Brook Lopez picked a bad time to have what may be his best season.
Despite averaging less than 30 minutes per game, Lopez is leading all centers in the league with 18.9 points, while averaging a career-high 2.3 blocks and improving to 7.4 rebounds. But the NBA’s decision to change the All-Star ballot this season, eliminating the “center” position in favor of three “frontcourt” slots, may hurt the fifth-year center’s chances of making his first all-star appearance.
“The rule change hurts him, and it’s disappointing to me after all those other years,” said interim coach P.J. Carlesimo. “I’m not a fan of fan voting to begin with, so the fact that in addition to that, they took the position away … it is what it is, you know?”
In the most recent voting results, Lopez ranked 14th among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, 27,414 votes behind Amar’e Stoudemire, who is averaging 10 points after scoring 13 in the Knicks’ 102-96 loss to the Celtics last night, and 76ers center Andrew Bynum, who has 16,916 more votes despite being sidelined all season with a knee injury.
“Well, all that speaks to is my confidence in the basketball IQ of the fans,” Carlesimo said. “If he’s not one of the best centers in the league, I’m crazy. There’s no question he is. But I don’t think you can worry about the fan vote. Hopefully the other 14 coaches in the East will see what he’s done.”
Lopez will need to be selected as a reserve by the coaches, but he said he isn’t concerned with making the team, though he said he’d enjoy being selected.
If Lopez does make it though, Deron Williams thinks it will be because of increased aggression, and a season that hasn’t been dominated by discussions of Dwight Howard.
“To me, he’s definitely an All-Star,” Williams said. “He’s playing like one on both ends of the floor. He’s a big reason why we’re playing well right now. He’s a constant threat for a double-double and you throw in those blocks that he’s getting every game, he’s playing so good for us right now.
“I just think he’s confident. He’s not looking over his shoulder every five minutes thinking he’s going to get traded, which definitely helps as far as his focusand him mentally being ready to play.”
* Kris Humphries, who has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle, participated fully in yesterday’s practice and is expected to play tonight at Philadelphia.