aren't promising. Secondly, Iguodala has to be putting up great numbers. Either he has to hit the 20-points per game plateau, or something like 18-6-6. Lastly, he needs to be locking down his opponent night-after-night. Even if all three are accomplished, he'll still have a ton of competition from Horford, KG, Josh Smith, Gerald Wallace, Danny Granger, etc.

Evan Turner (60 to 1)

I can almost guarantee that Evan Turner won't be as good Andre Iguodala his rookie season. However; he has a good chance to become more popular and the named "face of the franchise". Turner already comes into his rookie season with hype from his college career and the luster with being the number two overall pick. Turner also has a chance to put up "sexy" numbers in Doug Collins offensive system. Pair the hype with the numbers and if the Sixers are a surprisingly good team come mid-season, the Turner for All-Star campaign might gain some steam. But keep in mind, rookies rarely make All-Star teams. LeBron, Carmelo, Durant, Evans -- the stud rookies over the past decade -- haven't cracked the All-Star team.

So, in case you haven't noticed, the answer to the question Will the Sixers have an All-Star in 2010-2011 is "probably not". That doesn't necessarily mean they won't have All-Star caliber players though. I'd argue they've had one in Iguodala for a few years. Being an All-Star is a cool achievement for players, fans, and franchises, but it's more a popularity contest and team achievement award than an acknowledgement of the 12 best players in each conference.

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Comments

Iguodala

I just think he has too much competition at his spot to grab a spot this year. He will likely put up numbers that will be borderline All-Star numbers but I don’t think he will be able to beat out other players at his position.

The Mikan Drill

by JoshuaR on Sep 2, 2010 6:09 AM PDT reply actions

What odds do you give Wall for making the all star team?

by Tron79 on Sep 2, 2010 9:04 AM PDT reply actions

60 to 1.

Lebron didn’t make it to the all star game his rookie year, and he was the mosted hyped kid since Shaq came out. Who was the last rookie to make an all star team?

by briztoon on Sep 3, 2010 3:32 AM PDT up reply actions

The Jruth?

You don’t even give Jrue a shot? I think he’s much more likely to make the all-star team than Evan Turner. As such a young player last year and judging from his end of the season plus summer ball, I think he will progress a lot. Still a long-shot to make the team, but it could happen

by ego on Sep 2, 2010 9:13 AM PDT reply actions

Lou Williams will get a reserve spot no doubt

by LouWilliamsMVP on Sep 2, 2010 11:07 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed.

Minimum.

I write about basketball players with Ridiculous Upside. I know you'll love it.

by Scott Schroeder on Sep 2, 2010 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought

Allen iverson got voted an all star while with the sixers last year? Even if he didnt deserve it bein an all star is bein an all star

by promullen88 on Sep 2, 2010 11:44 AM PDT reply actions

It was a sympathy and popularity thing, there’s no real reason to count him as an all-star, much less for any one particular team.

The compeitition(Granger and Wallace) are better then Iguodala is. Wallace is such a physical athlete and such a tenacious defender, he’s the captain of that upcoming Bobcats squad, we forget they made the playoffs last year. We don’t get to see Granger all that much, but I think they finally have their PG of the future in Collison and 2011 cap-space. If not this yr, then next when the Pacers improve.

Now, let’s revisit 2008. Iguodala didn’t get voted into the AS game, people blamed his poor November. That’s just it: Iguodala will NEVER be consistent for 82 games. He is what he is on Team USA, we have him in a horribly bad position with a horribly bad contract for what he brings.

Offensively, he’s our Samuel Dalembert. His post game is non-existant, his mid-range game is “eh” at best and his slashing game leaves alot to be desired. Like Dalembert, he should just focus on defense, rebounds and getting out on the break.

by LeQuan Glover on Sep 2, 2010 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

It depends on what the Sixers do, since I think it unlikely they will play well enough to be noticed, I have doubts about anyone on the roster making it.

With that said, Iguodala coming off a successful FIBA Championship, Jrue Holiday and Mo Speights have the best chance.

Iguodala has established himself as a man who plays on both ends of the floor and does some spectacular things. Coaches appreciate him even if fans don’t, and I don’t agree that Grainger or Wallace are better and PP is too old to perform on that level night in and out.

Jrue also plays on both ends, and has the ability to outplay other points. If he outplays Rondo, Rose, etc. he’s good a good shot.

Speights is an offensive scoring machine, and I see him in a pick and roll offense with Jrue or Andre as being a primary part of the Sixers playbook.

