J-Speaks: The New Shur of the New York Football Giants

Everything that could go wrong last season for the 3-13 New York Football Giants did. Injuries, particularly to their wide receivers. The defense was terrible. The cartoon character Mr. Magoo could lead the team then head coach Ben McAdoo, who the team axed even before the close of the 2017 season. It was clear that entering the 2018 NFL campaign the Giants needed someone new to steer this ship back in the right direction, and they turned to the Offensive Coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings for this task. 

On Friday, the New York Giants introduced former Vikings OC Pat Shurmur, who prior head coaching experience was two rough seasons with the Cleveland Browns, where he was 9-23 from 2011-12, and interim head coach with the now National Football Conference Champion Philadelphia Eagles, after being moved up from OC after the ousting of Chip Kelly to close the season 2015 season. The coach with a 10-23 mark entering his new job signed a five-year deal, with the terms of the dollar amount were not disclosed.  

The former Vikings play caller was not at the top of the Giants coaching wish list. They had their eyes according to reports on New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Matt Patricia, and Pats’ OC Josh McDaniels. Both, who will be trying to help lead head coach Bill Belichick and the Pats to a sixth Super Bowl win in eight tries under their boss against the Philadelphia Eagles in Minneapolis in two weeks signed elsewhere. Patricia took the head coaching vacancy of the Detroit Lions, and McDaniels is expected to fill the opening for the Indianapolis Colts. 

Shurmur moved up to the top of the list after he met with the Giants top brass in Minneapolis during the Vikings bye week of the postseason. 

“He gave as good an interview, and I’ve interviewed a lot of coaches in my time,” Giants’ co-owner John Mara said at the close of this week. “That’s about as good an interview as I’ve ever been involved with.”

Giants’ new general manager Dave Gettleman, who took the place of the fired Jerry Reese earlier this month was so impressed that he wrote the word “adult” at the top of his notepad during the interview. 

For the Giants, it was imperative that they find the right person to lead them back to elite status in the NFL after the worst season in franchise history where they made more headlines for their inability to function both on the gridiron, and off it. 

The organization was looking for someone who could mesh with their no-nonsense GM in Gettleman. 

He also wanted the Giants head coaching job, even though he had done interviews with the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions. 

How much did Shurmur want to be in New York, during his introductory press conference, the lights went out for a moment when he was saying, “It’s an honor to be the head coach of the New York Giants.” 

When the lights came, Shurmur said with a smile, “and we’re off.” 

He took a more serious tone when he said to the members of the press, “You have hired a career coach. You’ve hired a guy that doesn’t know what he would do if he wasn’t doing this.” 

What really blew Gettleman, and the Giants brass away during the interview was when Shurmur said, “‘Everything starts with the offensive line.’” “And I think there’s a great example of that, what we went through in Minnesota. We didn’t change the oil up there, we changed the transmission. We went, and got two free agent offensive lineman, we drafted a center that played like a veteran, and we transformed the offensive line that helped us do the things that helped us win 14 games.” 

“And I think it’s very important, no matter how good your offensive line is, and your defensive line, you have to address those issues constantly because if you can’t block them, and you can’t pressure the quarterback, this game gets really, really, really hard. I know that about Dave. I know we have a serious mindset when it comes to doing what we can to upgrade in those areas.” 

If that come to fruition, the Giants have a major chance on improving the 26^th ranked rushing attack that averaged just 96.8 yards on the ground in 2017.

Besides having the same mindset in terms of how to build a roster that can compete to win at a high level on Sundays, and Monday nights, both Gettleman, and Shurmur have a like minded philosophy on how the team from the players to the entire organization should represent themselves. 

“Those of you who know me, though, I have zero tolerance for people that don’t compete,” Shurmur said. “I have zero tolerance for people that don’t give effort, and I have zero tolerance for people that show lack of respect. And I think that’s something that you’ll know about me as we get to know each other better.” 

That level of respect, and integrity was at Dechrome One this past season for the Giants, who suspended three of their players because of their conduct. The two most notable were defensive backs Dominque Rogers-Cromartie, and Eli Apple. 

The Giants feel that Shurmur brings the kind of command to where he speaks, the entire room has their mouths closed, and their ears, and eyes open. 

While those qualities are well and good, the main reason he got the job with the Giants is because he ability to make quarterbacks better; his knowledge of X’s and O’s, and his ability as a player caller.

He turned Case Keenum from a below average quarterback into a pretty good one this past season with the Vikings, where he threw for 3,547 yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. Running back Latavius Murry had a solid season, rushing for 842 yards, and eight touchdowns. Wideouts Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs went from unknowns into solid pass catchers with 1,276, and 849 receiving yards, on 91, and 64 receptions, for four, and eight touchdowns respectably. Tight end Kyle Rudolph had a solid season as well with 57 catches for 532 yards, while tying Diggs for receiving scores with eight. Backup running Jerick McKinnon was solid both in the run game, with 570 yards, and three scores, as well as in the passing game with 532 yards receiving, on 51 catches with two touchdowns.

One week after Keenum threw the game-winning 61-yard touchdown to Diggs, in the Vikings dramatic 29-24 win versus the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Vikings were lambasted in the NFC Championship Game 38-7 at the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday night, falling one game short being the first team to play a Super Bowl on their home turf. 

The Giants hope he can have the same effect with the most recognizable talents in two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning, who had 19 touchdown passes, and just 13 interceptions, but was sacked 31 times. Wideouts Brandon Marshall, Odell Beckham, Jr., and Sterling Shepard, who were lost early in the season because of injury, and tight end Evan Engram, who led the Giants with 722 receiving yards, and six touchdown receptions. 

A return to full health for at the skill positions should improve dramatically the No. 19 ranked passing offense a season ago that managed 230.0 yards through the air this past season. The Giants were only ranked 20^th in touchdowns catches with 20. 

