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Three Cleveland Cavaliers have landed on the 2013 NBA All-Star Ballot, but one of the choices seems a little questionable.
The three Cavs named to the ballot this year are Kyrie Irving, Anderson Varejao and Omri Casspi.
That’s right, I said Omri Casspi.
The NBA started the All-Star ballot process on Tuesday to allow fans to choose players for the big game, which will be held in Houston on Sunday, Feb. 17. According to information posted on NBA.com, fans this year will be able to vote through social media networks, since everything must now be done by social media or risk being uncool. Fans can vote by using Facebook or Twitter (just don’t choose too many names with lots of letters) as well as the always popular Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China. I am huge on Tencent QQ.
Fans can also vote over their phones, over NBA websites or apparently by using things called “pens” or “pencils” to make markings onto ballots that are somehow printed onto thin, non-digital “paper” materials.
The All-Star ballots have 120 players for fans to choose from. Each ballot has 60 players from each conference, and the 60 are broken down into 36 frontcourt players and 24 guards.
The 120 players were selected by three media members who cover the NBA and are regarded as experts.
How these experts regarded Casspi as a possible All-Star, though, is a mystery.
Irving and Varejao are no-brainers for the ballot, and if they keep playing like they have been, they should both make the squad.
Irving is scoring 24.3 points per game and handing out 6.5 assists per game. He is a spectacular player who is breaking down defenses, knocking down big shots and getting to the rim at will in some games.
He is one of the top scorers in the league, and one of the most exciting players to watch when the ball is in his hands. He makes incredibly tough layups look easy, and he also makes thrilling passes to players cutting through the lane.
Varejao, meanwhile, currently looks like the best big man in the Eastern Conference. He is scoring 15.9 points per game while also pulling down an impressive 13.7 rebounds per game.
The big man is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, and he is also an excellent defender and passer. He has improved his offensive game in the last few years, too, and is a force inside.
Varejao and Irving are exciting players to watch, and right now they deserve to be All-Stars.
As for Casspi, well, he still has a lot of potential.
In his second year in Cleveland, Casspi has not done enough to impress Coach Byron Scott, and now he is not even getting into some games. He has only played in four of the eight games the Cavs have played so far this season.
In his limited appearances, Casspi has shot 2 for 10 from the field (seven of those shots have been three-pointers) and has scored a total of 11 points. He has recorded nine rebounds, two steals and three turnovers.
Casspi is 6-9, and he can shoot well and move well on the floor, and he has a lot of potential. The selection committee seems to believe in his potential, and maybe they know something we don’t. Maybe the Cavs will start playing Casspi more and more, and maybe he will start producing.
For now, though, I’m sure Casspi is much more concerned about keeping a spot on the Cavs roster than he is about being voted onto the All-Star roster.
I like Casspi and I actually believe he can be a pretty good member of the Cavs. I’m pulling for him to earn more playing time so that he can contribute, help the Cavs win and receive my vote the next time I log onto my Tencent QQ account. I am huge on Tencent QQ.
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