Unless Lou is a starter he’s got no shot at recognition, and I doubt that Turner will be able to break into the starting lineup in time to be considered.

by RickoT on Sep 2, 2010 2:08 PM PDT reply actions

Iguodala is a 3rd option who has been the second or last year, first option. To which he had one REALLY good year that blinded us. The rest have been mediocre. I’m about through putting my hopes on Iguodala becoming a consistent perimeter player in what, his sixth or seventh year? Sporting, VC is still a pretty good athlete and ballplayer. Orlando didn’t utlize VC right at all. VC isn’t a system shooter, he’s a guy you put the ball in his hands and watch him go to work. He should’ve played the Hedo Turkoglu role, they would’ve had more success.

If they put the ball in VC’s hands, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be as productive as he was the year before, as we now know he was the only guy keeping that Nets squad somewhat above dead water.

I love Jrue as much as the next guy and I agree, he’s got a high chance at making an all-star team sometime soon, just not this year. Again, I’d love to be proven wrong and heck, I think Jrue’s the best player on the sixers.

Offense isn’t just the only thing, you’ve got to be a solid defender to have a true impact and stay on the floor or at least be a good rebounder. Speights had an average summer league, but let’s not forget the utter stinker he put out the first game. He still hasn’t changed from what we see. And even on offense, Speights leaves more then to be desired.

He doesn’t pass out of the post, if he’s even in the post at all. His lack of a back-to-the-basket game irks me. He’s a big man that can’t dominate the post, WTF is that? He’s a bench player. Lou and Thad have flaws, but they can develop to be starters.

It’s amusing how sixers fans have hope for the guy LEAST likely to develop. I wanna be excited for this team too, but we lack 3-4 pieces which is good. I’m looking at another top 5-10 draft pick. The Sixers chances at mediocrity were gone when we traded Dalembert, that opened up a big can of worms revealing just about every weakness there is to this club. Enjoy, the pain will be worth it 2-3 yrs down the road.

by LeQuan Glover on Sep 2, 2010 9:59 PM PDT up reply actions

PER the last 4 years:
18.1, 19.0, 18.4, 17.8

Yup, the man is a model of inconsistency.

Derek Bodner

LibertyBallers || @derekbodner || derek.bodner@draftexpress.com

by Derek Bodner on Sep 3, 2010 3:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Do you wanna do a month-by-month comparison? Or should I just bring up last year where Iguodala tanked untill the games didn’t count?

It doesn’t even have to be a debate, I think we can at least agree that Trevor Ariza is a similar player, no? He’s paid significantly less then Iguodala as well. Rockets GM Darryl Morey(pretty smart guy, alot more qualified then me) just dumped him.

by LeQuan Glover on Sep 3, 2010 4:47 AM PDT up reply actions

I don’t think you’re qualified to do a month-by-month comparison, let alone a play-by-play comparison, or even just watching a game and attempting to formulate a general opinion.

"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan

by jefu on Sep 3, 2010 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Here's your month-by-month comparison.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/splits?playerId=2386 (09-10)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/splits?playerId=2386&sYear=2009&sType=4 (08-09)

2010 was arguably Iguodala’s worst season in recent memory… other than one blip (scoring wise) in January when he couldn’t find his shooting stroke (rebounds, assists all still there) seems pretty consistent to me.

by Court_visioN on Sep 3, 2010 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Someone already beat me to the month by month thing, but…

It doesn’t even have to be a debate, I think we can at least agree that Trevor Ariza is a similar player, no?

Not even close. No. Not at all.

Derek Bodner

LibertyBallers || @derekbodner || derek.bodner@draftexpress.com

by Derek Bodner on Sep 7, 2010 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

“which he had one REALLY good year that blinded us”

Are you referring to the year in which he averaged 19.9 ppg? This wouldn’t come as a surprise to me at all.

"I admire his competitiveness. As much as I admire it, I thought that he was trying too hard."- Eddie Jordan

by jefu on Sep 3, 2010 7:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Name every NBA player who in the last 3 years averaged 17pts, 5reb and 5 assists:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=woB6A

Answer:

Lebron, Kobe, Tyreke Evans…. a some mediocre guys who plays for the Sixers who I will not name.

by tk76 on Sep 3, 2010 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

LeQuan, most players change and improve as they adjust to playing in thw NBA and their bodies develop. No one, not even Jordan or LeBron or Kobe didn’t improve as they gained experience, the same was true of Olajuwoin, Ewing, Malone, etc.

Speights was not strong enough to establish himself in the post, so to expect that from him was silly. I’m not sure he will ever be strong enough to play as a back-to the basket player, but he can certainly be devastating in a pick and roll, taking a pass as he cuts to the basket, hitting the mid-range shot, or passing the ball back to his partner.

This is the time to project into the future and speculate on what could happen. For them to make the all-star team, it will have to happen. My best guess is that these players have a chance, based on improved play.

Never say that a players upside is to be a bench player until they develop their potential, its incorrect and depressing besides.

by RickoT on Sep 3, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions