Is Toronto’s Jose Calderon an All-Star?April 01 09  Breaking news mixed with analysis … Their News: “Jose Calderon, when healthy, is arguably an All-Star point guard.” Leo Rautins, Toronto game analyst (For the record, I’m a big fan of Rautins and all broadcasters on Raptors TV). Our Very Quick Analysis: Well, let the argument begin. Even after taking into account Calderon’s health issues and improved play, this is still a stretch. The Spaniard, when injury-free and in top form, can be a good table-setter, but isn’t an All-Star. Calderon has significant shortcomings on defense. Ideally, All-Stars should help their team get stops, or, at the very least, not get exposed. But because of poor quickness and below average size, opponents go after Calderon. His coach admits he’s a liability. Following a recent win over Chicago, Toronto interim sideline boss Jay Triano basically conceded Calderon’s defense makes him a target. “As the point guard goes at the defensive end, so does your team,” Triano said, shrugging. “Not that we were great defensively. But this (Chicago) is a tough team for us to play.” (Globe and Mail)
Sure, super rookie Derrick Rose is a difficult match-up. Yet, true All-Stars don’t have their coaches making excuses or condoning their weaknesses –even when they drop an impressive 19 assists in an overtime victory.
He also has offensive limitations. All-Star point guards should be able to create their own shots. For example, with the shot clock winding down, Chris Paul and Deron Williams can always attack the basket or nail a jumper. Perhaps it’s more noticeable because shot-first T.J. Ford is now with the Pacers, but Calderon’s inability to produce opportunities and to score has hurt the Raptors. An All-Star point guard should outplay other point guards in his conference. Here’s the question: does Calderon, even when healthy, trump Atlanta’s Mike Bibby, Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Cleveland’s Mo Williams, Chicago’s Rose, New Jersey’s Devin Harris, Orlando’s Jameer Nelson, or Philadelphia’s Andre Miller? At times, Calderon keeps pace, but isn’t consistently better than any of these players.
It’s been a confusing season in Toronto. This much is clear: Calderon is not an All-Star. Is Calderon an All-Star? Why? Why not? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of FLC.
Posted by
on 04.6.2009 | If he were more selfish and shot 20 times each night, he would make 20+10, and it would be all-star, but it would be best for the team? the answer is clear: NO . | Posted by
Dr. Hoops
on 04.5.2009 | Calderon is not an All-Star. He is a good solid Point Guard, but thats about it. Being a liability on defense can be balanced with matchups and defensive assignments. Think of the 76ers when the backcourt consisted of Iverson and Snow. Both PG’s but Snow was able to cover the other team’s SG to prevent Iverson’s size from being exploited. However, keep in mind that All-Stars are voted on the team and Calderon’s game is not appealing to the fans. If selecting PG’s for the All-Star should be based on numbers and assists/turnover ratio, then Brevin Knight should have been there every year he was a starter. But he was not, not because he was not a good PG, it’s simply because he and many other PG’s play a solid but mundane or boring if you will type of game. No blazing speed, no highlight reel assists, just a steady and consistent game. . | Posted by
JC
on 04.3.2009 | Absolutely not an all-star, not even close to borderline star yet. The reason why I say that s because he still has a lot to work on and he’s being inconsistent at times. And I don’t see him being able to lead a team to victory when the team’s #1 or #2 guy goes down with injury. . | Posted by
on 04.3.2009 | He no All-Star. period . | Posted by
Tim
on 04.3.2009 | The person who posted before QWERTY owned you all, especially you Oly. Jose shoots 50% from the field 41% from three, and 98% from the line. How many other point guards have that with 13 and 10 . | Posted by
Bitz_111
on 04.2.2009 | hell if d-will ain’t all star than he most definitely is not one. . | Posted by
agagag
on 04.2.2009 | LMAO AT if this 5 game winning streak ain’t any idication of him being a legitmate pg then i dunno what is LMAO, 5 game win streak AINT SHlT and he ain’t did anything amazing during it either . | Posted by
shane
on 04.2.2009 | he could easily make it as an all star the team he is running doesnt’w work well when calderon is running up and town like a phyco path hes a very controlled point guard his defence is terrbile someone needs to tell him to be alot more agrresive and actually try he gives up the second his opponent has past himstick on him like glue and calderon will be amazing calderon can make his own shots just hes always thinking of passing first hes a traditional old point guard and his field goal are very high . | Posted by
Sarah Credo
on 04.2.2009 | Oly, I don’t think he’ll be an all-star, but IS he an all-star? In my honest oinion, yes he can be. He has the best assist to turnover ratio, he CAN make shots and he is finally learning to shoot more often because at times he’s a bit too unselfish. In the end of the day, all you ask for is a point guard that can run the team and if this five game win streak isn’t any indication that he’s a legitimate point guard, then I don’t know what is. PS. Jameer Nelson is okay, but his supporting cast is the reason why he was an all-star. His team record was also a big reason why he looks good. He will not be an all-star again because there’s Derrick Rose and Devin Harris along with DJ Augustin a possible all-star in the years to come. . | Posted by
QWERTY