Since being fired by the Browns, Shurmur has had a chance to work with two of the best offensive minds in football in former Eagles Coach Chip Kelly, and Norv Turner. 

“I think we have an offense that we’re going to constantly try to do things that our players can do well,” Shurmur, who will be the play caller after hiring an offensive coordinator. “So once we quickly learn what our players are good at, then we’ll [see]—but I do have a West Coast background. My last three years in Philadelphia I was with Chip Kelly, and so the tempo, and being able to play fast, there’s advantages to using that strategically. When you can run the ball like we did last year—and we developed a core set of runs—then the play-actions are meaningful, and that’s how you can drive the ball down the field. So [we’ll] try to use all those things.” 

“And when they’re trying to destroy your quarterback, certainly the scree game is something that’s very important. So, I don’t know. I don’t know if there’s a label for it. We want to play good offense. Want to play New York Giants offense.”

The best example of this is the Eagles starting signal caller Nick Foles, who will be trying to lead Philly to a Super Bowl title when they face off against the Patriots on Feb. 4 in Super Bowl LII. Foles back in 2013 had 27 touchdowns, and just two interceptions that season. 

With their new head coach in toe, the question now is can Shurmur turn the Giants around, who as mentioned earlier finished dead last in the NFC East at 3-13? Can this turnaround come quickly? 

They took a first step towards that earlier in the week when Mara, and Gettleman publicly said the want to keep Manning, and not trade him. Shurmur during the interview when he reportedly also endorsed Manning to be the Giants’ starting signal caller. 

He also must find a way to get Odell Beckham, Jr. to be more of team player. Meaning he must behave like an adult, and not the spoiled, entitled star that he has shown to be since entering in the NFL. Just tweeting that he approves of the Giants hiring Shurmur will not be enough. 

The Giants hoped to make a big splash with their coaching hire this off-season. While that may not have happened, they did hire someone who has a solid track-record as a position coach, and offensive coordinator. Above all, he meshes well with the GM in Gettleman, and he wanted to be in New York. The work now begins to raise the New York Football Giants back into a Super Bowl contending organization, with a head coach that is eager to put the past in the past and build toward a future with dreams of winning titles. 

“There’s reasons why the Giants slipped to 3-13, and we’re going to find out what some of those reasons are behind the scenes, and we’re going to try to get them fixed at the beginning,” Shurmur said on Friday.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/23/18 New York Daily News articles “Safe to Say, not 1^ST Pick,” by columnist Gary Myers, and “Team Brass Cites Leadership For Putting Pat Across Goal Line,” by Pat Leonard; 1/26/18 11 p.m. edition of WABC 7 “Eyewitness News,” with Bill Ritter, Sade Baderinwa, Lee Goldberg with weather, and Ryan Field with sports; 1/27/18 www.espn.com article “How and Why Pat Shurmur Became the Giants’ Coach,” by Jordan Raanan; www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/nyg/new-york-giants; www.espn.com/nfl/team/stats/_/name/min/minnesota-vikings; www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing/sort/rushingYardsPerGame/seasonregular; www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/receiving/sort/receivingYardsPerGame/seasonregular; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Shurmur; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Magoo.

J-Speaks: All-Star Snubs

On Thursday night, the teams were announced the teams for the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, where team captains LeBron James, and Stephen Curry under the new format selected their respective 11 other teammates. For the 24 players that were selected to play in the unofficial midseason classic on Sunday, Feb. 18 on TNT, there are those few that are deserving that did not get chosen. 

One of those players that felt they were snubbed are Los Angeles Clippers’ guard Lou Williams, and starting center DeAndre Jordan, whose stellar season has kept the Clippers (24-24) in playoff contention despite a rash of injuries to key players like forward Blake Griffin, guards Milos Teodosic, Patrick Beverly, Austin Rivers, and Danilo Gallinari. 

In his 13^th season, Williams, the 2015 Sixth Man of the Year is averaging career-highs in points (23.6), assists (5.2), and three-point percentage (40.0). He has really been spectacular over the past two months with averages of 25.2 points, and 5.8 assists on 42.7 percent from three-point range in December, when the Clippers were really struggling; and 29.3 points, 6.4 assists on 46.9 percent from the floor overall, including 38.5 percent from three-point land in January so far. 

He has scored 20 points, or more in 11 straight games off the bench, the longest streak among active players, and his ninth consecutive occurrence tied the third longest streak since the 1983-84 NBA campaign. The 473 points he authored prior to the team’s 113-102 setback to the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics (35-14) on Wednesday night, on ESPN were the most in “The Association,” since Dec. 22, 2017.

In the team’s 125-106 win on Jan. 10, at the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors (39-10), Williams scored 27 of his career-high 50 points in the third quarter, as the undermanned Clippers, who ended a 14-game losing streak to their Pacific Division rivals, and an 11-game slide at Oracle Arena. 

Williams was 16 for 27 from the floor, including 8 for 16 from three-point range, and a perfect 10 for 10 from the foul line. 

“Obviously 50 is a huge number. It’s a great accomplishment,” Williams, whose effort moved the Clippers’ to 19-21 said after the game. “For me, it was more important to get a win, try to close that gap to get back to .500, especially with the injuries, with guys in, and out of the lineup, for us to still have that opportunity, to be in the playoff fold. So, I’ve been playing with confidence for the past month, or so.” 

Clippers head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers concurred when he said to FOX Sports Prime Ticket’s play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler about him not making the All-Star team as a reserve prior to the Clippers 109-100 win at the Memphis Grizzlies (17-31), “You got to earn it. I thought Lou earned it, to be honest.” 

