Kaman votes no on Gasol, Bynum in All-Star game

[duncan228]

Kaman votes no on Gasol, Bynum in All-Star game (http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2010/01/22/kaman-votes-no-on-gasol-bynum-in-all-star-game/28969/)
by Janis Carr
OC Register

Sour grapes or legitimate complaint by Clippers center Chris Kaman?

Kaman, who has put up All-Star numbers this season, said he would be disappointed if Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum were named as All-Star reserves (http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/22/kaman-says-gasol-not-all-star-worthy/) ahead of him.

“I don’t think Gasol should be in it at all,” Kaman said when asked if he would be disappointed if Gasol is moved over to the center spot on the West team.

“He’s only played like 20 games (he played Thursday in his 25th out of 42 Lakers games) this year. I think there should be a number of games you should play. I think you should have to play like 80 percent of the games.

“It shouldn’t be 50 percent (of games a player has logged) over a guy who plays 90 percent and who has better numbers. Not just me. Zach Randolph, a power forward, he has better numbers (than Gasol). But he’s not on the Lakers.”

Gasol is averaging 16.8 points and 11.1 rebounds to 20.4 points and 9.2 rebounds for Kaman, who has played in 38 of 42 games.

Kaman also believes he is “more deserving” than Bynum, who is averaging 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds.

“I’d be disappointed if they put Pau Gasol in front of me. If they put Bynum (ahead of me), it would be disappointing but it would be easier to accept,” Kaman said.

Kaman went on to say that coaches shouldn’t consider team records when choosing All-Star reserves. He said the Clippers would possess a much better record if they had Kobe Bryant on their team.

The Clippers are 19-23 and the Lakers are 32-10.

“Some people probably go with the records,” Kaman said. “The Lakers are a hell of a team. Nothing you can really do about it. If I get in, I get in. But I think (my) numbers are better. But my team hasn’t won as many games.

“But… if we had a superstar, it changes the complexion.”

[TheManFromAcme]

Kaman = no credibility

[gaKNOW!blee]

still a traitor.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Kaman = no credibility

You don't need credibility to express an opinion, and I agree with him on both counts, but particularly that coaches shouldn't consider team records when choosing players. All-star is meant to be about who the best players are, although stupid fan voting has also affected that (ie. the AI/T-Mac debacle).

I respect the hell out of Gasol, but why does he deserve to be there this year more than Kaman or Z-Bo? Quite plainly, HE DOESN'T on the basis of his season thus far.

[21_Blessings]

Bynum and Gasol are both better players than Kaman.

[Cane]

After getting his balls ripped off I say he deserves a nod ;)

[namlook]

I respect the hell out of Gasol, but why does he deserve to be there this year more than Kaman or Z-Bo? Quite plainly, HE DOESN'T on the basis of his season thus far.

All stars shouldn't come from losing teams unless they are elite players. If a player like Wade was on a below .500 team I'd still give him the nod. However, Kamen is not elite and doesn't deserve it based on the Clippers poor record.

“He’s only played like 20 games (he played Thursday in his 25th out of 42 Lakers games) this year. I think there should be a number of games you should play. I think you should have to play like 80 percent of the games."

So if Lebron or Kobe played in 75% of their teams games they shouldn't be all-stars? That's stupid.

[Obstructed_View]

Bynum and Gasol are both better players than Kaman.

True, but neither of them deserves to be on the all-star team more than he does.

[j.dizzle]

Sons who gives a shit what that ugly caveman Kaman has to say..Nobody cares about him or the Clippers, the all star voting is nothing but a popularity contest.

[mystargtr34]

I think the Clippers record is good enough for him to be selected. I think the coaches still might vote in Pau and point to the fact the Lakers are 21-4 with him in the lineup, and something like 11-6 without him.

[namlook]

I think the Clippers record is good enough for him to be selected.

No it's not. There are only three other teams worse in the Western Conference. All-star spots should go to players on winning teams with very few exceptions. Kaman is putting up some good numbers on a bad team. Lots of players can do that. If he was putting up 28 and 14, I'd say yeah, let him in. But 20 and 9 on a crappy team? No. Not good enough when your team sucks.

[mystargtr34]

No it's not. There are only three other teams worse in the Western Conference. All-star spots should go to players on winning teams with very few exceptions. Kaman is putting up some good numbers on a bad team. Lots of players can do that. If he was putting up 28 and 14, I'd say yeah, let him in. But 20 and 9 on a crappy team? No. Not good enough when your team sucks.

