THE RINGER: DeRozan a dark horse candidate for MVP

[John B]

Jokic though

[skin27]

Jokic though

More deserving than towns..tbh

[exstatic]

West is probably too loaded with big names for Derozan to start...we all know that Curry and Durant are going to get the Warriors bandwagon vote, Harden is going to get the China vote (provided he gets and stays healthy), and James is going to get the "I'm Lebron" vote. Demar may get a boost from his old Canadian brethren, but still gonna be hard to beat out those guys.

That means that it's likely going to be a race for one spot between Demar, Westbrook, Lillard, McCollum, Thompson, Butler, George....the list goes on and on.

That said, he will surely be a coaches pick if he keeps playing the way he is and the Spurs continue to win games.

LMA, on the other hand, is really going to have to pick it up if he wants his 3rd consecutive selection. He's not quite playing up to the monster year he had last year (which is no surprise with Demar taking the #1 role on offense), and I feel like a big reason he was picked last year was the Spurs were winning games and they had to reward somebody. Aldridge doesn't get that luxury if Demar gets that nod.

Fan vote is only one leg of the tripod to select the 10 "starters". The media and the players are also involved in that selection. This was done to minimize any vote stuffing, like China or that year that Zaza was almost voted a starter.

[Dex]

Fan vote is only one leg of the tripod to select the 10 "starters". The media and the players are also involved in that selection. This was done to minimize any vote stuffing, like China or that year that Zaza was almost voted a starter.

I'm really glad they split up the vote...prevents stupid picks like Zaza (who you mentioned) or Kobe that year he hardly played.

Still think those 4 are a lock, though. Even outside the fan vote, they will all put up big stats and leading their respective teams. The only real questionable one is Harden, depending upon how much time he misses with his hamstring injury (which have a tendency to linger). That could swing the media and player vote.

[Kobe'sAchilles]

The biggest question is how Draymond makes it over actual All stars like Lillard. DeRozan will make the team easily and unless Houston turns this around really quickly, he will make All NBA 1st team over Harden. LMA is more of the wild card. Idk what happened to his jumper but it has fallen off a cliff

[bklynspursfan]

[BillMc]

Man that's cool. But Jabari is reporting it which means likely DeMar was first off the court and missed all his 3s. Guy's usually wrong

[Mirrornick]

We Talking about DePractice

[bklynspursfan]

Man that's cool. But Jabari is reporting it which means likely DeMar was first off the court and missed all his 3s. Guy's usually wrong

exactly

[Phenomanul]

Fan vote is only one leg of the tripod to select the 10 "starters". The media and the players are also involved in that selection. This was done to minimize any vote stuffing, like China or that year that Zaza was almost voted a starter.

Of course they changed it the year than Manu happened to end up with the 2nd highest vote count for two guards. Otherwise he would've been given an all-star nod.

TBH Manu should've been a perennial all-star from 2005-2011 (but the voting system kept him out).

[John B]

He starts nailing those 3’s. He’d be DeMamba, impossible to depend. It will open up LMA more.

[DAF86]

Somebody hide this article from LaMarcus, tbh.

[Immortal Spur]

DeCulture

[John B]

he sinks 3’s, Murray can be inserted to PG when he gets back. Then Spurs get a solid 3nD to slow down a Durant and we’re back up there. Forbes go back to 2nd unit with White. Spurs churning and pounding that rock!

[John B]

DeMVP

[StinkyWeezleteats]

Man that's cool. But Jabari is reporting it which means likely DeMar was first off the court and missed all his 3s. Guy's usually wrong

I was just about to post that

[RC_Drunkford]

If DeRozan can hit 3s above 35% and be a good defender...he'd be a damn monster.

As far as the All-Star game goes: I thought it would be team LeBron vs. Team Kawhi

[TD 21]

Actually looked at last year's roster. Butler is unlikely to make it because he may be moved to a team in the East or to Houston with CP3 and Harden and may sit out until he is traded. Cousins definitely won't for obvious reasons.

Best guess:

Starters: Curry, Harden, LeBron, KD, AD

Bench: Westbrook, Thompson, Green, LMA, Golbert, DeRozen, and Lillard

On the fringe: George, KAT.

It's probably easier for Aldridge to make it this year than in years past. His main compe ion may end up being Towns but that decision would be up to the coaches. DDRs numbers may end up being too good to keep him off too.

This is mostly correct, except Jokic should be bench and Aldridge and Paul on the fringe.

Even if Aldridge gets back to 85-90% of last season, this team won't be good enough to get 2 and DeRozan has the motivation that Aldridge had last season, plus the narrative going for him.

Also keep in mind, if Jokic, Green, Davis or Gobert is injured, the spot goes to whoever has the next most votes, which will probably be Paul or George.

As ever, Thompson doesn't deserve it, but will inevitably make it it because he's a Warrior (funny how that never applied to Ginobili and Parker simultaneously making it).

[Uriel]

Just wait until Aldridge gets jealous of all the attention DeRozan is getting and demands a trade to Phoenix

[ThaBigFundamental21]

No, that just shows Patty's level of court awareness.

Indeed.

[YGWHI]

Just wait until Aldridge gets jealous of all the attention DeRozan is getting and demands a trade to Phoenix

At least Phoenix still has the hot SunsDancers and the Gorilla. Not bad at all.

[BillMc]

At least Phoenix still has the hot SunsDancers and the Gorilla. Not bad at all.

Three Suns Dancers and their #1 pick for LMA and its a deal. That pick will be high and we can watch the dancers until then.

[YGWHI]

Three Suns Dancers and their #1 pick for LMA and its a deal. That pick will be high and we can watch the dancers until then.

[spurs10]

Man that's cool. But Jabari is reporting it which means likely DeMar was first off the court and missed all his 3s. Guy's usually wrong

Yeah Jabari doesn't exactly strike a note of confidence in me!! I guess he couldn't get a visa in Canada!?

[BillMc]

Yeah Jabari doesn't exactly strike a note of confidence in me!! I guess he couldn't get a visa in Canada!?

Probably went to the wrong country knowing Jabari.