Third All-Star Ballot Returns

[Andrew]

Kobe, T-Mac, Iverson headline latest All-Star ballot update

Current starting lineups:

East

C: Dwight Howard
F: Kevin Garnett
F: LeBron James
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Allen Iverson

West

C: Amar'e Stoudemire
F: Dirk Nowitzki
F: Carmelo Anthony
G: Tracy McGrady
G: Kobe Bryant

T-Mac is only about a thousand votes ahead of Nash as of the third returns so there's still a good chance that by the time voting ends, fans voting on current performance will balance out McGrady's hangover popularity the same way it happened with Chris Paul last season. AI's leading Vince Carter by about 150,000 votes which isn't insurmountable given the time left before voting ends but by the same token is a lead I could very easily see him holding onto.

[Martti.]

I hope Nash's superb video helps him to get the votes and start.

[kibaxx7]

I hope Nash's superb video helps him to get the votes and start.

Agreed Voted against T-Mac.

[cavs4872]

I really hope Carter and Nash start over Iverson and McGrady. Everything else looks just about right, as their really isn't a dominant point guard that stands out above the rest in the East (other than Arenas, but I like Carter more).

[Patr1ck]

I hope T-Mac gets voted in and traded and plays in the all star game dominating all before he even plays for his new team. At the same time, I hope he and Iverson get completely snubbed somehow. It would be like voting Tim Donaghy in to referee the game.

[Fresh8]

ASG starting lineups are a joke (re: AI and Tmac's inclusions). It's all a popularity contest. But we all knew that before anyways!

[Lamrock]

If the fans want to see a washed up former star and a perennially overrated and now washed-up nutcase, its their loss.

[Andrew]

ASG starting lineups are a joke (re: AI and Tmac's inclusions). It's all a popularity contest. But we all knew that before anyways!

If they're the only two starters widely considered undeserving though, 8/10 isn't bad.

[Fresh8]

ASG starting lineups are a joke (re: AI and Tmac's inclusions). It's all a popularity contest. But we all knew that before anyways!

If they're the only two starters widely considered undeserving though, 8/10 isn't bad.

At least we don't have substitute Kobe from 1997-98 being voted into the game!

I'm sure the head coaches will do a fine job selecting the benches.

Also interesting thing I read is Phil Jackson commenting on the flaws of the ASG voting and the writer adds the following: Yao Ming is first amongst C's, T-Mac is second among guards. Ariza, Brooks, Scola are all also among the top 10.

[Andrew]

I doubt Ariza, Brooks and Scola are getting in though. The current system isn't perfect and if something better can be devised then that would certainly be preferable, but all things considered the results aren't too bad on the whole. I'm not sure that there's been an All-Star game completely ruined by the fan voting.

[Fresh8]

I doubt Ariza, Brooks and Scola are getting in though. The current system isn't perfect and if something better can be devised then that would certainly be preferable, but all things considered the results aren't too bad on the whole. I'm not sure that there's been an All-Star game completely ruined by the fan voting.

Oh no, I didn't think they will be getting in. Just proves Jax's and everyone else's theory that the Chinese population votes for the entire Rockets starting five LOL Although Jax was a little off, he said, 'The Chinese help the entire Rockets team get in the top 5.' But I think Scola and Ariza are both 6th and brooks is 7th in their respective ballots.

And fan voting shouldn't ruin it as it's only logical that the most popular players are the most talented one and usually most deserving. Some years, like this year, you have idiotic fans who vote for guys who don't deserve to play.

[Andrew]

It certainly becomes an issue as stars fade but their popularity prevails.

[benji]

And fan voting shouldn't ruin it as it's only logical that the most popular players are the most talented one and usually most deserving. Some years, like this year, you have idiotic fans who vote for guys who don't deserve to play.

And every year you have the coaches do it, so I don't get why anyone complains.

And it won't change because the NBA has a vested interest in the way the current system works.

[Lamrock]

I still have no idea what the thought process behind naming David West over Carmelo Anthony to last year's game was.

[Doobie]

I'd put Joe Johnson to start in the east ahead of VC and AI.

[Lamrock]

Why? He's the third best player on the fourth best team in the conference.

[The X]

Why? He's the third best player on the fourth best team in the conference.

Who are the top 2? My fav Hawk has always been Al Horford. Very underrated & capable of much more than what he has shown to date. I'm guessing one of the top 2's would probably be Josh Smith since he's chucking up less 3pter's

[shadowgrin]

Zach Randolph should be in the West team.

[benji]

Who are the top 2? My fav Hawk has always been Al Horford. Very underrated & capable of much more than what he has shown to date. I'm guessing one of the top 2's would probably be Josh Smith since he's chucking up less 3pter's

Not necessarily the threes, the long two pointers.

Player	P/36	R/36	A/36	TS%	Stl%	Blk%	ORtg	PER	WS
Al Horford	14.7	10.6	2.3	.626	1.1	3.1	125	20.6	4.6
Josh Smith	17.2	9.0	3.9	.546	2.6	5.4	112	22.8	3.9
Joe Johnson	21.0	5.0	4.8	.542	1.6	0.1	113	20.5	2.8
Jamal Crawford	19.2	2.7	3.1	.564	1.6	0.3	113	17.2	2.7

[NovU]

ASG starting lineups are a joke (re: AI and Tmac's inclusions). It's all a popularity contest. But we all knew that before anyways!

If they're the only two starters widely considered undeserving though, 8/10 isn't bad.

Can't argue with that and maybe Nash will get the nod over T-Mac eventually. As for Iverson, it's great to see so much support for him out there although I don't really think he's that great anymore. I am starting wonder whom coaches are going to vote for now, especially wondering if Zach will be there like Shadow mentioned.

[J@3]

Horford's shooting numbers would be insane if he stopped taking jumpers.

[Sportsgamer]

Brooks has more votes than Chauncey and Deron?
They should exclude the chinese or let reporters vote, not the fans

[Oznogrd]

Brooks has more votes than Chauncey and Deron?
They should exclude the chinese or let reporters vote, not the fans

absolutely not. Media voting would make the allstar game decided before the season completely. Odds are the east would look something like: Rondo, Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, Lebron and the West would look like: Paul, Kobe, Bynum, Gasol, Melo.

You cant make everyone happy but remember the ASG is a show, not a game. Letting the fans vote: whether or not we agree, SHOULD cause the majority of fans to be happy with the show.

[Skills]

Does it really matter who "deserves" to be in the starting lineup for the ASG? It's called fan voting for a reason. The fans vote for who they want to see play. Besides, the ones who truly deserve to be in it get picked by the coaches anyway. Now imagine if the fans got to pick the entire team... It'd matter more then.

[benji]

Besides, the ones who truly deserve to be in it get picked by the coaches anyway.

History says otherwise.