on 04.2.2009 | This might be a little under appreciative of Calderon’s skills. He’s not just a good table setter when healthy, hes a great pg all the time. but not an all star nontheless. . | Posted by
on 04.1.2009 | And also, I hear peple saying ’Jose doesn’t push the ball’. Uhhh.. have you guys watched the last 3-5 games? I’m seeing A LOT of fast break basketball. It’s not that he doesn’t wanna run... he never had anyone to run with, save bosh, who gassed himself in half court sets. Btw, speaking of Chris Bosh, why was he an all star? He does s---all on the defensive end. If defense is that important, fuck, make David Lee an all star over him. But back to Jose, once he got Joey to run and Marion on the team and pops etc, he HAS been running, the whole team has. You can’t run with donkeys, you need horses. And Jose makes his team better.. I mean.. I know this is WAY late in the season when it doesn’t matter but.. 5 game winning streak anyone? BEAT ORLANDO ANYONE? Jose CLEARLY makes the Raptors a next level team. And spare me the BS about ’Nash plays angles’ and takes charges. Another excuse to justify Nash making the playoffs and Jose being snubbed of that status. Last two times I remember Ol stevey tryna take a charage, he got a bloody nose, and Lamar Odom deleivred a dime leading to Kobe de-flowering Nash. Jose makes them a playoff team, I said it. . | Posted by
on 04.1.2009 | Mr.Sanders, please answer me this. If an all star has to be at least decent at defense, why was Steve Nash an all star? He’s just one example of many. I think people don’t want him to be an all star for whatever reason, maybe some people think he’s ’boring,’ but this just seems like an excuse to justify snubbing him. Was he an all star this season? No. But when healthy, I believe he IS an all star, and his defense shouldn’t have anything to do about it. I never really hear people say ’so and so is an all star b/c of their work on the defensive end.’ Ok..so why isn’t Anthony Parker an all star? or maybe someone like Ron Artest? they both have average stats, but they’re lock down defenders. It’s these kind of in-consistencies that piss me off about the NBA many a time. Too say Jose isn’t consistnely better than all of those guys when healthy is completly outlandish as well. Jose is one of THE most consistent guys night in and night out when healthy. You know your getting around 15 and 10 EACH night with minimal turnovers. . | Posted by
on 04.1.2009 | All-Star indeed!!! . | Posted by
tempy
on 04.1.2009 | Calderon will never be an allstar they are too many good point guards in the league. He’s nothing special at all . | Posted by
Sami A
on 04.1.2009 | I agree with all of you saying he’s not a all star. Speaking in regards to defense, guy’s like Nash weren’t good defenders by any stretch, but the difference is knowing your limitations. Nash does the little things like playing angles and taking charges to cover up his defensive liabilities a little bit. . | Posted by
bballfan
on 04.1.2009 | if defense makes you an all star....then steve nash must have been one big mistake....so has dirk....tracy mcgrady....theres too many players to name that have been all stars and have never played good defense although i agree, calderon is not all star material just yet. however, i do believe he has the potential...ultimately, being an all star is a reward for helping your team and personal achievementscalderon is arguably the most EFFICIENT poinguard when healthy, he is on route to another 50 - 40 - 90 season, which will make him only the 2nd player in nba history to reach that mark twice (the other being larry bird)someday, he’ll be an allstar . | Posted by
F NO
on 04.1.2009 | F NO HE IS NOT A ALL STAR, ANDRE MILLER IS A LOT BETTER THAN HIM AND GETS NO CREDIT OR ALL STAR ATTETION SO WHY THE F SHOULD THIS AVG PG? . | Posted by
whhhhaaaaat!
on 04.1.2009 | no, he’s not an all-star. he’s above-average offensively, and below-average defensively. he tends to look to make the ’sure-thing’ pass/play as opposed to pushing the ball & seeking out riskier opportunities (hence the sterling ast/TO ratio).to the first poster: jose is, arguably, one of the better-shooting PGs in the league, esp. considering that a very high % of his attempts come from the perimeter (which is a result of his relatively poor ability to turn the corner &/or outquick his check w/o the benefit of a pick). his TS% is through the roof...problem is, he doesn’t look for his shot nearly often enough, and he has trouble creating shots for himself.defensively...well, that is an issue, and one that’ll prevent him from ever playing in an AS game.last point: leo rautins is a knob. here’s a fun drinking game: every time he says ’andrea bargnani,’ you have to take a shot. you’ll be passed out with 4 minutes to go in the 1st. . | Posted by
on 04.1.2009 | He is an All-Star. This year he was hurt. . | Posted by
O.Sandor
on 04.1.2009 | Hi no-name posters, thanks for reading and commenting ... First comment. Good analysis. Presently, JC is a one-dimensional PG. All he does is pa-------very well. To be an All-Star he must pick up other facets of his game. Second comment: keep reading, I’ll have something soon on why CLE is looking better than LA, SA, and Bos right now. Some of those issues with the Lakers will be looked at. That said, one quick thought: one issue is that the purple-and-gold are likely bored. They have first in the west locked up and probably can’t catch CLE for first overall. Thanks for reading and commenting folks. . |
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Oly Sandor | Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More |
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