The Clippers are what 18-22? If they are something like 10-30 then fair enough. Im not saying he SHOULD make it... im saying his team's record shouldnt automatically disqualify him just because they are a few games under .500.

[mystargtr34]

Personally.... i would go with.

Paul
Roy
Durant
Nowitzki
Gasol
---------
Randolph
Williams

I think coaches will reward the Lakers with two All-Stars since they have the best record in the league. Could even be Bynum if they deem Pau hasnt played enough, but id say Pau given they have been so-so without him.

Boozer could be a darkhorse, as will Kaman.

[mystargtr34]

Rondo
Johnson
Pierce
J.Smith
Bosh
---------
G.Wallace
Rose

Bogut, Horford and David Lee wouldnt surprise me given the weak Centers in the East.

[namlook]

The Clippers are what 18-22? If they are something like 10-30 then fair enough. Im not saying he SHOULD make it... im saying his team's record shouldnt automatically disqualify him just because they are a few games under .500.

I agree a team's record doesn't automatically disqualify you, but it is a major consideration. If Kamen was putting up numbers that were a lot better than his competition then Kamen should be an all-star even on a losing team. But he's not. He hasn't separated himself enough to warrant giving him a spot over guys that are contributing to winning basketball. After all this is what it's all about, winning. Losing should not be rewarded unless a guy is head and shoulders above his competition.

[mavs>spurs2]

I wouldn't go so far to say he's better than Gasol who's so skilled in the post, but I could definitely say that he's right about being more deserving than Bynum. It isn't the "who's younger and has more upside" game, it's the all star game, and Kaman is an all star this year.

[Chieflion]

Competition for the all-star center spots: Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol.

Chris Kaman: 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.4 blocks, TS% 54.1%, PER 18.3 (Team Record: 18-22)

Andrew Bynum: 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 59.9%, PER 19.8 (Team Record: 33-10)

Marc Gasol: 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 63.9%, PER 20.1 (Team Record: 23-19)

No bias, but Chris Kaman has been arguably the best player on his team, the same can't be said for both Bynum and Marc. However, his team has a losing record. Kaman has missed a few games and his absence led to mostly losses.

[mavs>spurs2]

Competition for the all-star center spots: Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol.

Chris Kaman: 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.4 blocks, TS% 54.1%, PER 18.3 (Team Record: 18-22)

Andrew Bynum: 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 59.9%, PER 19.8 (Team Record: 33-10)

Marc Gasol: 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 63.9%, PER 20.1 (Team Record: 23-19)

No bias, but Chris Kaman has been arguably the best player on his team, the same can't be said for both Bynum and Marc. However, his team has a losing record. Kaman has missed a few games and his absence led to mostly losses.

The article was about Pao, but Marc will be in this discussion next year :tu

[namlook]

Competition for the all-star center spots: Chris Kaman, Andrew Bynum, Marc Gasol.

Chris Kaman: 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.4 blocks, TS% 54.1%, PER 18.3 (Team Record: 18-22)

Andrew Bynum: 15.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.4 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 59.9%, PER 19.8 (Team Record: 33-10)

Marc Gasol: 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.6 blocks, TS% 63.9%, PER 20.1 (Team Record: 23-19)

No bias, but Chris Kaman has been arguably the best player on his team, the same can't be said for both Bynum and Marc. However, his team has a losing record. Kaman has missed a few games and his absence led to mostly losses.

It's close between Bynum and Marc Gasol.

Gasol vs Kamen: Gasol has better stats in FG%, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks... every area but points, and his team has the better record.

[Chieflion]

It's close between Bynum and Marc Gasol.

Gasol vs Kamen: Gasol has better stats in FG%, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks... every area but points, and his team has the better record.
And yet he is not the best player in his team, Zach Randolph is undoubtedly the best player on the Grizzlies. Then you have O.J Mayo and Rudy Gay who are probably better than Marc. Therefore, the edge still goes to Kaman.

[namlook]

And yet he is not the best player in his team, Zach Randolph is undoubtedly the best player on the Grizzlies. Then you have O.J Mayo and Rudy Gay who are probably better than Marc. Therefore, the edge still goes to Kaman.

You don't get an edge because you are the best player on a bad team. That's absurd. It's not even clear he is the best player on the Clippers.

And Zach Randolph has always been a cancer for every team he has ever played on. Unless he has magically turned his me first attitude around he shouldn't be an all-star either.

