Will KG or Yi start in the ALL-STAR game?

Allanon · Post #1 » by **Allanon** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:28 pm

The early results are in for the All Star Game. LeBron has a good lead for the first starter spot.

The 2nd starter spot is interesting with KG currently leading the way but look at the runner up:

Kevin Garnett (Bos) 495,514
Yi Jianlian (NJ) 356,556

That's not that many votes, especially considering the Chinese votes haven't started coming on strong yet as evidenced by Yao's low vote count so far.

Here's the full early results list in case you're interested:

Eastern Conference

Forwards: 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: 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: Dwight Howard (Orl) 775;933; Samuel Dalembert (Mia) 116,708; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 88,885; Jermaine O’Neal (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.

Western Conference

Forwards: 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: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 719,252; Chris Paul (NO) 406,220; Tracy McGrady (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: Yao Ming (Hou) 529,290; Shaquille O’Neal (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.

djdjdj28 · Post #2 » by **djdjdj28** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:39 pm

I think KG will pull it out but Yi will be very close.

Post #3 » by **canman1971** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:41 pm

Having Yi in the all-star game would be as big of a joke as the actual game. One more reason not to pay any attention to the NBA for a few days.

Athanacropolis · Post #4 » by **Athanacropolis** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:45 pm

canman1971 wrote:Having Yi in the all-star game would be as big of a joke as the actual game. One more reason not to pay any attention to the NBA for a few days.

Agreed. Fan voting is the worst.

Truthiracy · Post #5 » by **Truthiracy** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:13 pm

I keep saying Yi will be starting next to LeBron come February 2009

cloverleaf · Post #6 » by **cloverleaf** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:29 pm

Any chance Yi could be voted in, then defer his starting position to KG? Seems not antithetical to the Chinese culture.

campybatman · Post #7 » by **campybatman** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:28 pm

Sports of The Times; Fans in Shanghai Are Voting in the Mainstream

By GEORGE VECSEY
Published: January 12, 2003

IT was only a few years ago that Chinese leaders fretted about what might happen if their citizens gained access to the Internet.

Now we know. Here comes Chairman Stern's own cultural revolution: the new wave of electronic voters in China is helping to elect Yao over Shaq as the starting center in the National Basketball Association's All-Star Game.

This is not, however, a case of China's one billion citizens stuffing the electronic ballot box for Yao Ming, the 7-foot-6 star with the Houston Rockets. For one thing, the league's Web site, nba.com, is jiggered to allow only one vote a day for each e-mail address.

The league made it easier for international voters this year by offering ballots in three languages -- English, Spanish and Chinese -- as well as instructions in Japanese, Russian, French, Italian, Serbo-Croatian, Portuguese, German and traditional Chinese characters.

''We realized when we put up a ballot in Mandarin that it would make it easier for Chinese voters,'' said Brian McIntyre, the league's senior vice president for communications.

The Chinese vote has not overwhelmed the trend. About 15 percent of all traffic to the Web site comes from Asia, and 11 to 12 percent of the ballots come back in Chinese. Yao leads Shaq in Asian voting, but he also leads him in North America by roughly the same proportion. Through Thursday, Yao was leading Shaq, 1,015,018 to 784,920, in the last published count until the starters are announced Jan. 23.

There is absolutely no controversy in any of this because Yao is having a better season than Shaq, impressing everybody with his agility, passing, competitiveness and discipline.

Shaq has also been gracious in his reaction to the voting for Yao. ''It happens to the best of us,'' O'Neal was quoted as saying in The Houston Chronicle. ''When I came in, I beat out Patrick Ewing.

''He is making history for his people,'' Shaq said of Yao. ''His people are proud of him. They should be. One billion people -- that's tough to beat.''

On Friday, there was a report that Shaq had recently used a mock Chinese accent in joking about Yao, but Shaq insisted that was merely his brand of locker-room humor and that he meant no offense. Yao quickly said: ''The world is getting smaller, and I think it's important to have a greater understanding of other cultures. I believe Shaquille O'Neal was joking, but I think that a lot of Asian people don't understand that kind of joke.''

League officials expect Shaq to suit up as a substitute in the All-Star Game.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.h ... A9659C8B63

Ortho Stice · Post #8 » by **Ortho Stice** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:35 pm

What's almost as mind exploding as Yi receiving so many votes is Luke Ridnour and Jameer Nelson having more votes than Joe Johnson and Devin Harris.

Post #9 » by **Spin Move** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:54 pm

Al Jefferson is only beating me in the all star voting by about 65k thats a real travesty.

Kefa461 · Post #10 » by **Kefa461** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:03 am

I think KG cares about getting the 2nd ring.... 8-)

Post #11 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:52 am

Do away with fan voting. In the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL.

Here is my idea. You have writers or analysts or coaches select the all star starters, and the bench. Then you set aside a certain number of spots where fans can vote their guy in. 3 each for the NBA and NHL, 5 each for MLB and NFL.

TheMartian · Post #12 » by **TheMartian** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:36 am

WTF?!? No RONDO?!? :nonono:

Rich · Post #13 » by **Rich** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:00 pm

Athanacropolis wrote:
canman1971 wrote:Having Yi in the all-star game would be as big of a joke as the actual game. One more reason not to pay any attention to the NBA for a few days.

Agreed. Fan voting is the worst.

Agreed, it is bogus.

Kefa461 · Post #14 » by **Kefa461** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:02 pm

Garnett overheard that Yi was on his heels from a conversation Pierce was having. "It's not about skill so I'm not worried about it," said the 11-time All-Star. "If that's who the fans want to see . . . I've served my time and had my fun at All-Star. If they want to see Yi or whoever the competition is, Paul told me it was Yi or somebody, it's what it is. I'm enjoying this 21-2 [record]. It ain't about skill. I ain't hating. It's all good."

8-)

MyInsatiableOne · Post #15 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:07 pm

canman1971 wrote:Having Yi in the all-star game would be as big of a joke as the actual game. One more reason not to pay any attention to the NBA for a few days.

Athanacropolis · Post #16 » by **Athanacropolis** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:17 pm

Kefa461 wrote:Garnett overheard that Yi was on his heels from a conversation Pierce was having. "It's not about skill so I'm not worried about it," said the 11-time All-Star. "If that's who the fans want to see . . . I've served my time and had my fun at All-Star. If they want to see Yi or whoever the competition is, Paul told me it was Yi or somebody, it's what it is. I'm enjoying this 21-2 [record]. It ain't about skill. I ain't hating. It's all good."

Very big of KG. And I'm not surprised: say what you will about Garnett's on-court antics, he's a very mature and humble guy.

cfan79 · Post #17 » by **cfan79** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:31 pm

Hopefully Yi starts because this game is meaningless. I'd rather just rest all the Celtics players then have them play in this glorified pick up game.

Taget · Post #18 » by **Taget** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:06 am

Yi will win and it'll be a good thing. It's what is needed to reform the entire system.