Ja makes All NBA Team?

[The J Crew 0]

On 3/9/2023 at 3:56 PM, Grizzled Vet said:

Booker can't miss much more time,either.

If Ja gets a major suspension, I will find it hard to believe he gets any post-season honors.

With the Kings holding down 2nd or 3rd in West, Fox would also slide ahead of Ja.

I think the voters might hold a grudge against someone who has now quit on two teams, but even James Harden has a good case, and sliding Jaylen Brown to the guard position would also be a potential person in front of Ja.

I think you were right about De'Aaron Fox. Kings will be either the 2nd or 3rd seed. Fox has hit a couple of recent game winners. I think he's the 6th guy now over Devin Booker.

 

[ThaGhostOfThaBeet 0]

Ja and the organization is at the "mercy" of the voters.  Nothing we say or do matters.

Ja can improve his chances if he goes on a tear, the team could lessen his chances if they don't play him much the rest of the season.  

Saying "who cares, we will be over the salary cap, so what does it matter anyway", is not correct.  There's also the luxury cap to think about.  If Ja doesn't get All-NBA, it will save the team at least $7 million a year.  We shouldn't cheer Ja not making All-NBA, just quietly nod our head and say "ok, more room to work with."  

I think BR has it nailed on the guard spots

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10068690-predicting-2023-all-nba-1st-2nd-and-3rd-teams

[Dwash 0]

41 minutes ago, ThaGhostOfThaBeet said:

Ja and the organization is at the "mercy" of the voters.  Nothing we say or do matters.

Ja can improve his chances if he goes on a tear, the team could lessen his chances if they don't play him much the rest of the season.  

Saying "who cares, we will be over the salary cap, so what does it matter anyway", is not correct.  There's also the luxury cap to think about.  If Ja doesn't get All-NBA, it will save the team at least $7 million a year.  We shouldn't cheer Ja not making All-NBA, just quietly nod our head and say "ok, more room to work with."  

I think BR has it nailed on the guard spots

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10068690-predicting-2023-all-nba-1st-2nd-and-3rd-teams

Yeah with Bane, Brooks, Kennard, Jones all up for decision time in the next two offseasons....with the luxury tax that extra pocket change could keep one of these players here.

[GrizzTigerFan 0]

[ALT GRIND 0]

On 3/22/2023 at 2:04 PM, Dwash said:

Yeah with Bane, Brooks, Kennard, Jones all up for decision time in the next two offseasons....with the luxury tax that extra pocket change could keep one of these players here.

I would think we would have to pay ALL FOUR.  Or, if we replaced one of those guys, the replacement player wouldn't be vastly cheaper.

Konchar/ZW might be the contract $$$ we move off of.  Or, we move 2nd rounders or trade DOWN.

I don't think moving off our CORE guys and our HIGH LEVEL ROTATION PLAYERS is the smart move here....

Looking like NEXT YEAR is our ALL IN year.

... although I think we should be the sleeper pick or ONE of the sleeper picks for THIS season.

[GrizzTigerFan 0]

Mark Gianotto had a good argument for why Ja isn't gonna get ALLNBA berth this season.   Stat-wise/efficiency wise He is 9th 10th best guard according to most metrics.   Ja putting up numbers but he isn't having as good of a season overall as he did last year.  

Elephant in the room time -   Ja need to learn how to shoot.   Teams have him completely figured  him out in the paint and he has no Plan B right now.   Our offense looks night and day when he is either on the court with 3 shooters or when Tyus run it.      Adams absence has really exposed how one-dimensional his offensive game has become.    All he does now is drive into paint for either acrobatic finishes or foul-hunting.   He hasn't adjusted to Adams not being there to set those screens or cleanup his misses.     To make matters worse he gets tunnel vision too often on trying to score instead of facilitating.   Dillon and Ja are the only two guys that luv to go iso and unfortunately, they are the least efficient when they do.     

Crazy thing is Ja has the arsenal to be effective even without being a good shooter.   His preAllStar version was a Pass-first PG that only took over when he had too.  He ran PNRoll with Jonas to great success.   he was getting guys good shots but back then we didn't have the shooters.  That's the guy we need.   Now that we have the shooters it seems like he views them only as spacers for his drives to the basket (unless its Dillon open then he will gladly pass it).   Sad fact of the matter is that Ja correctly understood that in order to get Media attention and accolades he needs to put up stats and highlights.   He appears to be stuck in that mindset this season and not playing smart basketball like he used to.   Im not sure if Taylor has the voice to get him to reign it back in.  I say that because of how different the team looked when he was out.  IMHO it looks like either Taylor just lets ja do his thing on offense (and Dillon) or ja doesn't listen to him.  

The other Elephant is that We won't ever get best version of Jaren if Ja never develops outside shot.  Right now they both operate in same space.   Its very hard to get clean post touches when the other 3 guys (Ja Dillon X) don't have to be guarded outside the paint.    Ja need to learn how to shoot.    If Bane can become a legit playmaker ballhandler in 2 seasons then Ja can learn how to shoot in 4.   

