OT:Iverson makes All-Star Team, Nash edges out McGrady

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Well, looks like AI's going to be representing the East, despite the fact that he got voted in as a starter for the Western Conference. Anyone know how this works? What happens to the East starting guards? Does AI come off the bench, or does the league institute a rule out of the Blazers' playbook and grant the East 6 starters vs. 5 for the West?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-allstarroster012110&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[SonicYouth34]

That's crap. AI has played like 10 games and is taking a spot from a more deserving player like Josh Smith or Rondo.

[Celtics_Champs]

Pink hat nba fans who just vote to vote for their player, they don't know crap about the nba, so they revert back to the last time they watched the NBA and remember Iverson being good.

**** bull.

And this is coming from a known AI fan.

[BakersDozen]

maybe im wrong... and i probally am. But didnt AI say that if he was voted in he would sit out?

[Avalanche]

I think that was TMac

[cisco]

I think that was TMac

I thought it was AI. Anyway, I also remember reading somewhere that AI wouldn't be participating because of some injury. Not sure how he knows so far ahead of the allstar game that he will still be injured. Would be nice for him not to accept.

[tombattor]

At least AI is playing. Trash-Mac in the allstar game would have been absolute garbage.

[UGA Hayes]

I'm surprised Nash overtook Tmac. He doesn't usually do that well in the voting does he.

[Avalanche]

See... its fan voting, so i dont think someone that gets voted in by the fans should just go "nah i dont deserve it i wont play"

if they are asking the fans who they want to see play, and you get selected.. isnt the whole point to give the fans what they want? regardless of what you or anyone else think?

now dont take this as me being an advocate for fan voting in the slightest.. i think the best players should be selected and the fans are never going to get that right, open it up to players, coaches, media... whoever, but at least people who dont jsut vote for whoevers jersey they have

Im just saying if thats how it is then you should play it out as selected

I think Tmac getting in couldve been the backbreaker in fan voting though, if he got in they might have scrapped it completely... so in that way its kinda unfortunate

[irie]

I don't think AI will play because of his arthritis.

[celticsfanforlife]

Jordan shouldnt have been an all star his last year either. I dont have a problem with paying homage to AI. Hes a legend, period. Glad Tmac got edged out though.

[hairybyrd]

Jordan shouldnt have been an all star his last year either. I dont have a problem with paying homage to AI. Hes a legend, period. Glad Tmac got edged out though.

Jordan played all 82 games (started 67) in his final year, averaged 20 points, 6 rebs, 4 assts, and finished 9th in the East (37-45).

Iverson has played 19 games thus far w/ averages of 14 and 4 on the 2nd worst team in the East (13-28).

A little respect for His Airness...

[Darth Celtic]

i think there is a good chance ai will skip it due to health reasons, and commish will fill last spot.

[Hilltop]

People shouldn't take this stuff too seriously. The same people whining left and right about how guys like Iverson are getting so much votes are themselves voting their own "favorite players". Unless you are voting strictly for the "best players at their positions" per conference, you have no right to complain how the results turn out.

Take Garnett for example. He hasn't exactly been beastin' but he's getting the nod over Bosh just the same. Garnett is the favorite player of many, and so is Iverson.

[BRUNiNHO91]

People shouldn't take this stuff too seriously. The same people whining left and right about how guys like Iverson are getting so much votes are themselves voting their own "favorite players". Unless you are voting strictly for the "best players at their positions" per conference, you have no right to complain how the results turn out.

Take Garnett for example. He hasn't exactly been beastin' but he's getting the nod over Bosh just the same. Garnett is the favorite player of many, and so is Iverson.

That's what I was talking about the other day. But I'm thinking Bosh will probably get 1st team ALL NBA this year, and that will make up for it...at least I hope.

[Prophet_C]

So in conclusion, fans shouldn't vote.

And please don't compare Iverson to MJ. That's just silly.

[Hilltop]

People shouldn't take this stuff too seriously. The same people whining left and right about how guys like Iverson are getting so much votes are themselves voting their own "favorite players". Unless you are voting strictly for the "best players at their positions" per conference, you have no right to complain how the results turn out.

Take Garnett for example. He hasn't exactly been beastin' but he's getting the nod over Bosh just the same. Garnett is the favorite player of many, and so is Iverson.

That's what I was talking about the other day. But I'm thinking Bosh will probably get 1st team ALL NBA this year, and that will make up for it...at least I hope.

He probably will, which is why I'm not too hung up on who gets to be All-Star starters and who doesn't. Garnett and Iverson may not be the best players at their position anymore, but if the fans wanna see them perform, then so be it. If the NBA made fans decide who gets All-NBA Teams, All Defensive Teams, ROY, COY, MVP, etc. then we have a problem. But the All-Star Game is a token performance for the fans to see their favorite players on the court. It's not pretending to be anything else, it is just people who are constantly changing its meaning.

[campybatman]

Here are some interesting comments made by Kamen. I wonder would he agree with what Ray has said recently regarding fan voting for the All-Star starters. Actually, I wonder would Kaman vote for Perkins for the eastern conference reserves. Probably, only if he would vote for him for the western conference reserves.

Clippers center Chris Kaman said in an interview with FanHouse after Thursday's 105-85 loss to Denver that Lakers big man Pau Gasol doesn't deserve to be in the All-Star Game.

"I don't think Gasol should be in it at all,'' Kaman said when asked if he would be disappointed if Gasol, who starts at power forward for the Lakers, is slid over to be the backup center when West coaches vote for All-Star reserves. "He's only played like 20 games (he played Thursday in his 25th out of 42 Lakers games) this year. I think there should be a number of games you should play. I think you should have to play like 80 percent of the games.

"It shouldn't be 50 percent (of games a player has logged) over a guy who plays 90 percent and who has better numbers. Not just me. Zach Randolph, a power forward, he has better numbers (than Gasol). But he's not on the Lakers.'

'

But Kaman does not believe it would be fair to slide Randolph over to center because he starts at power forward for Memphis.

"I don't think he's a center,'' Kaman said.

Kaman believes coaches, who in each conference vote as reserves one center, two forwards, two guards and two other players at any question, should vote for at least one player who starts at center. However, an NBA official has said votes for a player who doesn't start at center but sometimes plays the position, such as Gasol, Randolph and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, are accepted.

Regardless of position, Kaman believes he's a more deserving All-Star than Gasol. He also believes he would be a better choice than Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who is averaging 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, if coaches voted for a player who starts at center.

"I think I'm more deserving than Andrew Bynum,'' Kaman said. "I'd be disappointed if they put Pau Gasol in front of me. If they put Bynum (ahead of me), it would be disappointing but it would be easier to accept.'

'

"Some people probably go with the records,'' Kaman said. "The Lakers are a hell of a team. Nothing you can really do about it. If I get in, I get in. But I think (my) numbers are better. But my team hasn't won as many games.

"But we also don't have Kobe Bryant on my team either. Put Kobe Bryant on my team or LeBron James on my team -- that's nothing against the guys on my team now -- but, if we had a superstar, it changes the complexion.''

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/22/kama ... ar-worthy/

[Hilltop]

Wow, that's a lot of words from Kaveman

[BRUNiNHO91]

Wow, that's a lot of words from Kaveman

LOl..here we are saying people shouldn't take the ALL STAR game so seriously, and Kaman pulls this one off..amazing..