Eastern Conference Edition…
The other night, Wifey asked me if I have a vote in the All-Star voting. At first I said No, because she meant did I get a vote in the same way I get to vote on the NBA’s end of season awards. But then I realized that yes, I do have a vote in the awards — we all get to vote!
So, since my ballot counts just as much as yours, I figured I’d publish how I’d vote, 1 through 12, for the All-Star Game this season. We’ll do the East today and the West tomorrow…
STARTING FIVE:
G: Dwyane Wade, MIA — He’s been durable and remarkable. 28.9 ppg and nearly 7 assists per game. The heat have been way better than I thought they’d be so far. As long as D-Wade can keep falling down and getting up, the Heat might mess around and make the Playoffs.
G: Devin Harris, NJN — I’ve been able to see Harris in person a few times this season and he always impresses me. What really gets me is that he’s gone from being a bit player in Dallas to being the focal point in Jersey, and he’s posting career highs across the board. He’s also fast as heck.
F: Paul Pierce, BOS — The leading scorer on the best team in the East, and perhaps the best team in the NBA.
F: LeBron James, CLE — I tabbed him as our MVP before the season started, and he’s done nothing to dissuade me. I predicted he’d go for 30, 8 and 8, but thus far he’s at 27, 7 and 6. Slacker. But his defense has been outstanding (career highs in blocks and steals), and…whatever. If I need to convince you of LeBron’s All-Star candidacy, you shouldn’t be reading our site.
C: Dwight Howard, ORL — I read somewhere recently where someone suggested that Dwight Howard shouldn’t be allowed to dunk the ball during practice. This was mentioned as a way to force Dwight to develop a little more touch around the basket, so he wouldn’t just resort to booming over anyone in his way. As I wrote this, Dwight was averaging 19.9 ppg and 13.9 rpg and 3.7 blocks per game. If he wants to dunk the ball every time he touches it, in practice, on NBA Live, whatever, I this we should all have no problem with that. (And OK, if you want to be practical about it, wouldn’t Dwight playing differently than he does in practice seem to defeat the purpose of practicing as a team, so everyone gets used to how each other plays in games?)
BENCH
G: Mo Williams, CLE — 16 ppg and 4 apg don’t seem that eye-popping, but he’s pushed Cleveland into uncharted territory.
G: Joe Johnson, ATL — I’ve watched almost every game JJ played this season and every night he impresses me more and more. Even though he leads the Hawks in points (23.2 ppg), he’s also 10th in the Eastern Conference in assists per game. He gets doubled night after night and rarely makes the wrong pass out of the double. And he’s probably Atlanta’s best on-the-ball defender (and has them at 19-10 right now).
G: Derrick Rose, CHI — I tried to come up with reasons not to put Derrick Rose on this team. He doesn’t really “run” the Bulls like a veteran point guard would, and he can’t guard his shadow. But I watched him against the Hawks the other night and his speed is just ridiculous. He might be the most exciting player I’ve seen in person this season, and while I’d like to see his total game improve as the year progresses, he’s a devastating player and fun to watch, and what better place to showcase the future of the League than in the All-Star Game?
F: Danny Granger, IND — I saw him play in the NCAA Tournament when he was in college, and he didn’t impress me whatsoever; I thought he was going to be at best a complimentary player in the NBA. Now he’s averaging 24.5 ppg and has had a great all-around first half. Indy might be a mess, but not for Granger’s lack of trying.
F: Chris Bosh, TOR — Everyone thought that Toronto adding Jermaine O’Neal would free up Bosh. And maybe it has, though JO isn’t the threat he used to be. Still, Bosh is averaging a double-double and has developed into the face of the NBA in Canada. Which is better than when it used to be Isiah Thomas, I suppose.
F: Rashard Lewis, ORL — Sure, he’s overpaid, but he still produces and helps spread the floor for Dwight. And he’s a huge part of Orlando’s 24-6 start.
C: Kevin Garnett, BOS — If it wasn’t for Dwight, I’d have him as a starter. Like him or not, he defines leadership.
