He Kaman Took It - From a Deserving Player
by Kevin Sawyer on Feb 8, 2010 3:29 PM CST
in News
58 comments
Sometimes injuries to players selected to the All-star game can be a blessing. The league can remedy an oversight by sending someone who should have been selected by the fans or coaches. Or maybe it can find room for a player representing a team that doesn't have an all-star.
As the injuries pile up, the qualifications narrow. Maybe a long-time fringe candidate finally gets the honor, or an old fan favorite gets one last shot to be a hero. If worse comes to worse, the league can send a second player from a championship contender.
Or... It can send Chris Kaman.
The case for Kaman as an all-star can be summarized as follows. He averages 20 ppg. Oh, and he, averages... Oh, wait, I already said the points thing, didn't I?
His inclusion almost certainly owes to the perception that he is a great rebounder. My guess is that David Stern sort of Frankensteined Kaman's past rebounding numbers into this season. But Kaman's rebounding rate isn't even in the top 20 at his own position.
He also isn't a noted defender, and is one of the worst play makers in all of basketball. Oh, and he's not exactly brimming with intangibles. He's a surly guy who like to shoot fish, when not playing for Donald Sterling's Clippers.
Sadly, this is as good as Kaman gets, meaning this pick will look especially strange years down the road, especially since guys like Carlos Boozer, Marc Gasol and Carl Landry were left off the squad. If only the Rockets would let Landry stay on the extra court and put up crappy numbers for nine extra minutes, they'd have themselves an all-star.
This is the case of the league listening to sportswriters, rather than using their heads. Kaman is surprisingly leading the Clippers in scoring, and that has given writers something to write about, which also translated into a late campaign for Kaman's selection.
In doing so, the league squandered an opportunity to take the best player available (Kevin Love), or honor the best team (the Rockets) not represented with an all-star. They could have built the brand by selecting the likely rookie of the year (Tyreke Evans), or a flashy first-timer (Corey Maggette), or a flashy veteran (Manu Ginobili). The list goes on.
Instead, we will all have to be patient and wait for Chris Kaman to get his obligatory five touches during the game. Nothing like an all-star game featuring a guy who likes to put in reverse layups underneath the basket.
The NBA, where arbitrary and annoying happens.
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there was a chorus
of people here who wanted Chris Kaman or Tyson Chandler. All of whom are batshit crazy.
never been a fan of kaman
though it has less to do with his game and more to do with the fact that he looks like a scary mongoloid. those rebounding numbers are a pretty good knock on him though.
tyson chandler is pretty worthless. i dont know much about him statistically but every time i would see him play he looked like crap. too skinny to be effective.
My Chris Kaman story
I went to high school in Midland, MI, about 45 minutes east of Mt. Pleasant, location of Central Michigan University, Kaman’s alma mater.
When I was a freshman in high school, some of my friends were playing pickup games at the local rec center when Kaman showed up. He said he wanted to get in the game, a D-1 college basketball player wants to play pickup against high school freshmen. Obviously, Kaman dominates, and at one point in time, backs down this 6-1 kid, dunks on him and says, “How do you like that, bitch?!?”
Now that guy has a story to tell, he was dunked on by an All-Star.
I root for the Tigers, Pistons, Red Wings and yes, the Lions.
www.twitter.com/zajareich
My Chris Kaman story
My high school team played against Tri-Unity Christian (his high school team) in a summer tourney. I scored on a him on a dribble drive.
Also, played against Central in college, but he was injured and didn’t play … they blew us out, was never really a game. At least they made the big dance that year.
nice.
Tri-Cities well represented.
I technically live in Kawkawlin but same difference really. I’m just a wee bit outside Auburn.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Strike Three Mechanics
Completely agree he's undeserving...
Personally, I would have liked to see Maggette or Monta Ellis. Statistically Ellis is probably as nuts as selecting Kaman (if you aren’t deceived by his 26 ppg), but his entertaining game is favorable to an ASG. Maggette, however, is quietly having a great season.
Here’s how Ellis, Kaman, Landry, and Maggette stack up.
