In my few months of blogging, I have made it clear that I prefer to avoid too many mentions of NBA related topics. I also try to avoid blogging about other people's blogs. Well, I am 0-for-2 on that goal with this entry.
Mark Cuban is no longer an NBA owner who can hide behind the 'rookie owner' excuses and mistakes that so many of us "allowed" him to make in his early days with the Mavericks. He posted a "why isn't Devin Harris on the All-Star ballot" entry on his most recent blog.
Cuban, as always, knee-jerked to state that a panel of media were to blame. He wrote that none of the media types would ever be "GM material." Nice comment to make when you consider hard-working and knowledgeable media, like David Dupree of USA Today and Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated make up the panel. And, over the years, the likes of Dr. Jack, Mike Breen, Mike Fratello and many, many other big-time basketball minds spend a half-day of their lives pouring over the NBA rosters trying to make the right decisions for the fans. They often fly in for the meeting, too, offering even more of their valuable time.
Now, first things first. The root of the whole concept is a waste of time. The basic fact of the matter is that Kobe and Steve Nash are locks to start for the West in New Orleans come NBA All-Star weekend.
Secondly, the Mavericks have FIVE guys on the ballot. Josh Howard and Dirk at the forward position, Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse at guard and Erick Dampier at center.
If Cuban were to make a stand, put his neck on the line and write or publicly state - "I wish they had placed Devin Harris on the NBA All-Star ballot instead of Jerry Stackhouse," then he would have a totally legitimate point, somewhat worth discussing. (see Nash/Kobe).
Cuban too often criticizes people for things he frequently does himself. In this instance, do you think he should have checked on the rules of the balloting, the names of the people on the ballot committee, the reason the ballot has to be done in the manner it is done, etc, etc. BEFORE he bangs out the blog?
Do you think a good blogger/journalist/human being/NBA rep/team owner should check some facts before making public statements?
I don't know Mark personally, I really wish I could get to know him. I think he is great and I OFTEN find myself agreeing with his viewpoints. That is especially so when it concerns the movie industry posts he's made in the past. I just wish he would think. And-listen. He should get some advisers that he would honestly listen to and trust. He has been very successful. The ONLY way he will ever win in the NBA, is to heed the simple advice provided right here.
He needs to 'park' his passion for the Mavericks and his desire to motivate his own team at times. And, he needs to do that for the long-term good of his own franchise.
By the way, in the West, the team should be: G-Nash/Kobe, F-Marion/Dirk and C-Duncan.
(sliding Duncan to the center slot will result in a Duncan v Yao run-off that might cost the Big Wake Forest a starting role.)
I will write a blog on the East at a point closer to All-Star balloting announcements.
Lastly, some people, in response to Cuban's view, asked why the ballot is selected so early. Not real bright folks, I guess. The fact is - They need to get the ballots selected so they can run the voting program from early Nov to mid-Jan when they announce the teams. The ballot has to be printed and shipped and the on-line ballots need to be translated into a few dozen languages. That takes time folks.
I could write a whole load of other stuff, but I don't want to waste any more time on this. Mark? Take the high road and take the step all bloggers avoid at nearly all cost. Delete your entry or insert the name of the Maverick (or Phx Sun?) who doesn't deserve the honor of being on the ballot.
Note: Edit of adding (or Phx Sun was added on 11-19 as a legit option).
Fanatics
17 comments:
The Suns have 6 players on the ballot. Just explain why they have six and Jerry Stackhouse needs to come off the ballot, and the story can be over.
An anonymous comment came in with the note that the phoenix suns have six players on the west ballot. nash, marion, amare, barbosa, grant hill and raja bell.
I made note that Mr. Cuban should pick someone - like a Jerry Stackhouse - to be removed from ballot if he wants Devin Harris included. Mr Cuban could also suggest that Hill, Barbosa or Raja Bell should be removed for Harris.