Who didn’t make it? Now look, I know I don’t have anyone from Detroit on my team. If the playoffs started today, Detroit would be the 5 seed. They also have 7 starters, according to coach Michael Curry, and they have 6 dudes averaging double figures. All great, and perhaps the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I just couldn’t figure out who I’d put on my team over the guys I did put on. The coaches will probably put Rajon Rondo on the team to reward his improvement and Boston’s dominance, though I’m still not convinced that Rondo isn’t mostly a product of playing with three Hall of Famers. Others I considered: Vince Carter, Jose Calderon, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Emeka Okafor, Richard Jefferson.
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Also voted in will be kevin Garnett so that means Paul Pierce wont start but will probably make the all star team. becuase he is leading the Celtics offense especially in the clutch.
And after last year preformance in the All star game and ray Allen play right now i think he will make all star. and if im not mistaken dont quote me might be the leading scorer on the Celtics.
there is a good possibilty if their is an extra spot that Rondo might be an all star especially if Doc Rivers is the coach seeing how Derrick Rose is a rookie ann has not played partiularly well agaisnt the Celtics, for Rose to make it over his own player.
also i think Lewis should be all star bound but he like Vince Carter who is playing at an all star level is being over shawdowed right now.
IF DANNY GRANGER DOESNT MAKE ALL STAR I AM NOT WATCHING
The Peeps Republic is his only chance. The coaches will give the nod to someone who actually, you know, deserves it.
And uh, Mo Williams…hard to argue with Cleveland’s success, but he definitely has not outplayed Iverson, VC, Ray, or Calderon.
Just in case Yi, ends up making the all-star game, the extra spot would go to someone who is deserved of a trip to Phoenix.
On Allen Iverson, that’s arguable. He hasn’t played nearly as well as he can in the new system. Detroit is still struggling to find its groove with him in the lineup. I disagree but can understand if you think Mo has been better.
VC, however, deserves to be an AllStar again. No question.
Co Co = Stupid, clearly doesn’t get baseball, lacks common sense
TADOne = Really needs to shut his mouth
Okay, now continue
I mean, that’s great that you got that hobby B Long, but watching TAD get all gangsta was just laughably sad.
Still, I don’t think Nash will make/deserves it.
Kobe, T-Mac, CP3, Chauncey, Roy will be the five guards, with Nash being the sixth most deserving dude. Other deserving guards like Parker and Williams will also miss the all-star game.
T-Mac pretty much doesn’t deserve crap.
Geoff
-3rd. APG.
-1st Free Throws.
-1st To/A Pg ratio.4.04
-1st in double-double among point guards in the EAST. (Only Deron and CP earned more in the west)
-Outstanding shooting % almost 50% in both 2p and 3p shots (first among pointguards in 3p shooting %). (100% in FThrow with 75 consecutive shots made, although it would be 85 with those made last playoffs) Best among active players.
-31st with more turnovers per game among guards. But that is not all. He also adds that high skilled IQ that allows him to play calm but hard, always respecting the rival and behaving as a gentleman on and off the court. The way I see it, if the AS has to be filled with the best players at the moment, Calderon should have been AllStar this and last year. However, if this is a show for the most espectacular players then I am afraid Calderon is not going to make it. For those who rather have Rondo than Jose, I should say that Rondo is an outstanding player that takes a huge advantage of playing aside Garnet, Pierce and Allen. That makes things lot easier, leaving a nice bunch of free paths to the basket or increasing the chances to get a dime. I love Rondo. I saw him playing last year at the Banknorth Garden several times. At the beginning I was not too much on the mood to recognize the great player he is, but he deeply changed my mind. However, I understand he still has to earn that AllStar spot by being truly important in a team, not only the fourth man, even if that team is probably the best in the league. That said, I should consider the the highest obstacle Jose has to make it. The performance of the team. The Raptors are still walking a mysterious path that might lead them to a no-playoffs end.
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Maybe you should worry a little bit about your favorite player (and screen name) and the fact that Chauncy has more of an impact on that Nuggets team then he does at this point (no one has struggled more then Carmelo this season). Also, worry about the fact that Carmelo wont be starting in the All-Star game because he no longer has Iversons fans to vote for him as well (which is probably why he starred last year). All this talk about how Denver is a better team now, when the fact is they are basically the same they were when Andre Miller was there, Billups brings more of a balance..but thats about it. I swear the Nuggets are probably one of the most constant underachieving teams in the L. They have went 5 strait years of 1 and done in the Playoffs with and without Iverson. So maybe you should worry about that before hating on AI.
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