All-Star discussion thread

[Matt]

We've got less than one month till the ASG and we've had just under 3 months to evaluate player performances. Here's my list of should be All-Stars

Assuming the starters are
Shaq
Bosh
LBJ
Wade
VC

my selections are based on individual stats, team record and games played (must be 80%+ of teams games)

Jason Kidd 14.3ppg 8.30rpg 9.2apg 1.8spg 40/40


Gilbert Arenas 29.9ppg 4.5rpg 6.5apg 2.0spg 40/40


Caron Butler 20.9ppg 8.1rpg 4.1apg 2.0spg 40/40


Jermaine O'Neal 19.2ppg 10.4rpg 2.9apg 3.1bpg 35/40


Dwight Howard 17.5ppg 12.6rpg 1.8apg 1.9bpg 41/41


Richard Hamilton 23ppg 4.2rpg 3.6apg 1spg 36/39


Luol Deng 18.0ppg 6.5rpg 2.3apg 1.2spg 41/41


Players missing the cut
Chauncey Billups => not enough games played at this point in time

Joe Johnson => poor team record

Michael Redd => not enough games played, likely won't be back before break

Emeka Okafor => poor team record, although he deserves a place (damn you Shaq!!)

Andre Iguodola => on worst team in the L

Paul Pierce => poor team record, not enough games played

West

Amare (Yao won't play apparently and D'Antoni will no doubt choose Amare)
KG
Duncan
T-Mac
Kobe

Steve Nash 19.4ppg 3.2rpg 11.5apg 37/39


Baron Davis 20.9ppg 4.7rpg 8.6apg 2.0spg 36/40


Carlos Boozer 22.3ppg 11.9rpg 3.2apg 1.0spg 41/41


Dirk Nowitzki 25ppg 9.5rpg 3.2apg 40/41


Marcus Camby 12ppg 12.3rpg 3.0apg 2.8bpg 31/38


Shawn Marion 18.8ppg 9.7rpg 21spg 1.5bpg 39/39


Josh Howard 19.6ppg 7.2rpg 2.0apg 1.2spg 1.1bpg 33/41


missing the cut

Deron Williams=> given the records of Dallas & Phx, only one Jazz man could go and that was the statistically superior Boozer

Carmelo Anthony=> here comes the hate wagon.....only played 22 out of 41 game....shut up

Allen Iverson=> yes, he's having another excellent individual season, but combine the record he accumulated in Philly + Denver and it's not even .400%

Elton Brand=> worse stats & record than Boozer

Ray Allen=> poor team record, and not enough games.

Zach Randolph=> poor team record, Boozer has superior #'s

[mvpshaq32]

Is Yao really going to miss the All-Star game?

[msilver1]

The fact that Vince Carter has more vote than Arenas pathetic imo. Arenas has about the same stats as VC, except Carter shoots a little better from the field and Arenas has more assists. Arenas should get the nod over him because he has led the wizards to a tie for first in the east. When was the last time a possible MVP candidate didn't get a start in the all-star game?

[[Q]]

missing the cut
Carmelo Anthony=> here comes the hate wagon.....only played 22 out of 41 game....shut up

i applaud you sir.


now where is CP3 in all this?

[The X]

I agree with your picks except for Loul Deng....I think Okafor will make it ahead of him & deserve it more so....I think Iverson might beat out Davis too....

[Matt]

yeah i wasn't sure about Deng, but i had to include him considering that Bulls are currently 4th.

[Dro]

I don't see why team record matters in relation to an All-Star game. It's not like it's an MVP award...the All-Star game rewards star players no matter how much their team blows.

I agree on most of your picks, except for Deng over Joe Johnson. JJ has just been rediculous so far this season and he deserves recognition no matter how bad his team is.

Iverson deserves to make the team...isn't he first or second in PPG?

[Doobie]

Knicks don't have an excellent record but Eddy Curry should get some considerations, and I'm surprised you don't even mention Deron Williams out west.

[Andrew]

I don't see why team record matters in relation to an All-Star game. It's not like it's an MVP award...the All-Star game rewards star players no matter how much their team blows.

I don't disagree, but historically the coaches seem to favour players on winning teams when making their picks. More often than not there's only one or two reserves picked from each conference who represent a team with a losing record.

My predictions (assuming the latest returns indicate the eventual starters):

East

C: Shaquille O'Neal
F: Chris Bosh
F: LeBron James
G: Vince Carter
G: Dwyane Wade

Gilbert Arenas
Jason Kidd
Jermaine O'Neal
Dwight Howard
Ben Wallace
Joe Johnson
Caron Butler

West

C: Amare Stoudemire (assuming he's selected as a reserve or injury replacement)
F: Tim Duncan
F: Kevin Garnett
G: Tracy McGrady
G: Kobe Bryant

Dirk Nowitzki
Steve Nash
Allen Iverson
Carlos Boozer
Josh Howard
Shawn Marion
Marcus Camby

[Sauru]

The fact that Vince Carter has more vote than Arenas pathetic imo. Arenas has about the same stats as VC, except Carter shoots a little better from the field and Arenas has more assists. Arenas should get the nod over him because he has led the wizards to a tie for first in the east. When was the last time a possible MVP candidate didn't get a start in the all-star game?

its why fans shouldnt be allowed to vote imo. or change the name of the game to something like, fan appriciation game, or something just as dumb and lame. as long as its called the all star game then that seasons best players should be playing. shaq has no buisness being a starter.

