Shorts: Bench Points

(Each week, From the Fifty Peso Seats has a weekly edition of shorts, compilations of interesting but short posts of developments and trivia about the sporting world.)

     The NBA announced its list of starters for the NBA All Star Game 2010 and as written in my last post, the starters were all the early vote leaders, except for Tracy McGrady who was overtaken by Steve Nash (Thank Heavens!)  and Dirk Nowitzki.  Now, I take a stab at the reserves and while the NBA coaches may differ in their views, I confidently state that my picks are all deserving NBA All Star status for 2010.  (Note: I'll be picking two guards, two forwards, a center and two from any position for each All Star team.)

Guards

Eastern Conference: Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo

      I've already stated my case for making Johnson an All Star this year in my previous post, so I think no elaboration is needed.  Rondo, meanwhile, has elevated his game another notch yet again, daring everyone to overlook him as an All Star.  Currently, averaging 14 points, 4.1 rebounds and 9.6 assists, Rondo's case for inclusion in the annual event is not merely his impressive numbers, but also the fact that the young pro has emerged as the Celtics' most significant player.  Even the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have categorically stated that the Celts' need Rondo to win.  Coming from those three, that's a heck of a reference.

Western Conference: Chris Paul, Monta Ellis

     Chris Paul would've been my starter and he certainly deserves a reserve spot if he doesn't start.  On the other hand, I have been riding Ellis and his ability (and refusal) to be a leader, but his game and his numbers cannot be denied an All Star spot.  This year, "Mr. Moped" is averaging career-highs in points (26.7), assists (5.5), and steals (2.2), keeping the oft-injured Warriors competitive in a lot of games where they shouldn't be.  Ellis is also playing a whopping 42 minutes a game, even playing without relief in at least 5 games already.  He may not want to, but he is emerging as a leader whether he knows it or not.

Forwards

Eastern Conference: Chris Bosh, Danny Granger

      There is no reason why Bosh is not starting other than he is playing for a small market Toronto team, so he definitely deserves a reserve slot.  Indiana's Granger is another deserving All Star.  The only bright spot in a horribly struggling Indiana Pacer team, Granger has bucked injuries to average impressive numbers, 23.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals.  Playing in the All Star Game would be a silver lining in this dark cloud of a season.

Western Conference: Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki

      While I thought to exclude Dirk from the starting line up, he definitely deserves to be an All Star this year.  The big German continues to carry the big load for the Dallas Mavericks and he is the main reason the Mavericks are one of the teams to beat in the Western Conference.  His numbers 25.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1 steal and 1.2 blocks should be more than enough to guarantee a reserve spot.  As for Durant, like I stated before, this kid has been dominant, scoring 30 points or more in 13 of his last 16 games.  Why shouldn't he be an All Star?

Centers

Eastern Conference: David Lee

     In my previous article, I felt Lee almost overtook Howard as the East's top center going by the numbers, so he should at least be an All Star reserve.  

Western Conference: Chris Kaman

     He is my preferred starter as he gives the Clippers a reliable player day in and day out.  In such an inconsistent team as the Clippers, having a "throw back", "real," back to the basket center is a godsend.

Two Other Players

Eastern Conference: Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace

     There is no sophomore slump for Lopez as he has been the most consistent player for the lowly Nets.  Averaging 19.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2 blocks, Lopez is the proverbial bright spot, giving eternal optimistics like me hope that the Nets have some sort of a workable future in them.  Wallace too has stepped up this year, averaging 18.6 points, and amazing 11.3 boards, 1.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks  and most importantly, keeping himself healthy and available.  While Stephen Jackson and his mid-season arrival gets all the credit for the Bobcats's surprising play this year, Wallace must not be overlooked. 

Western Conference: Brandon Roy, Tyreke Evans

     It's been a tough year for Roy and the Blazers, with them experiencing a freakishly huge amount of injuries.  Roy has carried the Blazers through the rough injury patch, but ironically, as the players started coming back, ROy has gone down with a strained calf injury.  Despite this, Roy is averaging a commendable 23.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal, definitely All Star material.  The Sacramento Kings rookie Evans has had a magnificent rookie season, leading the Kings and making them to be more competitive than their opponents would want.  While coaches shy away from picking rookies for the All Star team, Evans possesses transcendent skills, averaging 20.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals, which are absolutely amazing for a rookie even (or especially) on a bad team.

photos courtesy of new.yahoo.com, heycoach.wordpress.com

NBA's "Jack in the Boxes"

     Year in and year out, NBA superstars bring out their A games, being models of consistency.  Every year, too, there are "Jack in the Boxes," players who have flown under the radar before suddenly exploding into the world's consciousness.  In this young season, here are my picks for Jack in the Boxes.

OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies - He was a highly-touted pick and a high school phenom, but so was Kwame Brown.  When Kevin McHale traded him away for Kevin Love and Mike Miller, I began to sense a little bit of Kwame in him.  This kid, though, has smashed all expectations, being the first and only rookie since Larry Bird to score double figures in his first 20 games as a rookie.  He is obviously going to be a cornerstone for the Grizzlies' rebuilding project, making Kevin McHale look really bad for trading him away.

Jose Juan Barea, Dallas Mavericks - This former bench rider was given an opportunity to shine recently, and did he ever.  In the past week, Barea averaged 20 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds as a starter for the Mavs.  If he keeps this up, people will stop talking about how the Mavs are in trouble and Jerry Stackhouse will step up his search for a team that will give him minutes.

JR Smith, Denver Nuggets - I've always thought this guy could play, but I never thought he could get past his craziness to become a reliable player.  This year, Smith has not drunk from the tainted Kool-Aid container and has become a vital cog to the Nuggets' great winning run. This year, the sixth man has averaged 12.4 points and 4 rebounds per game.  More importantly, he is not throwing up wild threes and driving to the basket more.  Nuggets fans have to hope his uneasy truce with Coach George Karl holds up.

Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics - This young point guard was already a big contributor in the Celts' title run last year, but he has stepped up this year.  While the Big Three remains the Big Three, Rondo is now playing big, averaging 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.3 steals.  Already achieving his first triple double recently, Rondo looks to figure in the who's the point guard of the future conversation soon.

 Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers - While he was stellar during Spain's run in the Olympics, I wondered how his skinny 6'6" frame could stand up in the NBA.  I got my answer as Rudy has become a great spark off the bench for the upstart Blazers.  Fernandez is averaging over 11 points a game and he shoots at a competent 43.4 percent from beyond the arc.  If the Blazers make the playoffs this season, rest assured he will have a hand in that success story.

     The question now is, will they continue to be the biggest NBA surprises this season or will new players take their cue and step up their game as well?