Diamond in the Rough

By Migs


I don't know about you guys, but I am at the head of a committee that demands that the Rockets' Luis Scola be given an All-Star nod this season.

Let's face it- I believe that Yao Ming's reached his peak. He has suffered from bum luck because of something that can also be one of his biggest assets- his size. His feet, his bones, just don't seem to be sturdy enough to support 300 pounds of oriental basketball power. What does Houston have in light of this? An Argentenian bruiser who, I feel, has been overlooked for way too long.

Scola's netted averages of 20.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season. More importantly, his play in the low block has allowed for shooters like Kevin Martin and Shane Battier to dance beyond the arc. Don't let this former pick by the San Antonio's herky-jerky jumpshot fool you. This fellow can stroke it from 10-15 feet, and if you play on-ball defense with him, he can overwhelm you with his size and strength in the post.

It's both a boon and a bane that the NBA is a awash with top 4-men, especially in the Western Conference. Guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, and Pau Gasol tend to rule the airwaves, but it's young up and comers like Scola (honorable mention to Utah's Paul Millsap, who's been a beast this year), who really have pundits smiling about the fact that the NBA's future does seem to be in very capable hands.

Apart from Scola, here are a couple of other cagers whom I feel deserve to make their all-star debuts this season:

*Kevin Love, T-Wolves: Yes, Minnesota is cold, drab, and uninspired, but Love represents a glimmer of hope which cannot be ignored. After a 31 point, 31 rebound performance against the surging Knicks in November, I can't help but think that this guy could be the next, you guessed it- Kevin McHale. After 3 years, McHale's prophecy has come true. This is why he has showed so much "love" for Love. Shun the non-believers.

*Blake Griffin, Clippers: Is it possible to go non-positional with regards to the construction of an all-star squad's lineup? In an earlier article, I mentioned that Griffin reminded me of a more athletic Charles Barkley. Like the Timberwolves, the Clippers, as a team, are one amongst the NBA's dregs, but this guy, along with guard Eric Gordon, are gradually make some of us believe that LA's second team may very well be relevant again in the near future.

*Russell Westbrook, Thunder: Thunderstruck, we are. Is there a more electric young duo in the NBA than Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who leads the NBA in points per outing? I don't think so.

*Josh Smith, Hawks: He's taking fewer ill-advised shots, is still a beast on defense, and is a very, very, dangerous trailer on both ends. What's not to like? If Al Horford could have made it last year, why not Smith this year? He should be able to make headlines within the next couple of weeks especially because of Joe Johnson's recent health woes.

*Roy Hibbert, Pacers: Hey look, the Pacers are relevant again! They won't blow teams away with their offense, but then, they've got it going on defensively. For those times when their offense is on, and their defense is brilliant, their young 5-man Hibbert's been sensational. The big man's averaging 17 and 9 on the year, and he can only get better. Not since Rik Smits and Jermaine O'Neal have the Pacers had a real back to the basket threat. Give this team more in-game seasoning and who knows, they could take the 7th or 8th spot in the East as early as this season.

-MC-