All-Star Game Starters Announced

[Kevin]

http://espn.go.com/nba/allstar2015/stor ... -announced

The Warriors' Stephen Curry has dethroned The King.

Curry made a late surge to pass LeBron James as the overall leading vote-getter for the NBA All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.

"This means a lot; it's something that I don't take for granted," Curry said in a statement. "To have support of fans not only in the Bay Area but across the nation and across the world, supporting not only myself but our team, it means a lot. I want to represent the Warriors the best way I know how, every single game, and will do that proudly in New York thanks to the fans and their votes. Something that's definitely a dream come true, and to be two times in a row, I'm proud of that."

The star of the NBA-leading Warriors, Curry ended up with more than 1.5 million votes, more than 42,000 ahead of James, who had a 13,285-vote lead over the sharpshooter at the previous update. James was the leading vote-getter last year, preceded by Kobe Bryant in 2013. Curry, who just two years ago was an All-Star snub, becomes the first Warriors player elected to consecutive starts since Chris Mullin in 1991-92.

Pau and Marc Gasol were voted the first brothers to start in the All-Star Game, while Toronto's Kyle Lowry made a late surge in fan balloting and will start for the Eastern Conference.

Lowry passed Dwyane Wade and will start alongside Washington's John Wall, the first time the East has had two first-time starters at guard since 2000. Wade's streak of nine straight games as a starter ended.

Bryant was voted to start at West guard, although that's in jeopardy because of a torn right rotator cuff.

Pau Gasol of Chicago will start up front for the East along with James and Carmelo Anthony for the Feb. 15 game at Madison Square Garden in New York. Memphis' Marc Gasol joins New Orleans' Anthony Davis and the Clippers' Blake Griffin in the West frontcourt.

"For me to be the face of New York, representing New York during All-Star Weekend is a special moment you really can't put into words," Anthony said, according to the team's website.

Tom and Dick Van Arsdale played in the 1970 and 1971 games, but the Gasols -- once traded for each other -- are the first brothers chosen to start.

The last time both squads featured a player born outside the United States in the starting lineup was the 2002 All-Star Game. Dikembe Mutombo started in the East, and Tim Duncan started in the West.

"Knowing that I will be facing my brother Pau for the opening tip, it will be a true accomplishment for our family and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my career," Marc Gasol said in a statement through the Grizzlies. "It holds special meaning to be voted in by the fans, and I look forward to representing my teammates, the organization, the city of Memphis and entire Mid-South community and Grizzlies fans across the world."

Pau Gasol described his selection as "incredibly special."

"It's overwhelming. It's a huge honor. It's just beyond our selves, individuals, so it's a very exciting moment," he said. "Unforgettable, memorable, historical, you name it. You can use as many words and adjectives as you want. So right now we're very thrilled, we're overwhelmed, and we're happy and thankful to everyone that supports us, the fans that have voted for us. Our teams, our organizations -- so it's just a beautiful moment to live and go through as an NBA player."

Both Gasols were among the leaders in all the balloting updates, but Lowry was running more than 100,000 votes behind Wade, a perennial All-Star and a fan favorite, when the previous results were released. Fans rewarded Lowry for his hard-nosed play in guiding the Raptors to a huge lead in the Atlantic Division with his first All-Star appearance.

Wall earned his first last year, and now he has earned his first start. The East hasn't had both its guards making their first starts since Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and Charlotte's Eddie Jordan in 2000.

Fans had to vote for two guards and three frontcourt players. The reserves will be picked by the head coaches in each conference and will be announced next Thursday.

Curry's partner in the backcourt is up in the air after the Lakers revealed Bryant's injury earlier Thursday. Although the severity of the injury is unknown, many rotator cuff injuries require surgery and several months of rehabilitation.

That could rule Bryant out of his 17th All-Star appearance, second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 19. Bryant's first was in 1998 at Madison Square Garden, site of this year's game.

Commissioner Adam Silver would name an injury replacement if needed, and coaches Steve Kerr (Golden State) of the West and Mike Budenholzer (Atlanta) of the East would determine who replaces an injured player in the lineup.

