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The first results of the fan votes for the NBA All-Star Game came out on Thursday, which isn’t usually all that noteworthy. The big names are usually all where they are supposed to be, which is the same this year.
But there is one big person near the top of one of the lists and it was quite a surprise. I’m talking, of course, about Boston Celtics rookie Tacko Fall who is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference frontcourt rankings, which is awesome.
The seven-foot-five center has quickly become a cult hero in Boston, with fans often screaming for Brad Stephens to sub in Tacko late in blowouts. Stephens finally relented to the fans a few weeks ago and it was one of the best moments of the young season.
It was also one of only three times he’s seen the court this season, which makes the 110,269 votes he’s received all the more awesome. Tacko has played a total of 11 minutes in three games this season and has just 13 points. The most playing time he’s seen this year has been with the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G-League team, where he’s played in 11 games and averaged 23 minutes a contest.
The only names above Tacko in the frontcourt voting rankings are: 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo (1,073,358 votes), 2. Joel Embiid (606,534), 3. Pascal Siakam (544,302), 4. Jimmy Butler (431,483), and 5. Jayson Tatum (364,137). Those are all very big names and guys who have played A LOT more than Tacko has this year.
So why should we rally around and vote for Tacko? Because it would fun, duh. So much in sports can be taken so seriously or negatively and lead to vicious arguments that don’t really need to take place. Pounding the voting button for Tacko (VOTE RIGHT HERE) would give us all a feeling of camaraderie no matter what teams we root for. Let’s try to shake up the NBA a bit and get Tacko in the discussion, just for the ridiculousness of it.
The fan voting only accounts for 50 percent of the votes so we probably wouldn’t end up defeating the NBA and getting our guy in the game, but it would be pretty hilarious to see him end up with more votes than players who deserve it.
Tacko has been a blast all season and seems to be a good human, which makes this all the more worth our efforts. A few weeks ago he put on a tuxedo and conducted the famed Boston Pops orchestra, much to the delight of the people in attendance. Come on!
Let’s do whatever we can to get at least his name in the conversation for the All-Star Game.
Let’s get goofy.
Let’s have some innocent fun.
Thursday’s biggest winner: Tom Brady.
The GOAT was told Thursday by a reporter that he has more playoff wins (30) than the other 11 QBs in this year’s playoffs have combined (26). Brady’s answer to that was pretty great. Can he get No. 31 this week against Ryan Tannehill, who’s playing in just his first playoff game?
Quick hits: Happy Thanksgiving… NFL wild-card picks… And more!
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder apparently thought yesterday was Thanksgiving.
Our Stephen Ruiz and Charles Curtis have their wild-card picks against the spread.
Justin Bieber wants to challenge a NHL goalie in a shootout contest, which we’d love to see.
Jalen Rose thinks Zion Williamson should miss all of January, which would stink.
(Follow me on Twitter at @anezbitt. It might change your life. Just don’t tell me about your fantasy team.)