All-Star Balloting returns

Dwight Howard leading all voters, which is nice.

http://www.nba.com/2008/news/12/11/firs ... index.html

Here's the full leaderboard:

2009 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
LEADERS OF THE FIRST RETURN OF NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING FOR THE 2009 NBA ALL-STAR GAME IN PHOENIX.
Forwards
Player Votes
LeBron James (Clev) 643,786
Kevin Garnett (Bos) 495,514
Yi Jianlian (NJ) 356,556
Chris Bosh (Tor) 274,195
Paul Pierce (Bos) 153,512
Shawn Marion (Mia) 144,066
Josh Smith (Atl) 59,574
Tayshaun Prince (Det) 56,846
Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 56,006
Danny Granger (Ind) 49,752
Michael Beasley (Mia) 48,999.

Guards
Player Votes
Dwyane Wade (Mia) 623,311
Allen Iverson (Det) 492,093
Vince Carter (NJ) 236,634
Ray Allen (Bos) 174,155
Jose Calderon (Tor) 124,705
Luke Ridnour (Mil) 123,104
Jameer Nelson (Orl) 116,228
Derrick Rose (Chi) 102,263
Joe Johnson (Atl) 94,847
Devin Harris (NJ) 94,294
Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 64,450

Centers
Player Votes
Dwight Howard (Orl) 775,933
Samuel Dalembert (Phi) 116,708
Rasheed Wallace (Det) 88,885
Jermaine ONeal (Tor) 75,324
Al Horford (Atl) 45,284
Ben Wallace (Clev) 40,799
Andrew Bogut (Mil) 36,479
Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 28,022
Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 24,777
Emeka Okafor (Char) 15,323

LEADERS OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE IN THE FIRST RETURNS OF NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING FOR THE 2009 NBA ALL-STAR GAME IN PHOENIX.

Forwards
Player Votes
Tim Duncan (SA) 442,203
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) 370,470
Carmelo Anthony (Den) 327,233
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 261,952
Pau Gasol (LAL) 260,374
Ron Artest (Hou) 214,063
Bruce Bowen (SA) 121,739
Shane Battier (Hou) 115,981
Josh Howard (Dal) 113,456
Luis Scola (Hou) 82,344
Lamar Odom (LAL) 78,422

Guards
Player Votes
Kobe Bryant (LAL) 719,252
Chris Paul (NO) 406,220
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 332,222
Manu Ginobili (SA) 166,981
Jason Kidd (Dal) 162,286
Tony Parker (SA) 161,638
Steve Nash (Pho) 142,410
Jason Terry (Dal) 105,345
Chauncey Billups (Den) 87,172
Brandon Roy (Por) 78,071
Rafer Alston (Hou) 73,613

Centers
Player Votes
Yao Ming (Hou) 529,290
Shaquille ONeal (Pho) 227,273
Mehmet Okur (Utah) 162,139
Andrew Bynum (LAL) 155,689
Greg Oden (Por) 71,366
Andris Biedrins (GS) 65,496
Al Jefferson (Minn) 46,242
Tyson Chandler (NO) 39,467
Marcus Camby (LAC) 25,824
Chris Kaman (LAC) 9,104
Brad Miller (Sac) 6,892

China maybe hasn't quite grasped the fact that Yi was traded from the Bucks, which could explain Luke Ridnour being so high on the list, ahead of Derrick Rose, Joe Johnson and Devin Harris.

The West starters are hard to argue against. Yao, Duncan, Amare, Kobe and Paul.

Dwight, Garnett, LeBron, Wade is far from horrible either.

The rest of the spots are irrelevant. Absurd that Paul, Wade and LeBron aren't near unanimous votes. Especially that Paul and Kobe vote difference.

Would Duncan or Amare play the 3?

I demand to know where's Stephon Marbury's name is.
Anyone think it's possible for Yi to bypass KG in future ballot returns?

So far so good, AI's "worthiness" as an All-Star starter is probably the only one most people would really argue against but even so, those results would give us two starting lineups comprised of players all of whom may conceivably be considered All-Stars. They're obviously the players that most voters want to see.

I'd be surprised if Yi closes the gap, I think the popularity of KG and LeBron will prevail.

I think it will suck watching Yi in the Easts starters five

what? Yi third in forward voting????? it sucks!

Wang Zhizhi should play in the NBA again. If on the list, he would be an Allstar starter in no time without even playing an NBA game.

Bring Mengke Bateer too, He can be an all star!

Yi Jialian getting more than Bosh, Pierce, and Marion???? **Sighs** Deja vu like a motherfucker. Shocked that Sun Yue's name is not popping up getting more votes than Jason Terry and Chauncey Billups.

Yeah, Yi being that high in the ranks is pretty pathetic indeed.
I'm surprised Granger is not higher, he's been phenomenal so far. But not quite as popular as others obviously...

It doesn't look right but he is behind two forwards who certainly deserve to be All-Stars. I still believe LeBron and KG's popularity will win out.