“Had Blake been healthy, he probably would have been on it, but Blake did not have health. Lou did not have a big enough name.”

Another All-Star who did not make the cut this time around was Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Paul George, who came over in the mega deal from the Indiana Pacers for Victor Oladipo, who was selected as an All-Star for the first time as a reserve, and forward Domantas Sabonis over the summer. 

The additions of George, and Carmelo Anthony, joining Russell Westbrook, who was chosen to his seventh All-Star appearance earlier this week were supposed to vault the Thunder (28-20) into serious contention for the West with the Warriors. 

Inconsistency, and an inability to find offensive continuity between the three All-Stars, and the rest of the team put the Thunder behind the eight ball in the early going. The Thunder have regrouped, and have gone 20-8 since Dec. 1, 2017, and the normal starting lineup of Anthony, Westbrook, George, Steven Adams, and Andre Roberson has gone 15-0 during this stretch. 

While his shooting overall from the field is down from 46.3 percent, to 43.3 percent this season, and his scoring average has decreased from 23.7 to 20.9, George has come on with averages of 21.5, 5.9 rebounds on 45.5 percent from the floor in the last 10 games. His three point is up this season to 41.7 percent compared to his career average of 37.6, and he is second in the league this season in steals per game at 2.2. 

When George, who had 18 points, and four steals in the Thunder’s 121-112 victory versus the Washington Wizards (26-22) Thursday night on TNT was left out of being named an All-Star reserve, the reigning league MVP, and All-Star reserve Russell Westbrook, came to his defense calling it, “Unbelievable.”

“I think it’s just outrageous, in my opinion. I don’t know who else made the team, but four people from one team (Warriors), you’ve got guys complaining about getting snubbed until they get in, you’ve got guys just talking about it all the time.” 

“But the guys that deserve it—should be in—are not. I just don’t understand. Doesn’t make sense.” 

The reality of the situation is the Thunder were expected to be better, and they were not. Also, there is more talented players in the West, and while George has been solid, he was not over the top, and that is why he was left out of the All-Star shuffle. 

“I just think that wen you talk about the 12 best players in the West, I have a hard time believing he’s not one of those guys,” Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said leading up the Thunder’s win versus the Wizards. “He’s playing consistently enough. He’s arguably the best two-way player in the league—if not one of them. No question.” 

The one thing that Westbrook’s expression of how he felt about PG-13 getting snubbed says that he cares about his teammate, which is no surprise. Also, that he is letting the free agent to be at season’s end know that he is a very important part of the Thunder’s present, and hopefully future. 

Perhaps the biggest snub All-Star snub in the West is nine-timer Chris Paul, who is averaging 19.5 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds for the Houston Rockets, who are the No. 2 Seed in the West currently at 34-13. 

When the Rockets acquired him from the Clippers this summer, there were a lot of people who came out, and said that he, and All-Star James Harden could not, and will not co-exist together in the same backcourt. 

They have co-existed very well together as a backcourt tandem, and the Rockets have reaped the rewards because of that. 

To bring this point into clearer context, Harden, and Paul are averaging 9.0, and 8.8 assists respectably, and if Paul had not missed 17 games because of injury, the Rockets would have two people in the Top-5 in assists per contest in the league. 

In the 30 games Paul has played in, the Rockets are 24-6, including a 15-0 in Paul’s first starts as a Rockets. When Paul, Harden, and Most Improved Player candidate Clint Capela are in the lineup, the Rockets have lost just once this season in 19 tries, and they are 15-1 when the starting quintet includes sharp shooting forwards Ryan Anderson, and Trevor Ariza. 

“People that should be watching the games don’t watch the games, and see how important a guy is,” Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni, last season’s Coach of the Year recipient said before the Rockets 104-97 victory at the Dallas Mavericks (16-32) on ESPN Wednesday night. 

The other thing that Paul has done for the Rockets is at least in the regular season given the defending champions something to think about down the road as they have beaten the Warriors two out of their three matchups this season. 

Their second win came a week ago on ABC 116-108, where Paul was magnificent with 33 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, going 10 for 20 from the floor, 6 for 11 from three-point range, and 7 for 8 from the foul line. 

In the East, the biggest snub was Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, who after a subpar year by the standard he set the year prior where he was named an All-Star has gotten back to that level in the 2017-18 season. 

His scoring average of 14.7 points so far is the second highest of his six-year career. Drummond’s 15.3 rebound average is also a career-best, and leads the NBA, and only DeMarcus Cousins, who was named an All-Star starter for the first time a week ago yesterday is averaging more steals per game amongst centers at 1.62 than the 1.57 per contest by Drummond. On top of that, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2012 draft is shooting a career-best 63.1 percent from the foul line this season. While that may not be the kind of number to write home about, it is way better than the 40.8 percent he shot from the charity stripe in his career, and an unthinkable 38.6 percent a season ago. 

Drummond tweeted after not being named an All-Star reserve on Tuesday afternoon, “Guess I gotta start doing back flips after every point I score to get attention around here!” “Lmao on to the next one.”

“He’s playing unbelievable basketball,” Charlotte Hornets Dwight Howard, and eight-time All-Star said about Drummond play this season, and him not being named to the All-Star team.

“Fifteen rebounds is a lot of rebounds. When I came into the league, 13 was the highest, and for a guy to have 15 or (more) rebounds every night, and not be in the All-Star game was disappointing.”

What has worked against Drummond not being named to the All-Star team this season is the fact that the Pistons (22-24) after a 14-6 start have gone 8-16 since, which includes six straight losses. 

A prime example of this was the fact that he had his 31^st double-double of 30 points, and 24 rebounds, with four assists, six blocks, and three steals, but the Pistons lost at Little Caesars Arena versus the Utah Jazz 98-95 in overtime on Wednesday night. He was 11 for 17 from the field, and 8 for 12 from the free throw line. 

