Calderon could squeak onto all-star team
Thursday, January 10, 2008 | 10:18 PM ET
Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon had another brilliantly efficient game on Wednesday, scoring 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 109-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre.
It's the kind of game fans have come to expect from Calderon, and it's earning him some well-deserved attention as a potential substitute for the NBA All-Star Game.
Stoking the fires is ESPN's John Hollinger, who crunched some numbers and came up with the surprising result that Calderon was the third best guard in the East - statistically speaking - behind Chauncey Billups and Dwayne Wade and ahead of Jason Kidd and Ray Allen.
Not bad for a player not even on the ballot.
It reminds me of seven years ago, when Steve Nash followed up his brilliant performance at the 2000 Sydney Games for Canada by taking the Dallas Mavericks starting point guard job and running with it.
If memory serves me correctly, Nash, like Calderon, wasn't on the ballot for the following all-star game either; in one of those decisions that probably made sense at the time but now seems baffling, Dallas's other point guard, Howard Eisley, was on the ballot instead.
With voters not being particularly enterprising, Nash didn't make the all-star team that year as a write-in candidate, but he was named to both the ballot and the team the following season.
As for this year, it also looks glum for Calderon's chances to be named by the coaches. As the Toronto Star's Doug Smith points out, it is unlikely the East coach will play three points guards, with Billups and Kidd getting the nod ahead of Calderon, baring injury. The East also has Dwayne Wade, who might satisfy the need for another ball-handler. Not that the all-star game has ever been about strategy.
There is precedent, though. The 2003 Western Conference squad had four point guards: Nash, Steve Francis, Gary Payton and Stephon Marbury.
Perhaps Calderon's chances would improve if he pulled a Chris Bosh, who tapped a previously unseen wellspring of humour with his charming and hilarious campaign video.
In some ways, it might be Calderon's best chance for an invitation. If Toronto goes back to a tag-team of point guards if and when T.J. Ford returns, the feisty Spanish guard might disappear from the coaches radar in years to come.
That is, if he remains in Toronto. Calderon has continuously expressed a desire to stay in Toronto and he is a restricted free agent, meaning Toronto can match any offer, but you have to believe his play as a starter must have a few teams contemplating breaking the bank to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Right now, few teams have that kind of spending money next year, but that could change once squads going nowhere make efforts to dump salaries before the trade deadline. Should Philadelphia, for example, unload Andre Miller, they might be in a position to offer money Toronto would have difficulty matching.
I'd be willing to bet Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo would still find a way to keep Calderon, if only, as I've mentioned before, because of Ford's tenuous medical situation, but it's a situation that bares watching.
All-stars, after all, don't come cheap.
One more thing: It's also worth mentioning this week that Montreal native Joel Anthony is still with the Miami Heat, survived Monday's cuts. Anthony has only played in three games this year and is still awaiting his first points, but with Shaquille O'Neal's health wonky, the Heat can use all the bigs it can get.
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About the Author
Paul Jay has been writing about basketball for seven years, working as a basketball columnist for Rogers Sportsnet and writing for CBC Sports, Raptors Insider, Dose and appearing on air with Sportsnet and Raptors TV. In his 12 years in journalism, Paul has written features for some of the best publications in the country, including the Globe and Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, Saturday Night, Canadian Lawyer and This magazine. He first joined CBC.ca during the 2004 Athens Olympics and currently writes online for CBCNews.ca as a technology and science writer.
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Comments
Richard Chang
Toronto
What everyone should be worried about is that Calderon is a restricted free agent at the end of this season. The way he is playing he will definetly demand more money. Colangelo will find a way to make him stay on the raptors but If another team can make a better offer, who knows where he might end up. After all, its all about the benjamins in the NBA
Posted January 17, 2008 06:23 PM
Borja
Barcelona
Calderón is the most effective point guard in the east conference (10 assistence and 1,2 turnovers). It's an amazing players. He deserve to go to All-Star at least like third ponit guard (coaches selection)
Posted January 17, 2008 02:20 AM
Jason
Halifax
Calderon :Thumbs up
Bosh: Thumbs down
Posted January 16, 2008 06:34 PM
Ivan Yao
Toronto
Ford- he thinks he doesn't need to improve, decided to forego shooting lessons from a top shooting coach. Just about right otherwise he'd put up even more shots than pass the ball.
Calderon- Dishes out 10 assists, infectious energy and even gatorade to his team during half time! This guy is all about Team!
Do Calderon a favour, put him as a 'write-in' on your all-star ballot, while you're at it, cross out Ford.
Posted January 13, 2008 11:27 PM
Oliver
Halifax
All star game or not, one thing has become all too obvious during recent weeks. Calderon has to be the startig PG for the Raptors while Ford should come off the bench. I hope Colangelo/Mitchell are contemplating this.
Posted January 12, 2008 04:40 PM
Mali Pannu
Jose Calderon is truly one of the brightest spots on the Raptors this year and his play alone will make him one of the front candidates for most improved player. However, the all star game is a very difficult game to be a part of in the nba as only 12 players from each conference make it. The starting 5 are decided by the fans meaning some1 might make it in because of their name as opposed to their play. In the east, Jason Kidd and Dwayne Wade are starting at this point at the guard position. It is safe to say that Calderon does not deserve to be at the all star game over either Jason Kidd or Dwayne Wade. That means there is a spot for maybe 2 or 3 other guards from the East. That being said, it will be very difficult for someone who is averaging 11.6 points and 8.3 assists to make it over a Ray Allen(18.0 points, 3.1 assists PG), Joe Johnson(22.5 points, 5.4 assists PG) or Michael Redd(23.4 points, 3.4 assists PG) to name just a few.
If Toronto as a team had a better record, that would have increased his chances but the way the team is playing mediocre ball, it won't help him. I have nothing against Calderon. I think he is a rising star in this league and trust me, as a Suns fan... I will more then welcome him with open arms to take over the reigns at point guard when Steve Nash wants to retire(Hopefully never) but at this point, Calderon isnt ready for the All Star game and doesnt deserve it YET...
Posted January 11, 2008 07:26 PM
Richard Chang
Toronto
Calderon has definetly benefited from TJ's injury by playing more minutes and being more productive. He is an amayzing point guard and will only get better if given the minutes. I am hoping calderon will now start for the raptors and TJ will come off the bench. That will be better for our team in terms of getting bosh touches and just distributing the ball. If Calderon keeps his consistant play of 15 assists and 0-1 turnovers he will be a starting all star point guard very soon so strap on your seatbelts. We have a rocket that is about to launch!
Posted January 11, 2008 06:12 PM
Javi Devesa
Barcelona
I'm from spain and from here, all the country is expecting carlderon in the all stars. I think he has done a lot for toronto raptors since he began there, and playing the all stars would be an excellent prize for all this season.
Posted January 11, 2008 11:23 AM