The Philadelphia 76ers haven't had an All-Star since 2006, when Allen Iverson representing the team in his last full season in Philly. Andre Iguodala may or may not have deserved an All-Star bid in year's past, but with the Sixers 17-7, sitting atop the Atlantic Division and receiving more national attention than they have in a long time, Andre Iguodala most definitely deserves to be there in 2012.
Detractors will point at his 13 points per game and say dumb stuff, but bottom line is Andre Iguodala deserves to be there. Our own Derek Bodner made a phenomenal counter to the Iguodala haters, so read it.
Luckily, it's not just the Liberty Ballers crew who think Dre deserves a spot. The national media has been lending plenty of support to Iguodala and the Sixers in general. Make the jump to see what talking heads put Iguodala on their imaginary All-Star ballot. Some surprise Sixers make a few lists as well.
Shaq, Chris Webber and Charles Barkley had Iguodala on their ballot. Kenny Smith left him off, but included Lou Williams. Chris Webber also had Jrue Holiday.
FORWARD NO. 1: Andre Iguodala. Iggy's offensive stats are nothing to scream about, but Philadelphia has the No. 1 defense in the league, and while the entire roster is pretty good on that end, the club has one defensive superstar ... and that's Iguodala. According to 82games.com, opposing small forwards are shooting an effective field goal percentage of 36.6 percent against Iguodala. That's ridiculous! If Carmelo Anthony is an All-Star -- he was voted a starter -- than there should be no problem with Iguodala being an All-Star. They just happen to thrive at opposite ends of the floor.
Eastern Conference Reserves: Deron Williams, Jrue Holiday, Joe Johnson, Andre Iguodala, Josh Smith, Chris Bosh, Roy Hibbert.
Just missed out: Luol Deng, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ryan Anderson, Tyson Chandler, Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Lou Williams
Why: Rajon Rondo would have made it had it not been for the injury. The next best point guard not listed to me is Holiday, who has been a go to guy on the Sixers, as much as they have one.
PG Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers are one of the league's surprise teams, currently holding a 16-6 record that has them tied with Miami for the second-best record in the conference. They're going to be a notable story in the playoffs, even if they're only the victims of a first-round upset, and fans need to get acquainted with their players. Holiday has been one of the major factors in their success, improving every game as a floor leader and, for the sake of aesthetics, versatile enough to play alongside one of the East's other talented point guards during the ASG itself. His stellar defense won't come across in an exhibition context, but he's athletic enough to do a few things that everyone will remember.
SG/SF Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers: Holiday is Philly's up-and-comer, but Iguodala is the best representative of what they do well: He's capable of playing multiple positions and contributes in every aspect of the game. Plus, for the sake of watchability, he's the sort of leaper that could catch and finish any number of alley-oops from the East's many quality point guards. Oh, and who doesn't like a story about a veteran finally finding himself after many years of sitting on the cusp of stardom?
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia (16-6)
13.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.0 apg
The 76ers are as much of an all-for-one, one-for-all bunch as the NBA can boast right now, but Iguodala has earned some All-Star love. He's a high-energy, two-way guy with a career-best PER of 19.2 and a strong resume at crunch time. Plus this one should be easy, considering coaches love voting for players like this.
Tas Melas, J.E. Skeets, Trey Kerby, The Basketball Jones
All three guys had Iguodala.
0 recs | 20 comments
Another mathematical fact
Turner Sports > ABC Sports
J.Michael Woodson - February 5, 2012
good to see the recognition. we could hop in a time machine and blowout the 96 bulls and still not get a thumbs up from some of the guys over at espn
J.Michael Woodson - February 5, 2012
Haha I love Jrue and all, but no way should he be an all star. Iggy should be a lock, he’s been playing at a real high level. It’s nice to see him get recognition.
Tj Singh - February 5, 2012 via mobile
It would be such sweet poetic justice if Andre finally makes the All-Star team this year while averaging a (post-Iverson era) career low in ppg! I guess when Ben Wallace’s game fell off a cliff and Dikembe retired, everyone forgot that defensive minded guys were also worthy of praise.
The Crooked Man - February 5, 2012
Marc Stein says NYET!!
He then goes on to extol the likes of Brandon Jennings and Kyrie Irving for their offensive skills…Jennings is his vote, Irving not quite yet, because he’s a rookie. I don’t know that much about Irving, he seems like a pretty good young player, but I would take Andre Iguodala on my team over Brandon Jennings every day of the week.