By the numbers, Drummond should be playing in the 67 Annual Unofficial Midseason Classic on Feb. 18 on TNT. His play has been beyond words better than those of center Al Horford, who was selected to his 5^th in 11 seasons. 

What must be remembered though is the reserves are selected by the 30 NBA head coaches, and the fact that they saw that beautiful 35-14 mark by the East leading Celtics might have made all the difference. 

Another player in the East that has a major case to make about being snubbed is unofficial rookie guard of the Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons, who has separated himself from the pack as the leader for Rookie of the Year. 

The 6’10” lead guard who missed all last season because of injury is third on the team in scoring at 16.5; second in rebounding at 8.0; and leads the team in assists at 7.4, and steals at 1.8, which is also No. 8 in the league.

On top of that, he leads all rookies with 19 double-doubles, and his five triple-doubles, with the latest of 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists in the Sixers (24-21) 115-101 win versus the Chicago Bulls (18-31).

“I wish I did make it,” Simmons said after the game, “but hopefully there will be plenty more years.”

Simmons’ latest triple-double tied him for No. 3 in NBA history by rookies with former Philadelphia/San Francisco Warrior, and New York Knick Hall of Famer Tom Gola, and All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, who won Rookie of the Year in 1976 Alvan Adams who garnered their triple-doubles in the 1955-56, and 1975-76 seasons respectably. 

While it is hard to fathom Simmons equaling, or surpassing the 26 triple-doubles authored by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in his rookie season of 1960-61, the seven by Hall of Famer, five-time champion, and current President of Basketball Operations for the Los Angeles Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson has a good chance of being surpassed. 

Simmons is doing all of this without a consistent jump shot, or free throw stroke. While he is shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, he has missed all 10 of his three-point attempts in his rookie season and is shooting just 56.0 percent from the charity stripe. 

Seeing him with fellow Sixer Joel Embiid, who was chosen as an All-Star for the first time as a starter would have been special for a team that has waited a long four years to be relevant in the NBA again. 

If these two can stay healthy, and that is a big if considering their availability to the start of their respective careers, they will have plenty of chances to play in hopefully multiple All-Star Games. Also, when Simmons really adds a jump shot to his game, as well as the ability to make free throws, the NBA will be in a heap of trouble trying to stop him, as well as Embiid. 

“He was focused. He just wanted it, Embiid,” who had 22 points on the evening, on 10 for 17 shooting.

What took place in the NBA over the past couple of days after the 24 players chosen for the 67^th Annual NBA All-Star Game was announced was spectacular. We saw players who felt slighted that they were not named reserves, and while they, along with their teammates, and coaches expressed their disappointment, the likes of Simmons, Drummond, and Paul took out their frustrations on their opponents. 

Seeing someone with a chip on their shoulder go out and prove their detractors wrong is what makes great theater, as well as what every great sports movie from Rocky I, II, III, IV, and V,” to “Angels in the Outfield,” is based on. 

It also reminded us, which “NBA: The Jump” host Rachel Nichols has been screaming to the roof tops the past week of what the NBA dropped the ball on when it did not televise the first NBA All-Star draft on Thursday night.  

If players put on display the kind of chips on their shoulder just from an All-Star snub, imagine the kind of saltiness we would have on display from the players if they felt they got snubbed by where they were chosen during the selection process by team captains, in this case LeBron James, and Stephen Curry. 

“I think it would have been a good idea to probably put it on TV,” Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who was selected for the third time said earlier this week. 

Clippers head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers said that the All-Star draft, “should definitely be live.” 

Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson said having the announcement publicly because he thought it would have been “hilarious.” 

The best line came from James himself when he said at his presser at the Cavs facility that, “We’re all grown men.”

If there is one thing that can be taken away from this is that no matter how much money you may make in your career, or how many All-Star games you have made before, being chosen is special, and when you are snubbed, especially when your chances of making it are once in a blue moon, like Lou Williams, or Damian Lillard the past couple of seasons, you feel like an opportunity just passed you by. 

What it can also do is give you motivation to take the proverbial bull by the horns, and make your mark for yourself, and your team in the second half of this season. 

Williams, Paul, George, Simmons, and Drummond will have that chance, and if their performances throughout this season, and in recent days is any indication, were in for one incredible second half of this season, with each trying to help their teams have a chance to make it to the postseason and make some serious noise. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/24/18 7 p.m. Chicago Bulls versus Philadelphia 76ers on NBC Sports Philadelphia with Marc Zumoff, Alaa Abdelnaby, and Molly Sullivan; www.nba.com/games/20180122/MINLAC#/recap; www.nba.com/games/20180122/MIAHOU#/recap; www.nba.com/games/20180124/NOPCHA#/recap; www.nba.com/games/20180124/UTADET#/recap; www.nba.com/games/20180124/HOUDAL#/recap; ww.nba.com/games/20180125/WSHOKC#/preview; www.espn.com/nba/statistics; www.espn.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/steals/sort/avgSteals/position/centers; www.espn.com/nba/standings; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6585/andre-drummond; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2799/lou-williams; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2779/chris-paul; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907387/ben-simmons; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4251/paul-george; www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/id/400975450; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvan_Adams; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Gola.

J-Speaks: 2018 NBA All-Star Game Units

In three weeks from this Sunday, all eyes of the sports world will be on Los Angeles, CA for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) unofficial midseason All-Star Weekend, with it all cumulating on Sunday, Feb. 18 with the 67^th annual NBA All-Star Game. Over the past few months the fans, the players, and media have spoken and voted on who should be the starters in the All-Star Game, and the coaches chose the respective reserves. Both have been revealed over the past few days, and now it will be up to two former MVPs to choose who will be alongside them in the league’s annual closet version of a glorified pickup game under the new selection format. 

