Gerald Wallace An All Star!!!!

[BigSlam]

Saw this over at BCP. It's very well written and makes a great case for what we all already think should happen:

http://numbersdont.com/?p=561

[moevil]

Unfortunately, we all know it's not going to happen, despite the fact he totally earns it.
ALL-STAR game lineups ARE JOKE!

[fatlever]

i would be so happy to see the NBA get rid of fan voting. i know stern thinks fans should have a voice. i know the all-star is for entertainment and the fans want to see their favs, but at what point does the league say "ENOUGH" with some of the ridiculous votes such as mcgrady and iverson. at worst they should add a rule that states players who have played less than 75% of their team's games by feb 1st are ineligible for the all-star game.

[Paydro70]

Wallace wasn't going to be a starter anyway, but I guess Iverson does take one of the 12 slots he shouldn't get.

Realistically, the East all-stars:
Iverson-Wade-LBJ-KG-Howard
Carter-Johnson-Granger-Bosh

Which leaves 3 spots... I think Wallace has a really good chance to grab one, doing battle with Pierce, Rondo, Arenas, Lee, Lopez, Horford, and Smith. Given the gun thing, I bet Arenas is out, but the Celtics are doing too well to have "only" one all-star, so probably they send Rondo because they need a PG. Then a center in Lopez or Horford, and Wallace gets squeezed in ahead of Josh Smith, assuming the Bobcats are still on pace to make the playoffs.

[ohara]

If we keep winning, and exposure on ESPN and NBA TV picks up showing highlights, then he stands a better chance of getting selected. Right now, around the NBA, when the majority of fans are asked about All Stars, no one thinks of the Bobcats. Needs to be seen on NBA TV and ESPN highlights more. But his play so far this year gives a strong argument he is earning a spot.

[Mezotarkus]

Fan voting is ridiculous. As of 12/31/09 here are the projected starters:

All-Star Starters as of December 31, 2009

Western Conference:

Guards: Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady
Forwards: Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki
Center: Amar'e Stoudemire

Eastern Conference:

Guards: Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson
Forwards: LeBron James, Kevin Garnett
Center: Dwight Howard

[Mezotarkus]

Here are the Eastern forward vote tallies as of 12/31/09. This is a damn travesty!

Forwards
LeBron James (Cle) 1,579,530
Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,317,739
Chris Bosh (Tor) 644,473
Paul Pierce (Bos) 320,499
Josh Smith (Atl) 293,689
Andre Iguodala (Phi) 201,312
Danny Granger (Ind) 198,478
Michael Beasley (Mia) 163,737
Hedo Turkoglu (Tor) 117,168
Rashard Lewis (Orl) 114,359
Caron Butler (Was) 99,079

[Paydro70]

Again, fan voting doesn't really matter, because Wallace was never in the running for, nor should he have been, a starting spot. It'll be up to the coaches, and Wallace's stats speak for themselves. The issue is, as always, whether the team is winning, because most of the time the coaches seem to like throwing on 2nd and 3rd players from really great teams rather than the 7 best players.

[fatlever]

fan voting matters in the sense that iverson and mcgrady will take away a spot of someone more deserving.

it will be equally ridiculous if granger makes it this year. sure he is worthy in terms of talent, but he has missed 16 games already (half his team's games) and figures to miss another 2 weeks. it would be sad to see a player who has missed half the season make it over crash.

[Paydro70]

Right, as I said, Iverson's only significance is that he takes one of the 12 spots... but it's more likely to be a guard who loses a deserved spot than Wallace.

Granger is nowhere near equally ridiculous, since he's still ~10th in PER among Eastern starters. He probably shouldn't go because he's missed so many games, but I wouldn't view it as a travesty the same way as with Iverson, and it's not like Kevin Martin where he only played a week.

Maybe the coaches will see the light on that and so Arenas and Granger can be crossed off, leaving Wallace battling for 4 spots with the list above. He's coming with a handicap that his team is not very good and his scoring is low and not especially efficient. Also, his competition is pretty stiff, since Smith, Pierce, and Iguodala all play the same position, and Lee is also a "forward" if the voters think that way.

Still... the gaudy rebounding numbers really make up for a LOT, and I ultimately think he is going to make it if he keeps up his strong play for a few more weeks.

[fatlever]

ok ok ... granger isnt equally ridiculous... but i really have a problem with injured stars who have missed a ton of games getting the nod in the asg. i really wish there was some kind of game % limit. that rule would get rid of all the insane fan votes.. like when vince was chosen even though he had barely played one year. or when grant hill would make it back when he was hurt all the time.

[Paydro70]

I just wonder how you can put a cap on it. What if LeBron had missed the first month of the season, but was still putting up LeBron numbers when he came back? He really wouldn't be an all-star? I would find that pretty stupid.

[Rich4114]

Isn't this sort of the NBA's fault for putting guys on the ballot who aren't playing? Like what is T-Mac doing on the ballet? What is Iverson doing on the ballet? Neither of them were playing or starting for their team.

Also, why do the fox sport south keep doing their all-star bobcats profile things and it's always Diaw and Chandler (and SOMETIMES Wallace). Diaw and Chandler aren't even in the top 5 players on this team right now. Wallace, Jackson, Felton... don't show anybody else, idiots.

OK, glad I got that off my chest.

[Rich4114]

I just wonder how you can put a cap on it. What if LeBron had missed the first month of the season, but was still putting up LeBron numbers when he came back? He really wouldn't be an all-star? I would find that pretty stupid.

missing the first month is one thing, not playing a single game or less than 12-15 is another.

[Paydro70]

Well, Granger played 17... so how much is too much? I just think it's a really difficult line to draw, especially because, in my opinion, it matters a lot how good you are. Sure, on a borderline guy, missing a bunch of games is unacceptable. But what if it's Kobe? Can you really keep him out, especially if the fans want to see him?

The All-Star game is supposed to just be a spectacle anyway, the big reward is to be an all-NBA player.

[Diop]

Funny thing is that McGrady isn't really with a team at the moment, Houston have told him he won't be playing for them.

If he hasn't been traded by the all star weekend, he could be representing a team who doesn't want him.

Peculiar.

[fatlever]

maybe i do hope mcgrady makes the all-star team. maybe that will cause enough outrage to spark some changes in a flawed system.

[Tupik]

Just found this on ESPN's last Awards Watch, they're ranking Crash first in the DPOY race. Would be awesome for him to get that kind of recognition, although the voters might ultimately go for a better-known defender :

http://espn.go.com/nba/notebook/_/page/Awards-100105/awards-watch

[fatlever]

we all know that at the end of the year the all-defensive team will looking something like:

random pg
bryant
artest
garnett
duncan

doesnt matter that duncan is old old and only playing 30mpg, artest is in and out of the lineup, garnett will miss half the year with injures and play 25mpg etc... the same people get the same votes every year. if wallace cant get votes when he averaged 2blks and 2stls i'm just not sure he'll get votes now.

[Tupik]

Yeah, that's probably what's going to happen , but at least it shows that he's getting recognition for what he does.