Shirts and Skins Give Advice on NBA Basketball

by Bodog Sportsbook | Feb 15 2008

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Q: Who were the biggest snubs? Please tell me a couple of players who should have been on each squad and who they would be replacing.

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Melissa - In a fair world, we would be watching uber-efficient Jose Calderon playing on the East squad, and block-shot wonder Marcus Camby on the West. Calderon would be replacing Jason Kidd (mostly because I don’t like the cut of Kidd’s jib) and Marcus Camby would replace Carlos Boozer (who is much less interesting than his last name suggests).

But why were they snubbed? This is the NBA. And, in the National Badass Association, All-Stars are “fun” first and “good” second. Sure, Calderon and Camby have the talent. But do they have the jail time? Or the bizarre self-promoting tattoos? Weird hair? Something. Anything!

Until the NBA invents an All-Skillz competition, these straight shooters will remain overlooked.

Jimmy - Jose Calderon should be playing for the East, no questions asked. He might get a sniff if J-Kidd eventually moves to the Western Conference, but if he doesn’t, it’s a shame. Baron Davis is having too good a year to be ignored, but it’s a numbers game for elite point guards in the West. It’s why Deron Williams will be watching from home. One other notable snub is Marcus Camby. He’s the conference leader in rebounds and NBA leader in blocks per game. Yet he got overlooked for David West and Carlos Boozer. That’s crazy.

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Q: Is fan voting the way to go? We can pretty much guarantee Yao Ming the starting center spot until he retires, due to his enormous fan support from China. Is there a better way?

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Melissa - As one of my NBA enthusiasts casually said: “The All-Star game is for the fans, by the fans.” I have to applaud the NBA for embracing one of humanity’s oldest systems of decision making: democracy. But, similar to the Samoan election of May 2006, nothing seems to be in place to prevent people from voting twice! What gives? My crack team says voting multiple times is encouraged by the NBA so folks without job or life will waste countless hours on its website. I think the NBA is actually owned by the Samoans, where this problem is clearly inherent to the system. Regardless, something must be done.

Jimmy - Honestly, who cares? All-Star games are for the fans. Let ’em decide the starting five… nobody remembers this stuff once the game is played anyway.

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Q: Who will win the Slam Dunk competition? Three-Point challenge? Rookie-Sophomore game?

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Jimmy - I like Jamario Moon in the Slam Dunk competition. He reminds me a lot of 1989 Slam Dunk champion Kenny “Sky” Walker in that they’re both 6 foot 8 inches, skinny and have really long wingspans. I’ll take Peja Stojakovic in the Three-Point shootout. Rookie-Sophomore challenge – I dunno. Sophomores?

Melissa - Slam Dunk: Will Jamario Moon reverse that popular children’s nursery rhyme by jumping over a cow before making a slam dunk? If so, he gets my vote.

Three-Point challenge: Steve Nash is used to getting all quantities of points. I’m sure three more won’t really be a challenge.    

Rookie/Sophomore: Inexperienced in both life and play, the rookies will be tempted to party too hard before the big game, and will undoubtedly leave the court open for the slightly wiser sophomores.

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Q: Which conference will win the All-Star game? Does the West’s dominance carry over to the All-Star game?

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Jimmy - I guess, sure, why not. You can never accurately predict what’ll happen because the game is a glorified exhibition with no defense. It’s like trying to handicap a YMCA game. I do think the East has a slight edge because of Dwight Howard and LeBron James, young guys who still get off on the hype. Most of the West guys will have a more “been there, done that” mentality.

Melissa - The West’s dominance is going to carry over for sure. Those guys from the West really like to win, much more than the average 7-foot Easterner. To win, you need points. Lots and lots of points. And, since the All-Star game is all about showboating, I can’t think of a better way to upstage the East than to earn an obscene number of points during the game.

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Q: Looking forward, can you make some bold predictions for the final 30 games of the season?

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Melissa - The Miami Heat are going to warm up from ice cold to lukewarm. That dry Phoenix air will give Shaq the hip mobility he needs to help the Suns kick ass near the end of the season. The Pistons will surpass the Celtics. I have a good feeling about it. 

Jimmy - The Spurs will make a savvy, under-the-radar deal to bolster their lineup and win a second straight NBA championship.

Isiah Thomas will NOT be fired.

Shaquille O’Neal will average a double-double during his spell with the Phoenix Suns.

Andrew Bynum will struggle to find his niche in the triangle offense now that Pau Gasol is there.

The Sonics will win the whole damn thing.