Wahoo! Gil to start!

by Mike Prada on Jan 25, 2007 7:49 PM EST in Agent Zeroisms Comment 10 comments

Apparently, the Gilbert Arenas marketing project (the party, the the blog), has paid off, as Arenas made up 200,000 votes in about two weeks to pass Vince Carter and join Dwayne Wade in the all-star starting lineup.

The Takeover continues! (AP)

Obviously, the fans have made the right decision, as Arenas has clearly been a better player than Carter this season. He's clearly one of the 5 best players in the conference, and it would have been a crime if he wasn't starting.

The more interesting question is whether Arenas starting will have any impact on Caron Butler's all-star candidacy. Ivan Carter says that it will.

Gilbert starting also all but guarantees that Caron Butler will be selected as as a reserve by the East coaches though Arenas learned how that can go last season when he was passed over by the coaches and had to be picked by Stern. Butler deserves it. Those of you who have been reading this blog since training camp may remember that one of my predictions was Butler making the All Star team. He came to camp in the best shape of his life and has consistently played great ball all season. Also, is there a chance that Antawn Jamison will be added?

Think about it. Michael Redd and Paul Pierce are out so there are seven spots open and only, as I see it, a few locks: Butler, Jermaine O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Rip Hamilton and either Jason Kidd or Carter. Can the Nets get two with a losing record? Should they? How about Joe Johnson? Maybe Detroit's Chauncey Billups or a player from the Bulls? But which Bull? Antawn may have a shot, especially if the Wiz go into Feb. 4 with the East's best record and Eddie Jordan gets to coach the game.

Meanwhile, ESPN's John Hollinger continues to argue against Butler, claiming that David Lee (that's right, David Lee) deserves to be an all-star before Butler.

In fact, the main frontcourt rival to [Emeka] Okafor in my mind isn't Butler or [Luol] Deng -- it's New York's David Lee. Absolutely nobody is talking about him for an All-Star berth, but put his numbers side by side with any of these other forwards and tell me why he doesn't belong. He's shooting 60.6 percent from the floor, and despite playing only 30 minutes a game he ranks seventh in the NBA in rebounding, right ahead of Duncan.

Umm...yeah. David Lee has been a pleasant surprise, and Isaiah Thomas should play him more, but come on now. You're telling me David Lee should be an all-star over Caron Butler? Butler beats him in practically every category. You could extrapolate Lee's numbers for 40 minutes, but there's no guarantee he'd rebound at the same rate with extended minutes. Butler is playing the minutes, and playing them extremely well. That's all the information you can use here.

Still, Butler is by no means a certainty. I don't agree with Carter that he is now that Arenas is on the team. I don't see any relation; the coaches still select the team independently of the starters. Butler's candidacy will go right down to the wire, and while I certainly would put him on the team, he's going to have to beat out a similarly deserving candidate.

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all-star

yeah...but...he wasn't the lead vote-getter.

gilbert will now take vengeance on all of america for not giving him the most votes.

Every single person who crosses Gilbert's path will have 50 points dropped on his or her doubting face.

by Seth on Jan 25, 2007 8:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

vengeance

vote or no blogs..obviously they want blogs

by sirnanzy on Jan 25, 2007 8:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lee

David Lee is easily one of my favorite guys on the Knicks, and he's a fantastic player...but come on. There are good stat guys, and there are all-stars. Caron Butler is an all-star and Lee is not. Yet.

by Seth on Jan 25, 2007 9:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

its a fight

between luol deng and caron butler, and if you saw luol deng playing against dallas right now, i give deng the edge

by sirnanzy on Jan 25, 2007 9:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Schweet! It's a January 25th miracle!

I think Caron's got a nice chance as well. Let's all will this to happen folks!

by TheHype on Jan 25, 2007 10:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

january 26

at my place

i hope caron makes it too

by sirnanzy on Jan 26, 2007 12:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hoillinger Smokes Crack

I just sent Hollinger 2 messages, basically telling him to keep hating on the Wizards and Butler. This will just motivate him. Also, I pointed out that he is comparing Butler's D to Okafur? Come on, he is a shot blocking PF, of course he is better at defense. Hollinger picks Vincer Carter, who plays ZERO D and Pierce who is hurt. Then he licks David Lee's balls. Hollinger is a Wizards hater and all of us should ban from reading everything he writes.

Heck, Crawford and Curry are more deserving all stars on the knicks than Lee. I can name at least 20-30 players in the Eastern conference that deserve to be on the All Star squad before David Fn Lee. ESPN is a joke and no wonder blogs have blown up. F da Piss Stones. GO Wiz

by Mac G on Jan 26, 2007 1:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

For the record

I like Hollinger for the most part. He lends a really fresh perspective on the game, and he ends up being right more often than not (for example, he called the Clippers struggling, the Pistons being a 48 or so win team, and the Nets struggling). I just disagree with him on this particular matter.

Statistically, Lee is the most productive Knick, and his numbers extrapolated to 40 minutes would be all-star quality. Problem is, he doesn't play that many minutes, so the argument makes no sense. The all-star game awards players who are productive, not those that would be if they played. We know Butler is productive; we're not as sure about Lee.

By the way, opposing shooting guards are averaging a 14.4 PER at Carter's position, shooting guard. That's below the league average. By comparison, opposing small forwards are averaging an 18.4 PER on the Wizards (Butler's position). Something to think about before saying Carter doesn't defend. Hollinger's right that Butler doesn't play defense, but all-stars aren't selected for their defensive prowess. Otherwise, we'd have Shane Battier and Bruce Bowen dueling it out for the West starting small forward spot.

So please, the language is not called for, even if you disagree with Hollinger. He's hardly a Wizards hater. He just has an opinion I and you disagree with.

by Mike Prada on Jan 26, 2007 2:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sorry dude

Hollinger barely says any positive about the Wizards, EVER, Go read his chats. Always hating. He said that the Wizards chance of winning the NBA title was the same as Arenas's number. While I do not think the Wizards have the ability to beat the Mavs or Suns in a 7 game series, but Zero percent? Come on, that is plain hating on the team, pure and simple. I am not making this up. I apologize for the Fn bombs. I had a few to drink last nite while writing that. If it helps any, my girl got mad at me cuz I was "blogging" while she waiting naked in bed, hollar, go Bullets.

by Mac G on Jan 26, 2007 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

When you're more important than a girlfriend...

I guess you're doing something right. I feel honored.

Hollinger has not been so high on the Wiz, correct. Just please don't use the term "hater." It's dumb and makes us sound like a message board of idiots, which I know we aren't.

by Mike Prada on Jan 26, 2007 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs