If it was Gregg Popovich putting in Tim Duncan over Chris Paul, people would just think its cute and 'typical' Coach Pop! I don't think this is that huge a deal. Just to explain further: Bosh WAS ALREADY ON THE TEAM from day one. (Brook Lopez was the actual injury replacement for Rondo, not Bosh) Spoelstra simply put Bosh from reserve to starting lineup instead of the next PG position. Spoelstra didnt even say "matchup", he said his own "positionless" philosophy. Spoelstra might actually get more cred in his locker room for supporting "his guys". Though if it was Kevin McHale and he REPLACED Rondo with Asik as the INJURY replacement, (or Jeremy Lin, goodness), then brought them in to START the game...McHale would be BLASTED and rightfully so Baseball changed its All Star voting process SPECIFICALLY cuz of biases like that.
I don't get it?? It's a coaching move. Bosh was CHOSEN BY THE COACHES as an all-star reserve. A player is injured, Spo chooses the replacement from the current reserves. Let's see, we have Wade and James already in the starting lineup, hmm, I know, if I'm a coach I put in Bosh for 2 reasons. 1. The east had a smaller lineup - a big guy to matchup with the West big guys makes sense. 2. Might as well let the Miami guys play together. Makes far more sense really. It's r****ded to say this is a classless move by Spoelstra... it's really quite sensible isn't it? In the end, all the guys on the team will get about 20 minutes, it's not like the 12th man doesn't play... Seems like good coaching to let 3 guys who always play together, play together.
Its an All-Star Game not Game 7 of the NBA Finals.... Who cares if LBJ is being forced to play the four (not like he is going to be guarded or will have to guard anybody. It is an ASG). Let me ask you this, is Bosh deserving of being a starter in the ASG?
The only reason this was done is so that Miami can become the second team since 1990 to have three players starting in an ASG. It has nothing to do with strategy because it is not an actual game but a showcase.
Ah... Kyrie fanboy or Heat hater? Both? U mad? If you really want to get into who doesn't deserve to start, it's Garnett.
Its a stupid AS game, not a playoff game. If you do bad...well it doesn't freaking matter. Bosh doesn't deserve to start, its as simple as that.
The people who 'deserve' to start in the ASG are the guys who get voted in. Bosh was the closest guy to miss out on the East, so with one of the guys who got voted in pulling out, one would imagine that the next most popular guy is the one who deserved to get in. If you don't like the system, that's your problem, but don't make bad arguments about who 'deserves' to be an all-star starter.
Yeaaaaah because that is how Spo made his decision........ The system (which clearly you are too damn stupid to understand) is starters get voted in and if one is injured, the coach makes the decision on who is replaced. The coach made a decision which shows an obvious favoritism and he is being (rightfully so) being called out on it. What bad argument did I make? Kyrie is statistically in a completely different category than what Bosh is in. Why are you comparing voting numbers between a guard ballot in which two guys easily prevailed (with two getting in) and a forward ballot in which two guys easily prevailed (with three getting in). I swear you are a moron.
Though there's really no such thing as "deserving of starting", since the starters are chosen by the fans. Starters determined by votes. Once any of those 5 starting spots are empty, you can put in whoever you want from off the roster to fill it. If anybody should be upset, its Brook Lopez who has a top 5 PER in the league leaving both Bosh and Irving in the dust. The only real kinda All-Star controversy was 2003 when Vince Carter was voted in as starter despite just playing 15 games, but everyone BIASEDLY wanted Michael Jordan to start in his place in his last All-Star game making it all "celebratory" (though the famous Mariah Carey "Jordan dress" made it worth it) To me thats actually worse. Even Jordan himself didnt want that. Or worse is maybe voting in ANY players who's played 15 games and less, or like for Magic Johnson voting in RETIRED PLAYERS
Wow. Good point, I only have one question though... Can I get some of the crack or weed you're smoking ?
Is - Luol Deng / Jrue Holiday / Tyson Chandler / Paul George / Kyrie Irving / Joakim Noah / Brook Lopez ? Every single one of these guys except Deng are FIRST TIME All Stars. Bosh has been an All-Star as many times as these guys COMBINED. No it doesnt mean he's had a better season than them all. But Bosh does have "seniority", best record in the conference and coach of the team against those guys. Kyrie has 4th worst record in the league. Overall I just don't think Irving is that major a snub from the lineup. That said, I'll change my tune if for HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE: Kobe got injured, I'd love for James Harden to take his place. But then Popovich pulls a "my guys" move and puts in Tim Duncan instead. Yeah that'd feel like a "snub". Not because Harden is more deserving than anyone else, but don't like some lame political move blocking it. I think the question would be worded better if it asked "Who do you FEEL should get more REWARDED?" I don't think anyone is very "deserving" since its just a big showcase anyway, but I think next in line like Irving should get REWARDED from a fan standpoint, if that makes sense.
I was mocking people analysis of players from choosing a "preferrable" player on likability, or preferring one over a "hated" player. To explain that comment in context: Someone said Bosh was a "borderline" All Star. But Bosh is actually a YEARLY All Star. (So was Joe Johnson. Thats the East for you I guess). But by definition there's nothing "borderline" about that. But in some Clutchfans circles, people would conclusively have a Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, someone like that over Bosh who have NEVER been All Stars. We can have our PREFERENCES, thats fine. I'd probably rather a Kenneth Faried than Bosh. Still in my view the All-Star is better than a non-all star, so I'm not gonna say the NON-All Star is BETTER than the perennial All-Star to fit an agenda. It can be the difference in Kevin Martin and James Harden. I said PF/C, though even if they technically can play lots of center will just say power forwards to keep it easy. (Yao & Dwight Howard considered just centers alone.) IMO Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are the elite 4's. I'd put Bosh in that next tier with Griffin, Love, Amare, Gasol, Aldridge, Randolph etc. On the lower end of the top 10. Slightly ahead of the tier of Carlos Boozer, David Lee, Paul Millsap, Josh Smith, etc group...the actual borderline All-Stars
That would never happend, coz coach pop its not a douche. He would put a pg coz thats the guy that went down. At least a guard. Not a PF. So dont bring coach pop to this.