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Let it go already
Honestly, I’m kinda getting tired of people railing on Summers. If anything, blame the Pistons for drafting him. I really wish people would just let this die.
by bearded thundar on Feb 8, 2010 4:23 PM CST up reply actions
I think most of us blame Dumars for the Summers pick. Blair was the logical choice, and it was a colossal fuckup of Jod to waste that pick. It’s not Summers’ fault at all. You can ignore Boney, who may just be DBB’s most annoying commenter when he sarcastically whines about Summers (although beyond that annoying shtick, he’s golden).
I may whine
but IF he should make a drastic turnaround, I will be back with my I told you so’s
but IF he should make a drastic turnaround, I will be back with my I told you so’s
Breathe easy, that won’t happen. And I won’t bother with a told you so, because it’s a trivial issue about a forgettable player.
so bitter...
I hope for your sake, Detroit drafts a 6’6 power forward this year
I think he should be on the all star team
for the WEST team!
Thank god Chase Budinger wasn’t picked for the rookie/soph game…
actually
one could make a pretty good argument that Okafor would have been better option than Kaman.
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...
Okafor averages six less points, but on six less attempts per game. More rebounds per 36. More blocks. Less turnovers. Better FG% (or TS%). PERs are essentially the same. Higher WS and DS (if that’s your thing). I’d say they are overall more equal than anything else, but there is actually a pretty good argument for Okafor if Kaman is in. But Okafor’s propensity to have back injuries/surgeries (despite not having missed a game in 2 1/2 years) is probably what put Kaman over the top, I’m sure.
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I was being facetious — Kaman is hurt all the time. Okafor was hurt all the time his first three seasons. He’s played every game in his last 2 1/2 seasons.
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In semi-fairness to Kaman's selection
Most viewers of the All-Star game want to see offense, not defense or rebounding. Heck, the NBA seems to think most viewers of all NBA games, including playoff games, mostly want to see offense.
Yeah, but...
They want to see exciting offense, not some guy whose bread and butter is weird layups and decent low post accuracy. That’s part of my point. If the NBA figured all the deserving dudes were in, and wanted to add some razzle-dazzle, that is a tenable position (I suppose). I think, though, that Stern thinks he’s rewarding intangibles here.
Chris Caveman had the Hulk Hogan Skullet
he hadda cut it.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Chris Kaman..
..would of made a good temporary fix to our front court problems.
C – Kaman / Wallace
PF – Wallace / CV31 / Maxiell
Might need another big man but I like the look of the front court already.
Kevin Love...
Wow, that a player. Just looked at his stats, since I hadn’t heard anything about him before reading this post.
He could be All-Star worthy for sure…if his team wasn’t in last place in the West. But still, 15 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.5 asp. 46 FG%. 38 3FG%. 81 FT%. Very impressive stats.
Kevin Love is the man (he’s on my fantasy team! Yeah!) but I was on the Kaman train. He’s one of the last few back-to-the-basket big men with actual post moves. I think he would have helped our stagnant offense immensely by just being able to create download and demand the ball. I’m glad to see him on the all-star team, but a flashier player probably would have been a better choice.
Go Chips!
Yeah, baby! CMU! Just go out there and dunk on those hataz, Chris! Fire up Chips1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Hh4DLuSeQ
just EPINION
Kaman is better than you say.
He has just played on the hapless Clippers. With Camby playing beside him he isn’t going to get the plus 10 average he is capable of. He shoots 50% and is a better defender than you say with 1.5 blocks per being nothing to sneeze at. He has good feet for a 7 footer and being only 27 has prime years left. Its his inability to stay healthy the last two seasons that is bothersome. He has played in 44 of 50 games this year so if he can stay healthy he is very good.
I have said in the past that Kaman would be a great fit on the Pistons so long as his injuries are behind him and this year he is showing no ill effects. The Clippers have just been one of the worst run franchises in all of sports and he hasent been surrounded with very many good players.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
Kaman-Camby
Co-lead the Clippers to a rebounding rate that is 16th in the league. You could make a better case that Marc Gasol isn’t getting the kind of numbers he is capable of, playing alongside Zach Randolph.
So the Clipper guards and SFs don't rebound well.
Canby is still getting 8 a game and had 10 per last year. Kaman is getting 9 and has the potential to get much more. He averaged 12.7 rebounds two seasons ago.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
Camby is averaging 12.1 rebounds this season. I missed and looked at his point total
So maybe that is why Kaman only averaged 9 when he can get 12 per himself. If I had a combine 21 rebounds per game from my 2 bigs I would be extatic.
