by Brett Edwards
The voting process for the All-Star game has to stop. I completely understand the reason for having the fans vote on the starters, but there aren't that many players on each team, and inevitably deserving players get left off the teams every year. The casual fan wants to see people they have heard of, like Yao Ming and Shaq, and this season neither one deserves to start.
In the West, Marcus Camby has had the best first half of any center in the league. Though recently injured, Camby has had a stellar season thus far, averaging 16 points, 13 boards, and 3 blocks per game. Mehmet Okur is also going gangster this season, and neither one are found on the list of top vote getters.
In the East, Jermaine O'Neal has by far outplayed Shaquille O'Neal, yet he will have to come off the bench. Most fans who don't know the game that well are enamored with Shaq's personality, and want to see him in the game; those of us who follow the game more closely know what a jerk he really is. At guard, it's tough to argue against the merits of AI or D Wade being a starter in the East. But Chauncey Billups should be in the conversation, and because he is not as hyped individually as these two superstars are, he is much lower on the total votes.
I would like to see the system slightly changed. Fans can still vote their favorite players on the team, but the coach should decide who starts and ultimately plays the majority of the minutes. That way players who deserve it get to play, and those that don't can ride the pine.
My starters in the East: G-Billups and Iverson. F- Lebron and Jermaine O'Neal. C- Ben Wallace. In the West: G- Kobe and Nash. F- Nowitzki and T-Mac. C- Camby.
Who would you pick to start in each conference?
The worst idea for fan voting has been internet fan voting. This all but guarantees that Yao Ming will start in the West for the rest of his career even though he's a soft 16 and 8 every night.
Posted by: Craig | January 06, 2006 at 05:03 PM
Don't part with your illusions . When they are gone you may still exist , but you have ceased to live.
Posted by: Cheap Jordans | July 09, 2011 at 12:21 AM
Don't part with your illusions . When they are gone you may still exist , but you have ceased to live.
Posted by: Air Max | July 09, 2011 at 12:28 AM