On Thursday’s NBA on TNT pregame show “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader, the starters for the game were announced, as well as the captains who will be choosing who their 11 other teammates will be. The reserves, who were chosen by the coaches were announced on the Players’ Only NBA on TNT “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader. 

Eastern Conference Starters 

Being chosen for his 14^th straight season to play in the unofficial midseason classic is four-time league MVP LeBron James (26.8 ppg, 3^rd NBA, 7.9 rpg, 8.6 apg-4^th NBA, 1.6 spg, 54.9 FG%, 36.2 3-Pt.%) of the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-18, No. 3 Seed in East), who thanks to 2,638,294 fan votes is a captain. The two-time Finals MVP, who 14 straight selections as a starter is second to the 15 of future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant is the all-time leader in points scored in the game. 

Being selected as a starter for the first time is Milwaukee Bucks’ (24-22, No. 8 Seed in East) forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (28.2 ppg-2^nd NBA, 10.1 rpg-10^th NBA, 4.6 apg, 1.5 spg, 54.6 FG%), being selected for the second straight time in his fifth season. He has risen his scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage. 

Making his first of hopefully many All-Star appearances is center Joel Embiid (23.7 ppg-Leads team, 10.9 rpg-6^th NBA, 1.9 bpg-4^th NBA) of the Philadelphia 76ers (23-21, No. 7 Seed in East), in his second official season. His 20 double-doubles are tied for No. 11 in the league. 

A career season by guard DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors (24.7 ppg-10^th NBA, 5.0 apg-career-high, 4.1 rpg) earned his fourth straight appearance, his third in a row, and his second consecutive start. His 47.7 percent accuracy from the field, and 34.7 percent from three-point range this season are the best of his career. He has had 12 games of 30-plus points, and three games of 40 points, or more, which consists of a franchise mark of 52 points, on 17 for 29 shooting, including 5 for 9 from distance, and 13 for 13 from the foul line, with eight assists, in the Raptors (32-14, No. 2 Seed in East) 131-127 overtime win versus the Bucks to open 2018. 

Closing out the five starters from the East is guard Kyrie Irving (24.5 ppg-Leads team, 5.0 apg, 39.3 3-Pt.%) of the Boston Celtics, whose 47.7 percent from the field this season is the best of his career. He has had 14 games of 30 points, or more, and has led the C’s to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 35-14. 

Western Conference Starters 

A total of 2,379,494 fan votes allowed two-time league MVP of the Golden State Warriors (38-10, No. 1 Seed in West) Stephen Curry (27.6-Leads team, 6.5 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 spg, 48.8 FG%-2^nd best of his career, 42.0 3-Pt.%) to be chosen as the captain of the West All-Stars. This marks his fifth straight selection, all as a starter in his ninth NBA season. He will become the first player in franchise history to start five consecutive All-Star games. While he has missed 15 games due to injury, Curry has had 13 games of 30-points, or more this season. 

Earning his 6^th invitation to the midseason classic, also in his ninth season is guard James Harden (31.2 ppg-Leads NBA, 9.0 apg-3^rd, NBA, 4.8 rpg, 44.7 FG%) of the Houston Rockets (34-12, No. 2 Seed in West). The former Oklahoma City Thunder sixth man, who will be making his fourth start has 15 games of at least 30 points or more, and three games of 50-plus points, including a career-high of 56 points, with 13 assists in a 137-110 Rockets win versus the Utah Jazz on Nov. 5, 2017.  

Joining Curry in the starting five is teammate Kevin Durant (25.9 ppg-5^th NBA, 6.9 rpg). The 2014 league MVP, 2012 All-Star Game MVP, and last season’s Finals MVP earned his ninth appearance in a row, and his seventh as a starter behind career-highs of 5.6 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, ranked second in the league. 

Rounding out the starters for the West is the New Orleans Pelicans (26-21, No. 6 Seed in West) frontcourt tandem of forward Anthony Davis (26.5 ppg-5^th NBA, 10.4 rpg-T-8^th NBA, 2.1 bpg-3^rd NBA, 55.6 FG%-8^th NBA), who earned his fifth consecutive appearance, and center DeMarcus Cousins (25.4 ppg, 6^th NBA, 12.9 rpg 3^rd NBA, 1.6 bpg-6^th NBA, 46.9 FG%, 35.6 3-Pt.%) who was named a starter for the first time in his fourth appearance in succession. 

“Now that we both are starters, kind of sucks that they switched up the format. We could be playing on different teams, but it’s a great feeling having somebody alongside me to go out there, and represent the city of New Orleans,” Davis said to FOX Sports New Orleans’ Jennifer Hale prior to the Pelicans 111-104 win versus the Memphis Grizzlies (17-30) on Saturday night about the new format of James, and Curry choosing their teammates for the game, which occurred on Thursday.

Davis was named MVP of last season’s All-Star Game when he scored a game record 52 points on his home court of the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Cousins, rebound, assists, steals (1.6) per game are the best of his career, and his three-point percentage this season is tied for the best of his career, and his 104 triples this season, are the most of his he has made. He is also second in “The Association” with 37 double-doubles, and is the only player this season averaging 25 points, 10 boards, and five assists. 

“It actually wouldn’t be strange at all. We’ve been guys that have had faceoffs before in the past. So, I guess you can say it would be like old times,” Cousins said to Hale about their battles before being teammates when he was with the Sacramento Kings. 

Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves 

Earning his fifth selection in 11 NBA seasons is Celtics center Al Horford (13.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg-Leads team, 5.3 apg-Leads team, 51.3 FG%), who is shooting a career-high 43.5 percent from three-point range. 