Cuban took the wrong position in his argument, he should have claimed DHarris is actually a center...
The trouble with your post is that you presumably agree with Mark Cuban, but take him to task anyway. Why else would you say to put Devin on the ballot but take Stackhouse off? That tells me that you think:
1) Devin Harris deserves to be on the ballot
2) Some other players (including other Mavericks) do not
Cuban wasn't addressing the second point. He was only addressing the first, point, so how you can criticize him when he is making a legit argument is beyond me.
I don't think my post took anyone to task. I did point out that Mark took an unnecessary crack at some pretty dedicated and basketball savvy media types and that is wrong.
I also made the point that everyone seems to want to ignore, whether we are talking about the damn ballot or, come Jan/Feb, the actual All-Star team. That point is this - if you want to state that a player was wrongfully left off (ballot) or (team), you have to step up and name a guy who should NOT be there. It is pretty simple statement. No rip job. Just plain fact and honest truth.
Cracking wise on the likes of Dave Dupree or Jack McCallum was not necessary and the wrong approach.
Well, I disagree completely with your comment that he should name names as to who should come off the ballot. His point was that Devin Harris was deserving of selection. That's a simple comment you can either agree or disagree with.
And the fact that Sam Smith was on the selection committee, a man who has publicly stated that he has problems with Cuban, does give credence to Cuban's comments questioning the media types on the selection committee.
I was asked by a reader to pretend that I was on the 'committee to select the ballot' and I would have the deciding vote for Devin Harris or not?
Fair question.
I would put Harris on the ballot and subtract Stackhouse, who once was an all-star level player but is no longer.
If it came down to Harris or Raja Bell? I would go with Bell.
By the way - as long as we're having fun talking about this subject - the key reason we all love the NBA and like to discuss it - let's toss this out?
Everyone thinks that Isiah Thomas was the guy left off the '92 Dream Team. Fair point. He won his share of games/ titles (NCAA and NBA).
For that team, though, I think Joe Dumars or Dominique Wilkins should have been selected and Christian Laettner should have been an 'alternate' in case of injury. Laettner was the lone college kid and should not have been on the 12-man roster for Barca.
I would lean towards Dumars if that decision were mine. It was not!
Why does the voting need to take place from mid-November through January?
Why not start in mid-December when the season is all of 6 weeks old.
The fact that I can vote for the season's all-star team after 2 weeks of basketball is laughable.
An interesting comment from Brad asks 'why' the NBA all-star balloting program has to run over the Nov to January period.
I checked on nbacom and read the rules which clearly stated the program runs from Nov. 15 to January 20.
Last year, the starters were announced about January 25th.
I would like to address Brad's point. I agree, in a perfect system, the balloting might be held over an intense 1-2 week period, say from Jan. 5th or 20th, so everyone could cast a very intelligent vote.
But, the entire all-star game, fan balloting is devised to do one thing: create interest in the NBA and promote the all-star game itself. T-Mobile and some of the other sponsors want to participate in a program that can promote their products along with their association with the NBA for the longest possible period of time, hence the Nov to mid-Jan. program dates.
I touched on it in another post comment, but will state it again; remember, this is all supposed to be fun and a great way to enjoy the NBA and to argue with your friends and other fans about who you think should be an all-star. Then, to watch the game and enjoy it for fun.
It's an exhibition game, remember... not a playoff game that counts and decides championships.
Just cast your all-star vote - whenever you want - and don't take it as though it is the vote for the presidential election.
see this from espn.com site;
Duncan moved to forward on NBA's online all-star ballot
by the Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The NBA shifted Tim Duncan from center to forward on its All-Star ballot on Wednesday, boosting the San Antonio player's chances of making his ninth consecutive start.
The seven-member media panel that selected the players for the original ballot had Duncan as a center, even though he has always been listed as a forward. He was voted to start for the Western Conference each of the last eight seasons, but that streak would have been in jeopardy if he was a center.
