Just kidding! Please keep in mind, as I share my faux awards ballot, that it's the NBA itself, for 40+ years, that says reporters covering #thisleague are the most qualified (and objective) voters
Not blaming you at all, but I hate the positional rigidity of the All-NBA teams. If a team had both Jokic and Embiid, they'd start both, with Jokic playing as a throwback "power forward" - he can space the floor enough that jerryrigging him into the PF slot isn't an unbelievable cheat. Weird that the second place MVP vote doesn't make the first team because he is in the same nominal position as the 1st pick, especially in an era of positionless basketball where a player like Doncic is a point guard by role but a forward by matchup. If Doncic is a point guard, why isn't Jokic a point guard? I'm being facetious, but making a point about how positions are becoming meaningless yet awards voting and All Star teams ("frontcourt" vs. "backcourt") continue to adhere to antiquated, strict positionality. Of course then you might as well always pick your five MVP votes even if they wouldn't fit as a real world team (the All-NBA isn't a real world team so...)
To further expand, since I know you are a person with some level of media influence who might be able to get ideas across to people in the NBA who can hear them, why is Doncic classified as a point guard but LeBron James has always been considered a small forward? They're like one inch different in height, have basically identical roles as the epicenter of the offense (outside of LeBron's stint with Kyrie as the main ballhandler.) They're both point forwards in every way. Brunson is the Mav's "point guard" positionally too, and often there's another guard starting, like Dinwiddie or Hardaway, Jr. But Doncic has to compete for one of two backcourt slots while LeBron gets to compete for one of three frontcourt slots.
Same for Bird vs. Magic. They are identical heights and both were usually the main facilitators of the offense, yet Magic is classified as a guard and Bird is a small forward?
If Doncic was able to compete for a three-position frontcourt slot instead of a two-position backcourt slot, the vote totals would have been different and he might have ended up ahead of Wiggins for All Star starter. And as long as he's classified as a guard, it's more likely a deserving guard gets snubbed due to the rarity of slots. Why not just remove that vague distinction, not worry if the starters aren't a perfect oncourt fit, since the game is just for fun, and let the coaches handle lineups after the first substitutions. If five centers are chosen, well, it would be incredibly entertaining, no?
Covered this in a recent piece I did on All-NBA voting. They will eventually go to a position-less All-NBA ballot ... but there are some rumblings that it will be held until the next labor negotiations as a bargaining chip.
Really enjoyed the rationale behind each pick. I’d be curious your rankings of difficulty of coming to a decision. COY and DPOY seem to be difficult with a deep field, MVP being MVP and then 6MOY, in my opinion, “easier” by comparison.
Yup. The Bulls ascended to No. 1 in the East before losing two hugely important guards and DeRozan was brilliant at his best this season. So, for me, yes.
Not blaming you at all, but I hate the positional rigidity of the All-NBA teams. If a team had both Jokic and Embiid, they'd start both, with Jokic playing as a throwback "power forward" - he can space the floor enough that jerryrigging him into the PF slot isn't an unbelievable cheat. Weird that the second place MVP vote doesn't make the first team because he is in the same nominal position as the 1st pick, especially in an era of positionless basketball where a player like Doncic is a point guard by role but a forward by matchup. If Doncic is a point guard, why isn't Jokic a point guard? I'm being facetious, but making a point about how positions are becoming meaningless yet awards voting and All Star teams ("frontcourt" vs. "backcourt") continue to adhere to antiquated, strict positionality. Of course then you might as well always pick your five MVP votes even if they wouldn't fit as a real world team (the All-NBA isn't a real world team so...)
To further expand, since I know you are a person with some level of media influence who might be able to get ideas across to people in the NBA who can hear them, why is Doncic classified as a point guard but LeBron James has always been considered a small forward? They're like one inch different in height, have basically identical roles as the epicenter of the offense (outside of LeBron's stint with Kyrie as the main ballhandler.) They're both point forwards in every way. Brunson is the Mav's "point guard" positionally too, and often there's another guard starting, like Dinwiddie or Hardaway, Jr. But Doncic has to compete for one of two backcourt slots while LeBron gets to compete for one of three frontcourt slots.
Same for Bird vs. Magic. They are identical heights and both were usually the main facilitators of the offense, yet Magic is classified as a guard and Bird is a small forward?
If Doncic was able to compete for a three-position frontcourt slot instead of a two-position backcourt slot, the vote totals would have been different and he might have ended up ahead of Wiggins for All Star starter. And as long as he's classified as a guard, it's more likely a deserving guard gets snubbed due to the rarity of slots. Why not just remove that vague distinction, not worry if the starters aren't a perfect oncourt fit, since the game is just for fun, and let the coaches handle lineups after the first substitutions. If five centers are chosen, well, it would be incredibly entertaining, no?
Covered this in a recent piece I did on All-NBA voting. They will eventually go to a position-less All-NBA ballot ... but there are some rumblings that it will be held until the next labor negotiations as a bargaining chip.
Boooooooooooo!
I know it's little consolation, James, but Big Jo remains one of my absolute favorites to (watch and interview).
Now you gotta invite Hanlen to step inside the Greenroom octagon and see if he can unmute himself left handed.
It is now officially known as Spotify Live!
Really enjoyed the rationale behind each pick. I’d be curious your rankings of difficulty of coming to a decision. COY and DPOY seem to be difficult with a deep field, MVP being MVP and then 6MOY, in my opinion, “easier” by comparison.
This season there wasn't a single layup category. Usually there is at least one out of six that is easy. I don't think 6MOY was easy.
Derozan over Lebron for 2nd team, even after the spectacular fall in production post all star break?
Yup. The Bulls ascended to No. 1 in the East before losing two hugely important guards and DeRozan was brilliant at his best this season. So, for me, yes.