Joining James in L.A. from the Cavs will be forward/center Kevin Love (18.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 45.9 FG%), who earned his fifth All-Star selection in his 10^th season. He is the only player in NBA history to average 10-plus rebounds per game, and make close to 1,000 triples in his career, where he has made including this season 986. 

DeRozan’s backcourt made Kyle Lowry (16.8 ppg, 6.7 apg-Leads team, 6.0 rpg, 39.5 3-Pt.%) earned his fourth straight All-Star appearance, in his 12^th season. This is after not being selected in his first eight seasons with the Grizzlies, Rockets, and his first season with the Raptors. 

Represent the nation’s capital in Hollywood will be the starting backcourt of John Wall (19.3 ppg, 9.2 apg-2^nd NBA, 34.8 FG%), and Bradley Beal (23.6 ppg-Leads team, 3.7 apg, 4.3 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 36.8 3-Pt.%) of the Washington Wizards (26-21, No. 5 Seed in East). 

This is the fifth selection for Wall in his eighth season, and it is the first for Beal, who is averaging career-highs in scoring, assists, and rebounds. 

For both Beal, and Wall, this is a very special moment, especially in a season that has it share of ups-and-downs for a team that has underachieved as a team this season. 

“It’s great. It’s an honor to be here, especially with my teammate Brad, without my teammates, and coaching staff we wouldn’t be in this position,” Wall said on the “Players Only” edition of NBA on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off with Chris Webber, Isiah Thomas, Baron Davis, and Shaquille O’Neal. 

“We know that [being] All-Stars is a great individual accomplishment for both of us. We wouldn’t be here without our teammates, without our families, the organization,” Beal said in concurrence. Beal also said about the honor, and what the Wizards need from him, and Wall going forward, “Everybody who helped us to get to this point, but now it’s time for us to take it up another notch. To a new level, and be more consistent, be the leaders of the team we need to be, and we know the ship won’t go forward unless we[‘re] leading it.”

Career-highs in points, rebounds, steals, field goal, and three-point percentage earned guard Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers (24.1 ppg-Leads team, 5.2 rpg, 4.0 apg 1.9 spg-6^th NBA, 48.4 FG%, 40.1 3-Pt.%) his first All-Star appearance. In a 126-116 overtime victory by the Pacers versus the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 10, 2017, Oladipo in the team’s fourth consecutive win had a career-high of 47 points, to go along with seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals, on 15 for 28 from the field, including 6 for 12 from three-point range, and 11 for 13 from the charity stripe. 

Another first time All-Star is third-year center Kristaps Porzingis (23.3 ppg-Leads team, 6.7 rpg, 2.3 bpg-Leads NBA, 38.7 3-Pt.%) of the New York Knicks.  

Western Conference All-Star Reserves 

Earning his seventh All-Star selection is the reigning MVP lead guard Russell Westbrook (24.9 ppg-8^th NBA, 10.0 apg-Leads NBA, 9.6 rpg-Leads team, 2.0 spg-5^th NBA) of the Oklahoma City Thunder (27-20). He is a two-time scoring champion (2015, 2017), and back-to-back All-Star Game MVP in 2015, and 2016. 

Joining Curry, and Durant in L.A. are fellow “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson (20.4 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 44.9 3-Pt.%-3^rd NBA), his fourth consecutive appearance in his seventh season, and forward Draymond Green (11.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg-Leads team, 7.5 apg-5^th NBA), who earned his 3^rd selection in his sixth season. 

Only Harden has made more three-pointers this season 162, than the 154 made by Thompson. Green, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has yet to have a game where he has scored more than 25 points, and his 21-career triple-doubles, including two this season are the most in franchise history, and the Warriors have not lost when that occurs. 

The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to have four All-Stars in back-to-back seasons, and it was just the ninth time overall that has occurred. 

“I’m proud of them, amazing to have four All-Stars two years in a row,” Warriors head coach said earlier this week. “We’re obviously really lucky to have these guys all together at once on the roster. What I love is they’re so unselfish, they play together so well. That’s why they’re All-Stars. It wouldn’t work if they were selfish, and looking for their own shot, looking for their own points.” 

Another team that will have multiple players playing in the All-Star Game is the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-19, No. 4 Seed in West), whose starting center Karl-Anthony Towns (19.9 ppg, 12.1 rpg-5^th NBA, 1.5 bpg-8^th NBA, 53.9 FG%, 41.4 3-Pt.%) will be making his first of hopefully many All-Star selections, and swingman Jimmy Butler (21.7 ppg-Leads team, 5.4 rpg, 5.0 apg, 2.0 spg-4^th NBA, 47.6 FG%, 35.4 3-Pt.%), who earned his fourth All-Star selection in a row. 

Behind a league leading 41 double-doubles by Towns, and a fourth season in a row of a 20-plus point average by Butler, who has provided amazing leadership to T’Wolves Head Coach, and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau’s, the Timberwolves have equaled their win total all last season, and are on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons. It is also the first time the T’Wolves have had two All-Star selections since future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, who now works for NBA on TNT, and current Los Angeles Clippers head coach were recognized 14 years ago.

“I think our record speaks that we’re on the right track,” Towns said. “We’re doing a great job right now finding ways to win games. That’s the most important thing.” “I don’t feel like I’m an All-Star. I feel like my team is an All-Star.” 

One team that seems to have had representation on the backend of All-Star Weekend is the San Antonio Spurs, and this season is no exception as forward LaMarcus Aldridge earned his 6^th selection in his 12^th NBA season. 

The Texas native is the team leader in points (22.5), and rebounds (8.7) per game, and is shooting 49.0 percent from the field. To put into perspective the complete 180 the former Portland Trail Blazer has made compared to his first two seasons with the five-time champions he has 20 double-doubles this season compared to just 18 a season ago, and 26 the year prior. He has authored seven 30-plus point performances, compared to just one in 2016-17. 