If the Clips are only 16th(in boards) in the league with their big rebounding better than any big man tandem in the league than their guards and other forwards really can’t rebound a lick.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
Is Kaman an All Star caliber player this year? Not in my opinion.
But he does more at $10.5 million than anyone on the Pistons for that same amount of money.
At the end of the day, a kid from West Michigan made an All Star team, and I’m at least happy about that.
Hey V. -Hornets v Magic on TNT right now.
NOLA is rocking the Mardi Gras joints.
They are currently leading the Magic by 10
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Vince Carter put 48 on them Nola boys.
What’s fuckin’ with that… nothing.
"I didn’t even know Elvis was from Memphis, I thought he was from Tennessee." — Drew Gooden.
Nnnnot a chance.
I can’t wait for Boston to trade incredibly clutch and efficient Ray Allen for not-clutch-at-all, possession-eating, “my own team, which is horrible, is much better when I’m not on the floor” Monta Ellis. All-Star? Jesus.
"a guy who likes to put in reverse layups underneath the basket"
But, but… that’s my only good move!
Kaman doesn't deserve to be an allstar
but the second injury replacement never takes it from a deserving player. If Memo can make it one year, I see no reason to be upset with Kaman making it.
Anyone who thinks anyone on the Warriors deserves to be an All-Star...
Has shit for brains. Seriously, do you even watch that team? There’s a reason that Ellis isn’t on the All-Star team— THE WARRIORS ARE BETTER WHEN HE’S NOT ON THE FLOOR. In fact, they’re over 11 points per 100 possessions better— that’s HORRIBLE. They’re also 2 points better on defense when he’s out. As a team, they shoot 2.5% higher when he’s not on the floor, and they hold opposing teams to 2.7% lower fg% when he’s out. That’s not a fucking all-star. Every single on/off court statistic says that the Warriors are MUCH better when Ellis isn’t on the floor. If you think Monta Ellis is an elite basketball player, you’re basically validating AI’s entire career, and for that I say, “Shame! Shame on you! Think of the children in Haiti!”
High usage = high ppg
High ppg = overrated
It’s not rocket science. As Pistons fans you all should understand this.
/end Ellis sucks rant
That spot should have gone to Boozer, BTW. 19/11/3 on 55% shooting (77% from the line, career high), and on the 3rd best team in the West. He’s having a career year and nobody wants to give him any credit. I love Kaman though, so whatevs.
I agree that Ellis, statistically, would be a joke selection for the ASG — if you take the ASG too seriously. Did you forget that Iverson IS in the all-star game? And he’s in it for a reason, too. His game is perfect for an ASG where the concept of “team” doesn’t mean shit. It doesn’t validate his career at all, it just means he’s fun to watch when the game is meaningless (and he’s been in plenty of meaningless games because he’s a perennial loser). What it comes down to is, do you want dumpy guys doing half hooks or flashy one-on-one moves in a game that’s supposed to be entertaining? I’ll take flash. Thus, I’ll take Monta Ellis over Chris Kaman any day of the week, thanks.
And I’ve watched more than half of the Warriors games this season and there’s a pretty good case for Corey Maggette. Look how he stacks up with your boy Boozer. His usage % is just 1.5 higher so throw that argument out. 24 ppg PER36, better PER, and he has a 63 TS%, higher than the likes of Lebron, Durant, D-Wade for comparative purposes. Boozer’s legit (although I wouldn’t say this is a career year for him), but Maggette is right up there with him.
Regards,
- Shit F. Brains.
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His game
isused to be, several years ago perfect for an ASG where the concept of "team" doesn’t mean shit. It doesn’t validate his career at all, it just means he’s fun to watch when the game is meaningless
touche
I’m not happy he was voted in this year (completely undeserving), but there have been worse things to happen in the NBA — like him ever playing for the Pistons.
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The only reason AI's in the all-star game...
is the same reason Avatar is the #1 movie of the decade— people are fucking retarded. Thank god Monta Ellis holds no “me-against-the-world/social hero” appeal.
But that's not the reason he's been in it in the past.
And won the MVP in it twice.
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