[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Tiago Splitter suffered a sprained calf early in tonight’s Clippers game:

http://projectspurs.com/2012-articles/february/spurs-lose-splitter-and-ginobili-in-victory-over-clippers.html

Manu Ginobili also suffered a strained left oblique, to add to the lameness behind the Spurs 103-100 OT victory (That Gary Neal/Chris Paul sequence=bananas).

My post is basically starting the rumor that I am sure every Timberwolves fan on this board (seem to be a lot, sorry guys) wants to here. I think that Nikola Pekovic will be making that Rising Stars Game after all. Not only does it look like Splitter might sit it out, but he luckily is also a giant second year dude who could fill in on Chuck’s team.

So, looks like many people might have gotten there wish and Pekovic’s late run will get rewarded. If they had waited a week, I bet he would have made the first cut. It would be one thing if the T-Wolves were still bottom feeders, but they are hanging around .500, with Pekovic averaging 12.4 and 7. I think he should arguably have gotten the spot over Tiago Splitter (not that he has been bad himself), but while I hope Splitter’s injury is not too serious, I think that it might open up a spot for a guy who has been tearing it up as of late.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

This could also mean that Enes Kanter gets in! He too has been has playing excellent and not just during a tiny run like Pekovic but the entire season. Not saying that Pekovic shouldn’t get any credit for how well he’s been playing, I just think that a player who has been a maniac on the boards (on the bench) the entire season should get a chance to prove himself in the Rising Star’s game. Kanter’s numbers may not look that impressive, but might I remind you that he is only getting about 15-20 minutes a game yet is still averaging 5.2 boards, 5.2 points and a half a block a game! I bet that if Kanter got the opportunity to start like Pekovic has he would perform even better than him.

[CoolidgerParticipant]

Kanter probably won’t get in. Despite them mixing sophmores and rookies this year, you look at the roster board and in the end, they still have an even number of rookies & sophmores, 10 and 10. Tiago Splitter is a sophmore, as is Pekovic, while Kanter is only a rookie. I’d be all for Kanter getting in it Tristan Thompson or Markieff Morris couldn’t make it, but thats a different case.

 

Even if that rule didn’t apply, i’d still take Pekovic over Kanter for this season. Also, Derrick Favors could be another possibility.

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 I still can’t get over Blake playing in this game again.  Has anybody ever done this before?  Duncan was an All Star as a rookie and I’m pretty sure he didn’t play in the rookie game.  But Griffin played last year because it was in L.A. and he was still getting exposed to the world plus he barely even played in the game last year.

But he’s starting in the All Star game this year.  There is absolutely no reason for him to play in this game.  They are gonna burn him out.  But the whole point of this game is to give the upcoming starts some shine.  Griffin by all accounts does not need any more shine he needs let some of the other young players who aren’t household names get some exposure.

I’d really like to see Favors play in this game but Pek deserves it more.  With that said I wouldn’t be surprised to see somebody like Iman Shumpert make it because the league loves promoting them New York players.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Hey Griffin isn’t doing the dunk contest. And I don’t really think the Rising Stars challenge is really going to be that physically taxing a game. Also, I suspect that Rubio to Griffin plays is very close to the most exciting thing on tap for the weekend to most fans. 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I am pretty sure I have told you before, he did it last year! The game is on a Friday and he is not in the dunk contest. The game used to be on Saturday, but it was moved to Friday. The very first year it was moved, Yao Ming played for the sophomore team even though he was (always) an All-Star starter. The next year, both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade played in the game as sophomores while they were both All-Stars as well. So, it indeed has precedent, just not too many rookies or sophomores make the All-Star Game.

WardB, while I understand Kanter is putting up solid per minute numbers, you need the minutes to put them up to get in the game. That, plus Pekovic is a sophomore which is why he would replace Splitter, who is also a sophomore. Kanter is still a rookie and will have a chance to make it next year. I had Derrick Favors in my original choices, but Pekovic has played more minutes and a more significant role as of late. Would be glad to see Favors get in, I personally like him as a prospect, but I think Pekovic should get the replacement spot.

[Johnny Chill]

I dont get why Blake wants to play in the Rookie/Soph game again. It’s not like he needs to prove anything against the younger guys. Blake already did that last year. It’s time he focus on bigger and better things.

He needs to save his energy for the real All Star game.

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

 They’ll probably put in Derrick Favors

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Come on guys! I know these guys put a tremendous strain on their body, but these games are always lax defense and dunks. Unless the game is close in the last few minutes, there are going to be runs and Blake probably is going to play about 20 minutes. I am really surprised people are this surprised that he is playing in this, it is not to prove anything it is to have a good time.

It is understandable that people think that it takes a lot of energy, anytime these guys are playing they are risking injury and NBA level basketball is always a strain. But, if you had the chance to play basketball or not play basketball, when you have as much energy as Blake Griffin, you are probably playing. Blake will be fine for the All-Star Game and he probably won’t win the rookie game MVP (again), but so what? As I said, people have done it in the past and have been no worse for wear. 

[Mr. 19134Participant]

 MikeyV

I’m not sure what you mean.  You told me before what?  That Griffin played in the rookie game last year becaue it was in L.A. and he only really even played 10 minutes.   James and Wade played in the rookie-sophomore games as Sophomores because most of that class was stars so it’s not like they had a choice.

But this year is different.  Do you remenber when Duncan was selected to the West All Star as a rookie?  What did Duncan do in the rookie game?  Nothing because he didn’t play in the rookie becaue he got promoted to play for the varsity team.  If you play varsity why play JV too?

And you’re missing my whole point is that by now everybody knows who Blake is.  He needs to step asisde and let some of the other young players get their time in the light.  

And it’s only dunks and such right in these games?  How did Blake Griffin hurt his knee in the preseason during his rookie year?  It was just a simple dunk wasn’t it?

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

So, off topic a bit I guess, but… brighter future, Kanter or Pek?

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