Aldridge’s spectacular season to this point has allowed the Spurs (32-18) to remain atop the West, and no one is more appreciative of that than head coach Gregg Popovich, who had a serious heart-to-heart conversation over the summer with Aldridge about his role. 

“L.A. is the reason we’ve kept a pretty good record, and stayed in the hunt with so may injuries, in-and-outs. Kawhi [Leonard] and Tony [Parker] being gone so long,” Popovich said earlier this month. 

“It’s L.A. every night. Maybe somebody else will step up with him, but he’s been a Warrior for sure. We’d be in deep kimchi if he isn’t playing the way he is.”

To bring into clearer context what this All-Star selection has meant for the Spurs organization, Aldridge became the first Spur to be selected as an All-Star who was not draft, or had his draft rights acquired by the team as a rookie since Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore, whose last selection came as a Spur back in 1986. The Spurs organization has had at least one All-Star selection the last 20 seasons in a row, and 39 of the past 41 seasons, with 1989, and 1997 being the exceptions. 

Rounding out the West reserves is guard Damian Lillard (25.3 ppg-7^th NBA, 6.6 apg-Leads team, 4.7 rpg, 37.0 3-Pt.%) of the Portland Trail Blazers (26-22, No. 7 Seed in West), who was selected for the third time in his career, and his first since 2015. 

Before the Trail Blazers tilt versus the T’Wolves, which they won 123-114 on Wednesday night at the Moda Center, Lillard said of making the All-Star team, “It’s not my first All-Star game. But I did have to make this one happen. Everybody knows that the last two years, I felt like I should have made it, and I didn’t. But, I just had to keep on playing, stay with it, and stay positive.” 

All-Star Team Reveal 

Live from Future of Flight in Los Angeles, CA, the All-Star team draft reveal of who will be on Team LeBron [James], and Team Stephen [Curry] on TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off” Show, presented by Autotrader. 

The first reveal were the All-Star Game jerseys that the players will dawn during the game on Feb. 18. On the front of the jersey will be the symbols of the players’ respective team with the Nike Jordan Jumpman symbol on the right shoulder, and the KIA Motors symbol on the left. On the back will be the players’ number, and their last name on the bottom of the jersey number. On 12 set of jerseys is in black with the team’s symbol in white, and the opposing team’s jersey color is black, with the team symbol in black. 

In the reveal of the respective teams, Team LeBron selected Durant, Davis, Cousins, and Irving as the starters alongside him, with Beal, Aldridge, Love, Westbrook, Oladipo, Porzingis, and Wall as the reserves.  

Team Stephen starters, including him will feature Harden, DeRozan, Antetokounmpo, and Embiid, with Lillard, Butler, Green, Lowry, Thompson, Towns, and Horford as the reserves. 

“It was cool,” Curry said during a live interview from Alamo, CA with TNT’s Ernie Johnson on how he, and James chose who was on their team. “It’s just the names that we were picking, it kind of caught me off guard at first.”

James said to Johnson that he had a plan, but when you are drafting a specific person that you already know in your mind the other captain is going to take somebody you want. It completely changes your plan. He did say it was fun to relive how you chose a team on the concreate grounds of your neighborhood park basketball court. 

When asked by Johnson did Curry, and James get advice wanted, or unwanted from their respective teammates, James said that he heard from his teammates to the point where his answer whenever he was asked was, “I don’t know. I don’t know who I’m going to take. I’ll be ready.” 

The best part of the process James said to Johnson is that he, and Curry that unlike Warriors’ General Manager, and Cavs’ GM Koby Altman is that they got to pick their teammates that are some of the best basketball players on planet Earth. 

“We don’t have to figure out a guys’ potential, or guys coming out of college, or guys coming from overseas,” James added. “We get to go after 22 All-Stars when we do our draft. So, it’s definitely a lot easier for us.”

One of All-Stars James’ selected was his former teammate in Irving, and on Feb. 18, Irving, James, and Love will be sharing the same court together again.  

“I just tried to pick the best available players,” James said. “To be able to team up with Kyrie is always special, along with Kevin Love. For us to have another weekend, to bring back some of the memories that we had when we were together.” 

“Kyrie was available on the draft board. He’s one of the best point guards that we have in our league. So, it was an easy choice for me.”   

The one disappointment of this whole process was the fact that it was not televised, like the NHL All-Star team selection. James even said that it should have been televised, and that at one point during the draft he, and Curry were laughing very hard.  

One question that Johnson did ask both James, and Curry is who did they select first. Both were very tight lipped in their answers, but sideline reporter Ros Gold-Onwude during the back end of TNT’s doubleheader of the T’Wolves at the Warriors confirmed that Durant was the No. 1 overall selection, and the No. 2 selection was Antetokounmpo. 

Durant said to Gold-Onwude before the game that he expected to go first, and that the player he was looking forward to playing alongside the most is Porzingis. He also said that he is looking forward to trash talking with Curry, and Green who will playing opposite him. 

Gold-Onwude also spoke with Curry, and she found out that he has already heard from people that James’ team is stronger. 

“We have a lot of shooters, and I like that people are sleeping on us. I like being the underdog,” he also said to Gold-Onwude. 

With the players selected, and the teams chosen, all that is left is to tip things off, and to see if this new format has the kind of legs to bring back the excitement, and luster this game had in years past. The one thing that has occurred is the anticipation for the 2018 All-Star Weekend, especially the conclusion with the 67^th Annual NBA All-Star Game from the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA on Feb. 18 with coverage getting underway at 8 p.m. on TNT. 

