First off, the NBA All-Star Game is something I pay as little attention to as possible except for the dunk and three point contests. Otherwise, it’s not worth watching. It’s a piece of junk where as a fan I worry that a Thunder player could actually get injured and miss time coming out of the break.
Putting that aside, I’m to assume the goal of the game is to highlight the best twenty-five or so players in the world and showcase them to the world in this gala Oscar-like production.
Okay. In my view the OKC Thunder has two maybe three players on their roster who I would easily rank in my Top 13 players of the league if I were a GM and putting a real team together for a real seven game series against say…the Golden State Warriors this post season.
After watching Paul George for 47 games, from my acute Thunder view, Paul George would easily make this thirteen man team. In fact, he would be one of the most valuable components of my team. My only complaint of Paul George as a Thunder fan is that he has coasted at times this season in games against lesser teams. But when the Thunder have played Golden State, Houston, Cleveland, Toronto, and Boston (first half) he’s been stellar. In the marquee games he’s been one of the best players in the league displaying his overall versatility. When Paul George brings his A game, in a word–it is breathtaking.
His stats this season are All-Star worthy even though the Thunder’s 27-20 record seems to be more of an indictment of him than is probably fair.
His stats are solid… 20.9 points a game, 5.6 rebounds a game, 3 assists a game, 2.1 steals a game (leads the league), and a PER rating of 18.3, 42.2% shooting the three ball. If I were a GM asked to put together a team of All-Stars to beat Golden State–Paul George would probably rank in my top five most valuable pieces to beat the punk Warriors.
So… who would be on my 13 man team to beat the Warriors?
I’ll rank in order of value my from my view.
1 LeBron
2 Kyrie
3 Russell (2&3 interchange with me but I didn’t want to be viewed as a homer)
4 Paul George
5 Kawhi (when healthy)
6 James Harden (Sixth Man, ha)
7 Crazy Greek Boy
8 Anthony Davis
9 Al Horford
10 Jimmy Butler
11 Steven Adams
12 Clint Capela
13 Aaron Gordon
This would be my roster. At times–Westbrook and Kyrie would not be on the floor together. At times they would, at times they wouldn’t. When together–I want Kyrie at the point and Russell as my tough, rugged hybrid guard using his physicality to back people down. I want both of them exploiting Steph Curry on the defensive end every time they can within the flow of the game. I want James Harden as my Sixth Man. I’ll use combinations of LeBron and Paul George to wear Cupcake down. I’ll make Durant work his ass off every second on the defensive end when he’s on the floor. I’ll put a healthy Kawhi on Klay Thompson or maybe use to Kawhi to grind some on Curry as well when he’s the hybrid guard. You notice I have Adams and Capela on my team. I want two different centers with completely different skill sets to give me what ever I need against the Warriors whether I play big or small. My bench of Harden, Crazy Greek Boy, AD, Butler, and Horford will not allow Steve Kerr much if any breathing space with his suspect bench. Aaron Gordon is my floater. He gives me roster flexibility depending on the flow of the game.
I like my team. I’d love to coach this team with Nick Collison and I think we’d kick the Warriors’ ass in five games.
This is the what the NBA All-Star Game should be. This matchup would hold my interest.
No one has been tougher on Paul George and the Thunder as a whole than me for their coasting so far this season. But the notion that Paul George isn’t on this year’s All-Star team is ludicrous. I have him No. 4 on my wish list to beat the punk ass Warriors.