THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
PAGE 8B
THE DAILY DEBATE
+
Who should start in the NBA All-Star Game to replace Kobe?
Evan Riggs
@EvanRiggs15
"JAMES HARDEN"
It's rare to be a top-three candidate for the NBA's Most Valuable Player and not be a starter in the NBA All-Star Game. James Harden found himself in that very situation Sunday when the fan voting for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game concluded.
In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, it's almost impossible to name just five starters for the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. But every year, NBA fans are asked to vote on the All-Star Game starters, and these are the top picks in the Western Conference: Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol.
However, Bryant had surgery yesterday on his torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and will need a replacement in the All-Star Game. Golden State coach Steve Kerr will choose a starter to replace him. His choices are James Harden or his own player Klay Thompson. I think Harden deserves the nod over Thompson.
Harden has performed at an MVP level this season, averaging 27.6 points per game, 6.8 assists per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and a Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 27.99.
Harden currently leads the NBA in points per game, as well as win shares at 9.9. Also, the Houston shooting guard is ranked second in PER behind only Anthony Davis, and second in assists per game behind a non-point guard.
Although 1 think Harden is the clear choice, Thompson has had a fantastic season as well. He is averaging 23 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game and 1 steal per game.
Nevertheless, Thompson has had the benefit of playing
was probably the best display of shooting I have ever seen. Thompson can flat out shoot the ball, and he would certainly be very entertaining if he started alongside Curry.
But let's not act like Harden is not an entertaining player, too. His driving ability is unparalleled. And in past All-Star games, he has been more than willing to throw lobs to other high-flyers.
Since Kerr gets to decide who the starter will be, I think it's important that the better player gets the nod, not
"HARDEN IS ASKED TO CREATE SHOTS FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS, AND IS STILL PUTTING UP BETTER NUMBERS THAN THOMPSON."
alongside Curry, who ranks fifth in assists per game at 8.2. That is not to say Harden does not have a good team, because he does. But Harden leads his team in assists, and second is Patrick Beverley, who averages just 3.2 assists per game. Harden is asked to create shots for himself and others, and is still putting up better numbers than Thompson.
I will admit that Thompson's 37 points in one quarter against the Sacramento Kings
the more entertaining player. Harden has been better than Thompson in almost every category this year, excluding field-goal percentage, blocks and turnovers. If Harden is not rewarded for his MVP caliber year thus far with a starting position, it sets a dangerous precedent that entertainment is more important than talent.
Edited by Mitchell Raznick
Scott Chasen
@SChasenKU
"KLAY THOMPSON"
James Harden is a better basketball player than Klay Thompson — this is not something that can be debated, but it also isn't the question being asked.
If starting an All-Star game were based solely on talent, Kobe Bryant wouldn't have originally been voted in before getting injured. And if you look at the voting, there are other instances where this is the case. Jeremy Lin, who has struggled to find minutes while with the Lakers, has
But his style doesn't really match the way the All-Star game is played. Harden averages 27.6 points per game, but nearly one-third of those occur at the free-throw line. Thompson, on the other hand, scores fewer than 11 percent of his points at the free-throw line. When free throws are removed from the equation, he averages far more points per 40 minutes than Harden. None of this even accounts for the "star" aspect of the game.
Harden is certainly a well-known player, but Thompson has taken the NBA by storm this year. Thompson
"WHEN FREE THROWS ARE REMOVED FROM THE EQUATION, HE AVERAGES FAR MORE POINTS PER 40 MINUTES THAN HARDEN."
more All-Star votes than Ty Lawson, who is second in the NBA in assists and fifth in the Western Conference for scoring at the point guard position. This isn't just a recent development either.
makes up one half of the best starting backcourt in the NBA, known to many as "The Splash Brothers." He also had a historic performance recently, scoring an NBA-record 37 points in one quarter against the Kings. For comparison, in Wilt Chamberlain's
James Harden is a great player, no doubt about it.
100-point game, he "only" scored 31 points in a quarter. That's a 20 percent difference. Thompson also set an NBA record by hitting on nine out of nine three-point shots in that quarter; who wouldn't want to see that in an All-Star setting?
Finally, it's important to take into account not only the record of the two teams, but their record against each other. Golden State currently sits atop the NBA at 36-6, while Houston is more than six games back, and Golden State's average point differential of +11.9 is nearly three times that of Houston (+4). The teams have met four times this year, and Golden State has won each meeting by more than 10 points. Additionally, Golden State's coach, Steve Kerr, will be the coach of the Western Conference All Stars this year.
With all that taken into account, there really is only one answer to who should start in the All-Star game. It's the man who is shooting nearly 3 percentage points better from the field and 7 percentage points better from the three-point line than Harden, and is widely regarded as one of the NBA's best scorers: Klay Thompson.
Edited by Mitchell Raznick
Men's golf team looks to capitalize on successful fall season
The fall season was a successful one for the men's golf team. The team played in six tournaments: the Wolverine Intercollegiate at the University of Michigan, Ram Masters Invitational at Colorado State, Badger Invitational at Wisconsin, Sagamore Preview in Noblesville, Ind., Price's Give 'Em Five Invitational in El Paso, Texas, and finished out the fall portion with the team's first invite to Hawaii at the Ka'anapali Collegiate Classic..