[Matt]

shaq has no buisness being a starter.

or no business playing at all.

[Sauru]

agreed

[Slizz]

The thing is though the All-Star game is for the fans in the first place...

[Andrew]

its why fans shouldnt be allowed to vote imo. or change the name of the game to something like, fan appriciation game, or something just as dumb and lame. as long as its called the all star game then that seasons best players should be playing. shaq has no buisness being a starter.

True, but even though Arenas is outperforming Carter this year I'd still call Vinsanity a star player and suggest he'd be selected by the coaches if not by the fans. As I've said before, fan voting has been around for a long time without causing any problems. It's really only the last few years where it's been a bit controversial since we've seen some of the top players out with injury. However, I agree that the handling of the Internet ballots is a problem since there's no restriction on the amount of times you can vote.

[yosifun]

The fact that Vince Carter has more vote than Arenas pathetic imo. Arenas has about the same stats as VC, except Carter shoots a little better from the field and Arenas has more assists. Arenas should get the nod over him because he has led the wizards to a tie for first in the east. When was the last time a possible MVP candidate didn't get a start in the all-star game?

I don't see you talking about the fact that Wade got more votes than Arenas... and you can't really say that Wade is playing a lot better than Carter
This game is for the fans, the starters are voted by the fans and the others are chosen by the coach, this way the best of the league are anyway in the game, period.

[Silas]

I really hope Shawn Marion or Baron Davis don't make it over Ray Allen, that'd be a crime. There should be that small selection of players who make it regardless of record just because of how good they are. It's those last few guys on the bench that are picked because of their team's record, but veteran superstars like KG, Iverson, Ray, Kobe, Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce, and Jason Kidd are picked regardless of their team's records because they are so talented, and everyone knows they're the elite players.

[Indy]

Silas that's how it should be. That's why its called the All-Star game, not the All-Making A Big Effect On A Winning Team game.

I have a completely different opinion when it comes to the MVP, but the All-Star game is simply that.

I've never cared at all about the ASG, and the players shouldn't either. Sure its fun, but there is a bigger goal at stake, its just a break in the middle.

[R.J.]

Nice on the Deng pick. One of the truly up and coming, unappreciated players in the league. So many people that haven't watched a Bulls game in their life say he's not deserving. LOL. Now if we could just get him the ball in the fourth quarter...

[Ehsan Gamer]

What about slam dunk and 3pt contests who's gona win

[Christopherson]

What about slam dunk and 3pt contests who's gona win

Lets wait and find out who's in it before we start talking about who is going to win.

[J J]

I noticed West has such height advantage

Trevor Ariza for Slam Dunk Champ!

Jason Kapono for 3 point champ! (Finally a season for consistency and minutes)

Oh, give Redick more minutes and give him the ball for 3's and he would be in the 3 PT Shootout no doubt.

PS: I hope this is not considered as a spam

[J J]

I noticed West has such height advantage

Trevor Ariza for Slam Dunk Champ!

Jason Kapono for 3 point champ! (Finally a season for consistency and minutes)

Oh, give Redick more minutes and give him the ball for 3's and he would be in the 3 PT Shootout no doubt.

PS: I hope this is not considered as a spam

[Scotty]

PS: I hope this is not considered as a spam

It is when you post it twice

And also i thought the fans votes were pretty much the making up of the All Star Team? How does it work what do the votes count for? In the End the 2 Coaches decide do they?

[BigKaboom2]

Just announced. Shaq and no Nash

Why is Avery Johnson not the coach?

Eastern Conference
F – LeBron James, Cleveland
F – Chris Bosh, Toronto
C – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami
G – Dwyane Wade, Miami
G – Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Head coach: TBD

Western Conference
F – Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio
C – Yao Ming, Houston
G – Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G – Tracy McGrady, Houston
Head coach: Mike D’Antoni, Phoenix

[Lamrock]

T-Mac is overrated. I understand that most Basketball fans hate Nash and that McGrady is a great player, but T-Mac over the 2-time (3 at this rate) MVP?! Wow. Also, though he wasn't a starter, Shane Battier with 3 times as many votes is a joke. How does a mediocre role player get a million votes. Also, Shaq starting is absurd. Who are those people who vote for him?! Howard totally deserved the starting spot. The only bright side to the starting lineups is Gilbert Arenas, who is 100000 times better than Vince Carter. Also, it is nice to see Bosh.