Offense is still king when it comes to All-Star Game appearances. Believe it. I’m pretty sure the real appointments will go the same way. Fans want to see 20+ ppg superstars chucking up silly shots and Blake Griffin jumping over sensibly priced economy sedans. This isn’t the Olympics, where it’s more “win” and less “put on a flashy offensive show.” Iguodala’s name doesn’t come up much when discussing guys who are going to put on a flashy offensive show for casual fans.
Given that, don’t expect to see Iguodala on the team. It lacks “charm.”
dweebowitz - February 5, 2012
So wait, a guy who panders to the 20ppg crowd doesn’t support Iguodala or Lou? Shocker. This guy is crap, and doesn’t deserve the titles, “analyst” or "expert.
jefu - February 5, 2012
You know as well as I do that only a player that scores 20ppg or more is a legitimate player in this league. Iguodala only scores 13, and the points he scores in transition don’t count, so we’re looking at about 5ppg. Wing players aren’t supposed to pass, rebound, or play defense.
What we really need is a shooter/slasher type with handles!
dweebowitz - February 5, 2012
What’s more, you don’t see Trevor Ariza, Larry Hughes, or Travis Outlaw making the all-star team, do you?
jefu - February 5, 2012
That’s because they’re not 20 ppg superstars! They’re mediocre wing players who don’t score enough.
dweebowitz - February 5, 2012
Well, Iggy may not be scoring 20 per game
But you can’t deny the fact that he’s still one of the most ridiculously talented dunkers in the league and isn’t dunking at least as important as chucking up silly shots in the All-Star Game? Imagine putting Iggy in the starting forward spot, then all 5 of the starters are capable of dunking on anyone.
(o.O) - February 5, 2012
Why should players be penalized for playing within a team concept? Iguodala and Williams could score 20+ points a game, but it’s better for the team if they spread the scoring around. Whatever you think of PER it is at least an objective measure, and by it Williams and Iguodala are deserving.
If Hawes hadn’t gone out with Injury, a case might have been made for him as well.
It is impossible for a team to win as many games as the Sixers have and not have two All Stars. It just happens that the team is very talented and has 9-10 players all capable of scoring 20+ points. When you look at why the Sixers win, it’s because of Iguodala’s all-around game and Williams ability to score in the clutch.
RickoT - February 5, 2012
Chicago has more wins and they’re only going to get 1.
yosoysean - February 5, 2012
They should also have two, but since Deng is injured….
RickoT - February 6, 2012
Defense is as much a part of the game as offense and yet it is always overlooked when it comes to the ASG. Thus why the team “All Star” is meaningless IMO.
EREX21 - February 6, 2012
I don’t get why Jrue is mentioned as an All Star candidate this year asides from the fact he’s on the Sixers.
secondroundpick - February 5, 2012
his defense has really stepped up – to an elite level.
jefu - February 5, 2012
That’s true, and it’s why I would put him there, but I get the feeling that some out there might be basing their opinions on his up-and-comer reputation and the fact that the sixers are winning, not from watching him play. Cause if they watched him play they would notice that his offense has been a bit underwhelming.
J.P.Melle - February 6, 2012
you cant be serious
look at the opposing point guards numbers against jrue holiday. jrue has not even come close to the defensive talent everyone thought he was going to be when he was a rookie. he cannot slide his feet..or stay in front of anyone. he gets steals because he plays defense with his arms and hands. thats it. and he doesnt care when someone scores..he just wants to run down the other end of the floor and score again. just watch him..i’d rather have lawson or lowry over jrue
jhard - February 6, 2012
ummm
calling dr. bodner, calling dr. bodner …
rs2100 - February 6, 2012
No D in the allstar game?
I have one suspicion about our players should they find themselves in the allstar game – contrary to what some are saying, they’re going to play defense. Actually, I would not be surprised in the least if they played stifling D, better than anybody else on the floor.
I remember reading somewhere that our guys played other players during the lockout offseason, and those players were talking about how our guys were communicating on defense and pretty much playing D on the NBA level. That’s Collins right there. I’d wager that our guys are so ingrained with it that we’ll find them creating turnovers and harassing players all over the court come the allstar game. And not only because its unconscious, but because we’ve got a reputation to protect now – its no secret that the Sixers are one of the best defensive teams in the league.
JKM-76- - February 9, 2012
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