“A lot of my teammates, and a lot of people that I know is like, ‘Oh. We’re looking forward to this weekend. We actually going to watch the game this weekend,” James said. “That lets me know we’re headed in the right direction, and now it’s up to us 24 guys, starting with myself, and Steph, and the rest of the starters to set the tone to get this game back where it should be from a competitive nature.” 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/18/18 6 p.m. NBA All-Star Starters Reveal on TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 1/20/18 7 p.m. contest Memphis Grizzlies versus New Orleans Pelicans on FOX Sports New Orleans with Joel Meyers, David Wesley, and Jennifer Hale; 1/23/18 7 p.m. Players Only edition of TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Chris Webber, Isiah Thomas, Baron Davis, and Shaquille O’Neal; 1/25/18 7 p.m. All-Star Team Reveal on TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader from Future of Flight in Los Angeles, CA with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 1/18/18 www.nba.com article, “Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry named starters, captains for 2018 NBA All-Star Game;” www.nba.com/games/20180124/MINPOR#/recap; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Westbrook; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artis_Gilmore; www.espn.com/nba/teams/stats; www.espn.com/nba/statistics; and www.espn.com/nba/standings.

J-Speaks: Bucks Axe Kidd

As their lead man on the sidelines his first three full seasons, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd led them to the playoffs twice. Under his guidance, Giannis Antetokounmpo became an All-Star, and a MVP candidate; Khris Middleton into the team’s No. 2 scorer, and second-year guard Malcolm Brogdon into an important part of the team’s rotation, and future. Even with the growth of these three individuals, the Bucks had yet to become a legitimate contender in the East, especially this season, where they have been as up, and down as the U.S. stock market prior to this past year-plus. Unexpectedly at the start of this week, the Bucks organization made an unexpected choice. 

On Monday, the Bucks relieved Kidd of his coaching duties. He was 139-152 in his three-plus seasons. 

After making the playoffs with a 41-41 mark in his first season on the sidelines in 2014-15, where they lost to the Chicago Bulls in the opening round 4-2, Kidd’s squad won just 33 games the next season. Last year, they made the playoffs as a No. 6 Seed, and lost a tough series to the No. 3 Seeded Toronto Raptors in six games.

With the start Antetokounmpo got off to this season, the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe from the Phoenix Suns earlier this season, Middleton coming into this season healthy as compared to a season ago, and an ever-improving Brogdon, the Bucks seemed poised to make some noise in the East. Recent struggles, where the Bucks had lost two in a row, and four of their last five, as well as a strain between Kidd, and the organization led to this tough call, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. 

Assistant coach Joe Prunty, who worked with Kidd with the Bucks, as well as when he was the head man with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013-14 season will take over as head coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. 

In their first game with Prunty, who on the sidelines hours after firing Kidd, the Bucks (24-22) overcame a 10-point deficit to record a 109-105 victory versus the Phoenix Suns (17-30).

This was not Prunty first game on the sidelines for the Bucks, he was 8-9 in Kidd’s stead when the future Hall of Famer was sidelined recovering from hip surgery.

Along with outscoring the Suns 33-26 in the fourth quarter, the Bucks recorded 14 steals; forced 18 Suns turnovers, scoring 23 points off them; and held the Suns to just 9 for 26 from three-point ranges. Suns’ star guard Devin Booker was held to 14 points, on 2 for 14 shooting, including 1 for 6 from three-point range. The Bucks offensively shot 53.5 percent from the field, and were 28 for 37 from the free throw line. 

“We’re professionals. It’s about regrouping, and coming out there, and doing your job,” Brogdon, who scored a career-high 32 points, going 11 for 14 from the field.

Middleton, who evolved from strictly a perimeter shooter in his time with the Detroit Pistons before coming to the Bucks four seasons back into an all-around scorer, put that on display with a game-high 35 points on 13 for 19 shooting. Bledsoe had 19 points, seven assists, and four steals.  

“It’s tough for me,” Middleton said. “He took my game to another level. He took this team to a whole other level. Today was a tough day. 

Middleton also said of Kidd, “He’s been a great teacher for me. Mostly, I was a spot up shooter. He allowed me to post up, and expanded my game to pick-and-rolls, and driving.” 

The other issue that fractured the relationship between Kidd, and the Bucks front office is the fact that Kidd’s mild-mannered demeanor on the sidelines did not raise the Bucks into a team that played at the level of some of the other East’s best like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and Raptors. 

Prunty, who has been an assistant for 16 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Cavs, the previously mentioned Nets, and Bucks displayed plenty of fire at times on the sidelines. He even jawed with the officials Derek Richardson, Zach Zarba, and Nick Buchert during the game, which was a complete departure from the demeanor Kidd had. 

One thing that Prunty, did stick with coming into the game versus the Suns on Monday night was rest Antetokounmpo for a second game in succession because of knee soreness. 

If the playoffs began today, the Bucks would be in the No. 7 spot in the East, would once again face the Raptors. 

With 36 games left in the season, the Bucks will have time to right themselves, especially with the return of forward Jabari Parker on the horizon. 

Even with that, the Bucks must find some way of bringing a consistent effort on both ends of the floor if they have any hope of elevating in the standings, and advancing past the opening round this April. 

“Once they made the decision, which was a tough one, that they did, they put the onus on the players. We understand that it’s going to take us as a group collectively,” veteran guard Jason Terry, who played with Kidd with the Mavericks on their 2010-11 championship team said. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/22/18 NBA news portion of ESPN Bottom Line news crawl; 1/22/18 8 p.m. contest Phoenix Suns versus the Milwaukee Bucks on FOX Sports Wisconsin with Jim Paschke, Marcus Johnson, and Telly Hughes; www.nba.com/games/20180122/PHXMIL#/recap/boxscore; www.espn.com/nba/matchup?gameid=400975437; www.espn.com/nba/standings; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Milwaukee_Bucks_seasons; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Prunty.