[Grizzliesfan777 0]

Ja going into his 4th NBA off-season and it feels like a make or break time almost. Like it’s been said, his game has been figured out and he needs to add to it.

Would really like to:

-See him hit the weight room and come back a little thicker so he can handle contact a bit better.

-Get a somewhat workable mid-range and 3-point game. It doesn’t have to be lethal or elite (that would be nice though), but something that makes for further improved spacing, make guys have to go over instead of under, and will help elongate his career once his athleticism begins to fade. 

-Work on his **** personal life. 

[The J Crew 0]

Sure feels like Donovan has locked down one of the guard spots.

 

[Ja_Rules 0]

1 hour ago, The J Crew said:

Sure feels like Donovan has locked down one of the guard spots.

 

I really dont know if Ja will make it.

 

Mitchell/SGA/Curry/Luka/Holiday/Harden/Fox

Booker/Edwards/Garland/Irving

[The J Crew 0]

19 minutes ago, Ja_Rules said:

I really dont know if Ja will make it.

 

Mitchell/SGA/Curry/Luka/Holiday/Harden/Fox

Booker/Edwards/Garland/Irving

And Dame averaged 32 points pg for the season. 

[Ja_Rules 0]

54 minutes ago, The J Crew said:

And Dame averaged 32 points pg for the season. 

Yeah, after all the drama he probably wont make it

[Grizzfan7979 0]

Dame's out with the tanking and missed games but honestly I don't see why people would vote for Ja. SGA Mitchell Curry Luka Fox are over him I think. Going to come down to harden, Ja, Booker for the last spot. I just don't see it especially with how the season is ending.

[Grizzliesfan777 0]

9 minutes ago, Grizzfan7979 said:

Dame's out with the tanking and missed games but honestly I don't see why people would vote for Ja. SGA Mitchell Curry Luka Fox are over him I think. Going to come down to harden, Ja, Booker for the last spot. I just don't see it especially with how the season is ending.

I think he loses a lot of votes because of the incidents that piled up publicly in short order. 

[The J Crew 0]

6 minutes ago, Grizzfan7979 said:

Dame's out with the tanking and missed games but honestly I don't see why people would vote for Ja. SGA Mitchell Curry Luka Fox are over him I think. Going to come down to harden, Ja, Booker for the last spot. I just don't see it especially with how the season is ending.

I don't know. Dame has made 6 All-NBA teams, and this year is high career high in points by over 2 points pg. Played 58 games. Not sure if the voters will penalize him for the tanking, since it only started the last 2 weeks of the season.

Jalen Brunson is a decent 3rd team candidate. New York so a lot of media. Team goes from 11th to 5th, and he's the only big addtion. 24 & 6 shooting over 41% from 3. 

Devin Booker will be at 55 games if he plays the last 3. Roughly 28, 5 and 5. If the Suns run the table the last 3 games, they end the season on a 9-game winning streak. 

[Grizzled Vet 0]

If Ja is held out the last game (likely), he'll end up with 60 games, just 2 more than Dame. So while I do think the 58 games hurts Dame, I'm not sure if a voter is choosing between Ja and Dame that's enough of a reason to pick one.  I also think that Curry getting to 55 games is enough for the voters because he's clearly a top 6 guy.

Fox 72

SGA, Mitchell & Brunson 68

Luka - 65

Jaylen Brown 67 - listed as SG on ESPN

Ja - 60

Harden & Dame - 58

Curry 54

 

Today's guess that could change by Tuesday:

Mitchell & Luka

SGA & Curry

Fox & (This spot is really difficult, but I think it is Brunson or Jaylen Brown. If Dame gets it, no problem).

 

I don't think the suspension was the killer for Ja, but I do think the Washington Post story + other reasonable candidates keeps Ja off the All NBA teams. I feel pretty confident on those first 5.

[ThaGhostOfThaBeet 0]

9 hours ago, Grizzled Vet said:

If Ja is held out the last game (likely), he'll end up with 60 games, just 2 more than Dame. So while I do think the 58 games hurts Dame, I'm not sure if a voter is choosing between Ja and Dame that's enough of a reason to pick one.  I also think that Curry getting to 55 games is enough for the voters because he's clearly a top 6 guy.

Fox 72

SGA, Mitchell & Brunson 68

Luka - 65

Jaylen Brown 67 - listed as SG on ESPN

Ja - 60

Harden & Dame - 58

Curry 54

 

Today's guess that could change by Tuesday:

Mitchell & Luka

SGA & Curry

Fox & (This spot is really difficult, but I think it is Brunson or Jaylen Brown. If Dame gets it, no problem).

 

I don't think the suspension was the killer for Ja, but I do think the Washington Post story + other reasonable candidates keeps Ja off the All NBA teams. I feel pretty confident on those first 5.

Even if Ja had none of the issues nor suspension this season, I don’t know if he’d make All-NBA. 

[The J Crew 0]

Have listened to a few NBA pods where the hosts state their All-NBA teams. The good news is almost all had Ja not making All-NBA. But seems like either Russillo or Bill Simmons did. And a couple had him in the final group for 3rd team, but they hadn't made their final decision yet.

