2008 NBA All-Star Starters... We Could've Done Better
As a fan, I always get a little excited as the NBA All-Star Game rolls around each year. I get to vote, so naturally, I'd like to see the players I vote for get selected as starters for the game. There are millions of other fans who get to vote as well, which means I probably don't get to see who I want... no biggie.
Each year, as the All-Star starters are announced, arguments can be made for the players that made it, and typically more arguments for those that got snubbed (Peter Vecsey - New York Post). While I think the fans did a very respectable job this time around, I still feel that a few players are undeserving of their selections.
In total support of Vecsey's column above, the All-Star game should really be a showcase of the league's top talent. Yes, Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade are exceptional basketball players, but Kidd can't hit a shot to save his life (or is he tanking to get traded) and Wade can't even beat a Garnett/Allen/Pierce-less Celtics team (Pierce played, but scored less than 10 pts, so he basically wasn't there). Wade has also been injured and missed a number of games this year - that should be a factor (see McGrady comments further below).
I voted several times and admit, it was harder to find more deserving Guards in the Eastern Conference, but Detroit's Chauncey Billups surely should've been selected. It doesn't help that the East only has 6 teams with a winning record either. Joe Johnson would've been a safe bet also, for his team's near .500 record.
In the Western Conference, it's hard to argue the selections. The fans even did justice by allowing T-Mac to fall out of the starting spot in favor of Allen Iverson. McGrady is of the opinion that players who are hurt (or have been for a good portion of the season) shouldn't be starters; I can't argue with that.
There are three other positions/players that probably should've been different, but again, it's hard to argue w/ the selections. I believe Tim Duncan got nominated purely on his history - he's not all that this year (see last night's loss to the Sonics). With Iverson starting at PG, that leaves out both Steve Nash and Chris Paul - (2nd & 1st in the Western Conference, respectively). I also don't think that two Nuggets are deserving of starting nods - Denver is tied for the 8th playoff spot in the West.
The reserves will be selected very soon and all of the players mentioned here will surely make it, with the exception of McGrady perhaps.
For our Phoenix Suns, I do believe that Nash, Amare Stoudemire (C) and Shawn Marion (SF?) will all make the reserve squad. One can only hope...