The NBA changed the ballot this year to include all active players, rather than just 60 per conference. The results included five first-time starters and 10 starters from 10 teams.

And the fans left out some of the usual faces such as Wade, Miami teammate Chris Bosh, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and the Clippers' Chris Paul.

They gave Pau Gasol his fifth All-Star selection and first in the East for his contributions to the Bulls in his first season since leaving the Lakers.

"I know the last couple of years he battled through some things. But I could see this summer how highly motivated he was," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said before the announcement was made. "I think that was important for him. He came into camp in great shape, hit the ground running. He really hasn't stopped since. He's been terrific."

[Andrew]

So, to recap:

East: Pau Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kyle Lowry, John Wall
West: Marc Gasol, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry

For all the hand-wringing over fan voting, those are pretty good selections for the most part. There's only one or two iffy selections there, and they are still legitimate stars, so it's not exactly a travesty or completely out of line.

I'm glad to see Gasol got the nod, kind of cool that both Gasols are in the game and starting. I'm guessing that Kobe will be replaced, unless he makes a token appearance before being quickly subbed out. While I think Lowry definitely is worthy of the honour, I am surprised that he leapfrogged Dwyane Wade for the starting spot. As Kobe's selection demonstrates, the popularity of established, perennial All-Stars often wins out in the fan voting.

[Mandich]

The worst starter I've ever seen.

[Kevin]

Since Kobe "couldn't" play in the all-star game, I'm hoping Durant would start instead of him. A team full of forwards that can actually handle the ball would be cool to watch.

[NovU]

SUCKS: Kobe is the least productive player in the league yet still he gets the nod over a legit MVP candidate James Harden.

GOOD: Lowry finally gets some long due recognition, over the great has-been Wade with new hamstring issue this time.

Sure fans want to see Kobe but c'mon, he's a total wash and Harden's a MVP. As for Lowry, he's been actually better than Wall. But look at his teammates. Lowry had injured DeRozan and Amir/Valan,lol, while Wall has sexy-Gortat, Beal, Pierce, Nene. If any, it should be Wall if anyone needs to start from the bench for Wade.

[Stress Fracture]

The potential reserves of the West could be much better than the starters. And Kobe

Good thing Lowry got selected, he should've been an All-Star last year.

[Lamrock]

Kills me when Jeff Van Gundy bitches about fan voting, saying it's "too important". It's the freaking all-star game. Besides, eight of the ten starters deserve to make the team, and of the two who don't, one is a top-15 player from the host city, and the other won't be playing anyway.

Any predictions for the reserves? I'm thinking...

West: Harden (starter), Lillard, Paul, Thompson, Aldridge (injured), Nowitzki, Cousins, Westbrook (replacement), Conley (replacement)
East: Teague, Knight, Irving, Butler, Korver, Millsap, Horford

[Andrew]

As much as I like JVG, and think he does have some good ideas and legitimate complaints, he has also has a tendency to be contrary or throw out bold proclamations for the sake of it, arguably for entertainment value as much anything else. It can be a bit much at times, though.

Having said that, I do think the All-Star game has a sense of importance and tradition. Sure, it's an exhibition for the fans, in theory constructing super teams comprised of the best players in the league so that they can put on a show, but I think it still carries some prestige and stands as a legitimate honour. I know to a lot people, fan voting undermines the legitimacy of all that, but the best players in the league tend to be the most popular, or at least most fans will end up favouring the league's best players when they cast their vote. And barring the occasional "legacy" selection or what have you, it works out for the most part.

[shadowgrin]

I don't get the butthurt about Kobe getting voted to be a starter.

It's the All-Star game, an exhibition game for the fans, fans vote who they want to see play.

Kobe supporters enjoy seeing Kobe chuck shots same way Kobe haters enjoy seeing Kobe chuck shots (because it reinforces the haters' ego that they are right about Kobe).
The way Kobe captures the attention of both supporters and haters alike is already deserving of an all-star spot.


Klay Thompson? Only reason he's doing well is because he's playing with Steph Curry who's getting all the defensive attention.

[Mandich]

The reserves are a fucking joke.

[I Hate Mondays]

The reserves are a fucking joke.