Houston center Yao Ming gets overwhelming support from China and has been elected to start every year of his career. He received the highest vote total in history in 2005, and the fourth-highest ever last season.
"I think Tim would've done his job to the best of his ability no matter what category he's in. He just goes and plays," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said in San Antonio. "It's great that they did that, though, it makes total sense and we're thrilled that they made that change. That's what he's been, he's been that way [a power forward] for 10 years. There's no reason to change it."
Though the paper ballots can't be changed, Duncan will be moved to forward on the online ballot on www.nba.com. All votes he has received or receives in the future will be credited toward him at forward.
The All-Star game is Feb. 17 in New Orleans.
So, the ballot committee is willing to admit a mistake was made and remedy it.
Why wouldn't they now put Devin Harris on also?
Disclaimer: I am a Mavs fan. With that being said, take off Dampier if they are worried about having too many Mavs. Harris is a starter on an elite team in the league. He should be on the ballot.
It's likely that he wouldn't make the roster anyways with Nash, Parker, and Iverson all residing in the West, but give him a chance at least.
Another thought, why have PG and SG lumped together in the generic Guard category? Same question about SF and PF?
These are very different positions and very different types of athletes play each spot.
I have championed a drastic change in the way basketball positions are defined. In this day and age, I am sick of some HS kid stating, "I can't play the "2" because I'm a natural "3" ....
I like the stuff I'm hearing via ESPN's Ric Bucher who said on-air that they might go with "Bigs" and "smalls" in two sections for the ballot.
I have always thought that basketball in the year 2007 and beyond should have two positions... Point guard and "other."
Either you're a point or you just play the game and match-up as best as you can defensively.
Period.
On changing the ballot more and adding Harris? The door is now open for change on the Internet ballot, but the printed ballots are done.
If they would go 100% on line - they could make replacements when players (like Arenas) are out because of injury.
That said- I think it is more realistic to name the players on the ballot, then leave it ... the Duncan-gate fiasco is first time something like that has happened since the program started in circa '76 or so.
Would LeBron be a big or a small?
Get serious? Are you a fan of the game? Or a distant observer?
Lebron would be a "small" - exactly where he works during games, practices with the Cavaliers or when he plays with USA Basketball.
And, if you nit-pick on every concept, you will be like the govt. - and go nowhere.
And remember, I would champion two slots for positions on the ballot... Point guard - vote for one - Other(s), vote for 4.
XXX
So would LeBron, McGrady, Kobe and other non-PGs that often run the point, be listed as PG or as Other?
I may be nit-picking, but it is because a system that is already too general can't be fixed by making it MORE general.
In the NFL the pro-bowl doesn't have O-linemen as a generic category. Because Guard and Tackle are drastically different positions.
You can't be serious that Yao Ming and Raja Bell should be in the same group on an all-star ballot. Because SG and C are different.
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Thanks for your willingness to reply to comments though.
Well, I like all of your thoughts, I must say, but consider this...
I can remember watching the expressions of the NBA Eastern All-Star team and coaches when the West put out a line-up at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles that looked like this:
West:
PG=Dirk
SG=KG
C= Yao
PF=Shaq
SF=Duncan
The East wasn't thinking match-up issues, just juggling players and sent out:
East:
PG=Kidd
SG=Iverson
SF=Carter
PF=McGrady
C=Ben Wallace
(They quickly countered and sent Jermaine O'Neal nd Magloire in, as I remember).
PS: I would love a ballot where I could vote for the 5 best players in the conference, regardless of position on the team.
That is not going to happen, on the all-star ballot or on the All-NBA teams.
However, I truly believe that in this day and age, if you put one very good point out with four other players, very good things will happen.
To address your SG-C issue with Yao and Bell: If you go with three distinct positions - say (1) point, (2) shooters/swingmen and (2) bigs (PFs and Cs), then you might have a good suggestion for the league to cosnider??)
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