One good point someone made is Ja's True Shooting Percentage is below league average. True Shooting is a pretty easy nerd stat that even non-analytics writers can understand.

So I looked it up. And Ja is below league average. And is 152nd in True Shootin at only 55.7%. Ouch.  2022-23 NBA Player Stats: Advanced | Basketball-Reference.com

152	Ja Morant	PG	23	MEM	61	1948	23.3	.557

 

Also, Ja is down to 30.7% on 3-pointers. Which is bad, and an easy stat for writers to use as a reason. 

[The J Crew 0]

11 hours ago, Grizzled Vet said:

If Ja is held out the last game (likely), he'll end up with 60 games, just 2 more than Dame. So while I do think the 58 games hurts Dame, I'm not sure if a voter is choosing between Ja and Dame that's enough of a reason to pick one.  I also think that Curry getting to 55 games is enough for the voters because he's clearly a top 6 guy.

Fox 72

SGA, Mitchell & Brunson 68

Luka - 65

Jaylen Brown 67 - listed as SG on ESPN

Ja - 60

Harden & Dame - 58

Curry 54

 

I don't think the suspension was the killer for Ja, but I do think the Washington Post story + other reasonable candidates keeps Ja off the All NBA teams. I feel pretty confident on those first 5.

I think Jaylen will almost certainly get more votes at forward. The ESPN listing has nothing to with it. It is which position the voters decide to put him in. 

Here's an article from 10 or so days ago from a Boston writer that analyzes this. Jaylen Brown's position is vital to Celtics star's All-NBA chances - NBC Sports Boston

First, it how the voters position Brown:

"Why does position matter? The NBA notes that any player who receives votes at multiple positions is only eligible at the position where they receive the most votes."

Next, Jaylen Brown has played more at small forward than guard this season:

"Complicating Brown’s voting: One year after logging most of his minutes as a guard, Brown has spent most of this season as a forward.

Last season, Brown slotted as a shooting guard in Boston’s double-big lineups. With Tatum, Al Horford and Robert Williams III in that starting group, Brown essentially was paired with Marcus Smart in Boston’s backcourt.

But Boston has gone single-big much of this year with Williams III missing extended time. There’s also increased guard depth after adding both Derrick White and Brogdon over the past 13 months. That those factors have Brown logging most of his minutes at small forward.

 

Brown has played roughly 57 percent of his total minutes this season at forward, compared to 43 percent at guard. "

 

[Grizzled Vet 0]

Some media have started posting their All-NBA team. Not certain how many are actual voters:

 

 

[Grizzfan7979 0]

I don't think Ja deserves it. Not from wanting to save salary standpoint either, I just don't think he's as good as other candidates. He's been a distraction. He hasn't been good since he's been back from suspension. He had so many games the first 50 games where he was disinterested or disengaged and looked like he didn't care at all.  He's doing way too much highlight hunting and chirping at the refs and fans and it's set a bad tone for the team that's turned us into leaguewide villains (along with Dillon of course, which is actually absurd that we're disliked when you look at our team, besides DIlon).

[ThaGhostOfThaBeet 0]

Just now, Grizzfan7979 said:

I don't think Ja deserves it. Not from wanting to save salary standpoint either, I just don't think he's as good as other candidates. He's been a distraction. He hasn't been good since he's been back from suspension. He had so many games the first 50 games where he was disinterested or disengaged and looked like he didn't care at all.  He's doing way too much highlight hunting and chirping at the refs and fans and it's set a bad tone for the team that's turned us into leaguewide villains (along with Dillon of course, which is actually absurd that we're disliked when you look at our team, besides DIlon).

Yeah, I don't think there's a great case to be made for him to make it over the other 6 (Luka/Steph/Fox/SGA/Dame/Donovan).  I think Ja's the 7th guy. 

[Grizzled Vet 0]

The argument against Dame is the number of games he played combined with a 33 win team.  

If someone has him on 3rd team over Ja, I have no issue, although I disagree.

 

[King Dork 0]

They will 100% leave Ja off of All NBA to “punish” him for his behavior. Even though they aren’t his parents or employers, most of these dudes feel responsible to make people pay for the mistakes they don’t feel like someone has paid for enough already. Should be in if you’re only judging Ja on basketball. 

[ThaGhostOfThaBeet 0]

1 hour ago, Grizzled Vet said:

The argument against Dame is the number of games he played combined with a 33 win team.  

If someone has him on 3rd team over Ja, I have no issue, although I disagree.

 

Yeah, it's Dame's greatest season ever, statistically speaking, but its probably the worst team he's been on. On one hand you don't want to punish someone for being on a bad team when they themselves performed so well, but you could also look at it like no one else on the team could do anything, so he had to do it all.  

[pjs 0]

Ja would get my vote if I had one.  If he doesn't make an all-NBA team, I bet Ja will have a big chip on his shoulder & goes out and proves the doubters wrong on the floor.