I am no Oklahoma City fanboy and I agree that Durant shouldn't be an all star this year but man...he is comming for the all star MVP award. I can feel it. All this bad hype about him being on the list and Cousins and Lillard being out. He has a lot to prove now

[Andrew]

The reserves, in case anyone missed them.

I think the fans did a better job, with only one legacy selection (Kobe). Lillard was definitely snubbed.

[air gordon]

Lillard for sure. West is jammed packed with talented guards

Vucevic should have made it over Bosh

Congrats, jimmy buckets!

[NovU]

SUCKS: Neither OKC and MIA duo should have made it. Good grief, they were DEAD for half the season. Wade has new sets of issues in his already dead legs. Durant is already breaking down. Bosh and Westbrook are 2nd fiddlers that had their own issues of injury. Fuck em.

If anyone deserved to make it to the All Star from MIA, it should have been Wassap GOATside.

GOOD: Srry, but there's NO good dis time. Korver and Lillard exclusion is just horrendous. Fuck u.

[Kevin]

Calm your tits. Hawks trio headline asg reserves bitch

[Lamrock]

Durant over lillard

[[Q]]

Cousins over Lillard

Dame definitely got screwed. I don't tihnk the NBA wanted to stack the team with too many guards, so Cousins was picked over him

[NovU]

Cousins after all these years still plays like a slightly above center and failed to increase efficiency in his defecto offense. It's so disappointing considering his hot start to the season.

[I Hate Mondays]

Well Lillard had started to express his frustration before the replacement for Kobe was announced. He said that even he is chosen as the last man, it is not the way he imagined and so on. If there was a chance of him making the list, that was it.

[Stress Fracture]

Durant should've not made it. Charles Barkley had some very good points when the starters and reserves were announced.

[shadowgrin]

Lillard had one breakout playoff series and now he should be guaranteed an all-star spot?

[[Q]]

Lillard had one breakout playoff series and now he should be guaranteed an all-star spot?

He was dominating and was an all star before he had one breakout playoff series

[shadowgrin]

Except during the same time the reserves were announced last year the Blazers were 3rd in the West instead of being 5th in the conference like they are now.

[benji]

If we had gone solely by vote count for the reserves.

East:
F: Marcin Gortat, Chris Bosh, Kevin Love
G: Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving
WC: Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose

West:
F: Duncan, Durant, Aldridge
G: Harden, Paul
WC: Cousins, Lillard

Kobe replacement: Dwight (mmm)
*Aldridge replacement: Klay Thompson (if same position, flip him and Dwight)
*Wade replacement: Jonas Valanciunas (if same position, DeMar DeRozan)

Cousins after all these years still plays like a slightly above center and failed to increase efficiency in his defecto offense. It's so disappointing considering his hot start to the season.

His owner fired the only coach to ever get through to him with the team at 11-13 and ordered the team to change both its offense and defense to move away from maximizing Cousins skills and minimize his weaknesses. Malone had also successfully found him a place in a defensive scheme, now he's back to a role he doesn't want to play. Despite that, he's still actually giving an effort on that end. Probably the only one.

[benji]

Here's a weird idea, what if you selected the rosters this way:
Fans still voted for starters, but also 10 reserves per conference. Starters were two votes, Reserves were one vote. Starters and five reserves were position limited, five reserves are position free.

Then the coaches vote to determine the rotation including the starters. (If they go with Silver's idea of lineup shifts ala hockey.) Each group of five plays a quarters worth (though maybe in six minute stints or something) through the first three quarters, and then the game head coach can do whatever lineups he wants in the fourth.

And also you restrict the number of players per team. Two or three max.

This way the fans get to select the entire roster and then the coaches are tasked with forming a team out of the players selected rather than adding players for all sorts of dumb reasons. We could also let the coaches select injury replacements I suppose. (Since they vote after the roster is selected, they could vote for five injury replacements per conference and it just goes by top votes.)

Oh, and mostly importantly of all, before every substitution there's a big wheel each player has to spin that indicates how he has to play. Blindfolded, only dunks, only threes, point guard, etc.

And the game winner is chosen by fan vote.

I hope our resident 2K devs are taking notes for a new mode next year btw.