[mystargtr34]

Pau Gasol/Zach Randolph/Carlos Boozer would all be eligble to get the one C spot if coaches felt they were deserving - so there is more competition than just Kaman, Marc and Bynum.

[mystargtr34]

A player doesnt have to be listed as a C to be selected to that position, as long as they occasionally play the position. Which is pretty much saying choose a PF if no C is good enough. ie Pau, Boozer and Randolph.

[Chieflion]

You don't get an edge because you are the best player on a bad team. That's absurd.
They are not a bad team. Just because they are below .500 does not mean they are a bad team. The other guys are not even the 2nd best players on their own teams. That is what gave Kaman the edge with his stats and numbers. The Clippers could easily be .500 or below .500 this season depending on their luck, the West is stacked this year and Kaman's stats give him the absolute edge there, points specifically. You can't deny the extra 6 points from Kaman. It is harder to score points if the opposition focuses on stopping you.

[Chieflion]

Pau Gasol/Zach Randolph/Carlos Boozer would all be eligble to get the one C spot if coaches felt they were deserving - so there is more competition than just Kaman, Marc and Bynum.
That is a bad idea. They did that last time. All this does is to promote more forwards to masquerade at center and promote more small ball.

[namlook]

You can't deny the extra 6 points from Kaman. It is harder to score points if the opposition focuses on stopping you.

Teams do not focus on stopping Kamen. He doesn't draw defensive attention like the great players in the league do. He gets his because his team sucks and no one feels a need to try and stop him from getting his points. The talent on the Clippers is pretty evenly distributed. They know they will win whether Kamen scores or someone else on the Clippers does. If teams actually made him the focal point of their defensive game plan he'd be a 10 PPG player.

[mavs>spurs2]

Teams do not focus on stopping Kamen. He doesn't draw defensive attention like the great players in the league do. He gets his because his team sucks and no one feels a need to try and stop him from getting his points. They know they will win whether he scores or someone else on the Clippers does. If teams actually made him the focal point of their defensive game plan he'd be a 10 PPG player.

To be fair it's pretty much the same with Bynum though, teams are much more worried about stopping Kobe/Gasol and he get's alot of easy points off put backs, offensive rebounds, and easy dunks off passes from Kobe. Rarely do the Lakers run plays for Bynum to score the ball. His post game isn't that polished.

[namlook]

To be fair it's pretty much the same with Bynum though, teams are much more worried about stopping Kobe/Gasol and he get's alot of easy points off put backs, offensive rebounds, and easy dunks off passes from Kobe. Rarely do the Lakers run plays for Bynum to score the ball. His post game isn't that polished.

Bynum's post game is actually quite good. He has excellent footwork in the post. He just needs another season or two to be polished in the post. The Lakers have been running plays for Bynum in the post but he doesn't get as many touches as he would on a lot of other teams because Kobe and Gasol are the focus of the offense. On a bad team like the Clippers he would put up 20-25 PPG.

[mavs>spurs2]

Bynum's post game is actually quite good. He has excellent footwork in the post. He just needs another season or two to be polished in the post. The Lakers have been running plays for Bynum in the post but he doesn't get as many touches as he would on a lot of other teams because Kobe and Gasol are the focus of the offense. On a bad team like the Clippers he would put up 20-25 PPG.

I'm not so sure about that. His footwork and coordination still seem somewhat clumsy to me. I think in 1-2 years he could score 22ppg on a bad team

[Danny.Zhu]

Gasol is way better than Kaman. But Kaman is really better than Bynum.

[Ghazi]

Chris Kaman is a center with the scoring efficiency of a guard. His TO rate is extremely high too... regardless of the pretty 20/9, this guy is very inefficient and not a premier center in this league. Bynum > Kaman.

[TJastal]

Put either Gasol or Bynum on the clippers and they would be averaging at least what Kaman is easily. Gasol would probably be going for 26/14 a game on the clippers.

[21_Blessings]

Kaman the best player on his team? Haha. He isn't even better than Camby. Baron has worlds more talent than Kaman.


Chris Kaman is a center with the scoring efficiency of a guard. His TO rate is extremely high too... regardless of the pretty 20/9, this guy is very inefficient and not a premier center in this league. Bynum > Kaman.

:toast

Bynum would easily score 20-22 a game on the Clippers at a much better efficiency than Kaman does. The Clip Show would also be a better defensive team with Drew.

[mystargtr34]

Lol Kaman.