Looks like our boy BRoy a slipped down to 11th in the west for guards http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/08/010809allstarreturns/index.html Interesting. Jamal Crawford has 200,000 more votes then Brandon.
Ugh.. this is getting ridiculous... In addition to Yi almost getting a starting spot, now Ron Artest is less than 15,000 votes off of being named a starter (he would be already, if he did'nt have so much competition because of all those Chinese homers choosing to go with Battier or Scola instead). And McGrady will almost certainly start ahead of Paul. What a joke.
Rafer Alston with more than a 100,000 more than Roy. How come there are 6 Rockets on the ballot? So we can have the whole starting 5 of them? You can even see the China effect with Milwaukee now, with Ridnour getting 370K votes. Jeez....
Milwaukee doesn't have any chinese players. which is why im wondering about Ridnour. maybe the chinese votes loved him when yii was on the Milwaukee
If Yi gets in I'm thinking one or two things happen: 1) Yi might refuse his spot in the game out of embarrassment. 2) They'll modify the system in some way for next season. I wonder what the fan reaction would be in Phoenix if he were announced to start the game and he showed up?
I don't think either thing will happen, least of all 2. The All-Star game and weekend is a fan event. The NBA has clearly taken the position that the only qualification for being a starter is that enough fans vote for you. If the majority of fans want to see Yi, Yi deserves to be a starter. And there's no way the NBA would suggest that the desires of Chinese fans shouldn't count. Not only would that be a xenophobic standpoint to take, it would be spiting the NBA's desire to become a global game. If what you want is a team based on pure on-court results, the All-NBA team is what you're looking for. Don't think of the All-Star team as the same thing. The All-Star game is just an exhibition for the players the majority of fans, worldwide, want to see.
Well, then I guess they ought to be careful what they wish for, because they'll probably get Yi getting posterized by the Western Conference's stars.
I hope all of the aforementioned scrubs DO start! It would be an embarrassment to the league and they would have to change the system! I votin' for Skip 2 My Lou right now!
I want Roy in the All-Star game so that refs will give him more respect. There have been numerous times of Roy being hit while going towards the hoop, but the refs swallow their whistle. I see Roy complain to the refs, but it doesn't seem to help. So if making the All-Star game will help Roy get some calls later on in the season, I'm all for it.
I'd just like our players to get some props from a wider fan base than our own, just for their own gratification (whether or not they say they want it). Of course, Roy won't get voted in by them, but they'll have to watch him play and maybe the repetition will get him more respect and fans in other arenas will cheer his presence (except in rival cities).
I'd be rather amazed if Roy isn't selected by the coaches. It doesn't matter where his vote totals come in...he wouldn't (and shouldn't) have been selected as a starter, and every reserve is selected by the NBA coaches.
I kinda want to see where Rudy is in the dunk contest balloting. How soon before those results come back?
Who's making it for the Rookie/Soph game? Rudy and Greg probably for sure...How about Nic and Jerryd. Any shot?
The NBA wants the Chinese in the all star game. They want to expand into that market and tap it for merchandise. They will never change that.
Alexander and Westbrook's dunking abilities are typically considered more suited for the competition than Rudy's.
I'm thinking Rose, Mayo, Gasol, Westbrook, Beasley, B. Lopez, Fernandez, and a four way race for the last two spots between Oden, Augustin, Chalmers, and Love. Maybe Oden's popularity wins out. I don't think Batum has a shot.