Led by coach Jamie Bermel — who has mentored such pros as Masters champion Zach Johnson and Martin Laird when they were college athletes — the team hopes to carry their success into the spring season. The Jayhawks
did not finish lower than eighth in the six tournaments in the fall, coming in as high as second place at the Ram Masters Invitational.
The team was led all season by sophomore Chase Hanna, who played in all six events and shot in the 60s seven times. Hanna tied for second at the Ram Masters Invitational. Another leader for the team in the fall season was Logan Philley, who also played in all six events and scored three rounds in the 60s.
Hanna and Philley will play in six tournaments and start play in Palm Desert, Calif., at the University of Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate on Feb. 20.
Nick Couzins
History ahead:first Super Bowl OT
BARRY WILNER
Associated Press
PHOENIX — Almost as dominant as New England's performance in the AFC championship game was the showing for Pro Picks in both conference title matches.
A sweep.
Now comes the toughest choice of all, and even the odds makers are uncertain on this one. The Seahawks (No.1, AP Pro32) have gone from a 3-point favorite to, well, no favorite at all. The Patriots are a slight favorite, and that seems logical for the top two seeds.
The Patriots (No. 2, AP Pro32) seek their fourth championship in the Tom
Brady-Bill Belichick era. Seattle is after a second straight crown, the first team to manage that in a decade. Guess who did it most recently?
"We've had some pretty tough losses in past Super Bowls, but none of those matters at this point," quarterback Tom Brady said. "We've got to go out there and we've got a big challenge. We've got a team that is the defending Super Bowl champs. Those guys worked hard. They've earned their spot here. They've won two great playoff games, and we have, so that's what makes for a great
Of course, the Patriots (14-4) also lost their past two trips to the big game.
fight."
Styles make for great fights, too, and this is a classic matchup: potent offense for the Patriots, stingy defense for Seattle (14-4).
In many of those, the defensive team winds up the winner, as happened last year when the Seahawks manhandled Peyton Manning and the Broncos. They'll need to be just as efficient this time against Brady.
"We look at it as just another opponent in front of us. But
... those are two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, so obviously it does have a little bit of weight behind it," defensive end Cliff Avril said. In 2014, Seattle got off to such a quick start — a safety on the first offensive
Yep, New England.
snap for Denver — that the Super Bowl never really was close. With New England's ability to rally, including from a pair of 14-point deficits against Baltimore in the divisional round, the Seaahaws recognize they can never relax.
Nor can the Patriots, knowing very well that Seattle's recent achievements make it as formidable as any opponent could be.
Given recent developments, it seems much of America is rooting for New England to be beaten Sunday, citing the deflated footballs investigation and a past history of stretching the rules (Spygate). If that is so, sorry America.
Patriots, 27-24, overtime.
785-864-4358
PAY OFF YOUR STUDENT LOANS! [StudySoup]
Do you take great notes in class? StudySoup will pay you $300-$500 per course to an Elite Note-taker and post your class notes. (easy!) 2 hours per week max.
*Limited Positions Available. To learn more and check-out studySoup.com/apply/ku
studysoup.com/apply/ku
JOBS
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
HOUSE CLEANING.
HOUSE CLEANERS WANTED
Are you detail oriented,
organized, and a team player?
Full or Part time
Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm,
work 1 day a week or all 5.
Vehicle & supplies provided.
$8-10/hr.
939 Iowa Street. (785) 842-6264.
CLASSIFIEDS@KANSAN.COM
KANSAN.COM
Barber Emerson law firm has part-time position for word processing, filing & other office duties. Applicant must have good office skills. Start immediately. Please send resumes and references to kbgehtel@barberemerson.com
P/T OFFICE ASSIST/$10-$11/HR
General office work plus answering phones, giving out rental info, scheduling appointments, showing apts, assisting customers & balancing bank statements. Looking for an organized, friendly & communicative person. Part time now, full or part time in summer. Schedule changes each semester to adjust to student schedules. M-F hrs, no evenings or weekends. Apply at 600 Lawrence Ave, Suite 2D. 785-841-5797.
JOBS
P/T LEASING ASSISTANT
email resume to:
propertymanager785@gmail.com
A FUN PLACE TO WORK!
Stepping Stones is hiring P/T teacher's aides for our infant, toddler, preschool & school-age classrooms. Most shifts are 7:30am-1pm or 2-6pm Mon/Wed/Fri &/or Tues/Thurs. Please apply today in person ASAP at 1100 Wakarusa Drive.
Caregiver/Companion for intellectually challenged young woman. Call Carole for information on available shifts at 785-266-5307 or fax resume to 785-271-8299.
Caregiver/Companion for
P/T delivering the Lawrence Journal World 7 days a week. Must have reliable vehicle, valid driver's license & proof of insurance. Call or text Joan @ 816-605-6780.
HOUSING
1,2,384BR Apts & Townhomes available summer & Fall 785-843-0011 or holidaygmt.com
Avail. Aug. 4BR & 3BR next to KU stadium. All appliances, spacious, good parking. Call 785-765-7518.
Newly Renovated Houses!
3, or 13 Bedrooms
Close to Campus, Stadium, Downtown,
Available Aug. 2015
email: reed@brinorealty.com
Call 811-686-8868
FOR SALE
Two IBM Selectic II Typewriters,
with auto erase. For home or
office. One IBM Wheel Typewriter,
w/several features all in excellent
condition. $450 ea, or $1,125 for
all 3. Any offers considered.
Contact Dennis @785-823-8800
THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN