Every year, NBA fans around the world get to vote in their preferred choices for the starting line ups of the NBA All Star Game. With the NBA set to announce the final line up of starters this week, I thought it would be nice to give my two cents, who will be voted in by the fans and who I voted for. While I agree that fans should get to vote for who they want to watch, I still think that we should all be more conscientious about voting the right people, players who earned their spots by having a great year.
Eastern Conference
Center
Who Will Be Voted In: Dwight Howard
Who I Voted For: Dwight Howard
While this may seem like a no-brainer, it was actually close, at least for me. Howard is averaging great numbers (17.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2 blocks), these numbers are two year lows and he generally looks a lot less dominant this year. In fact, the Knicks' undersized center David Lee is encroaching on his numbers as Lee is averaging 19.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1 steal per game. Despite this, though, Howard is far and away, the world's best center right now and he deserves a starting spot.
Forwards
Who Will Be Voted In: Lebron James, Kevin Garnett
Who I Voted For: Lebron James, Chris Bosh
The "three" spot is definitely a no-brainer. LBJ has not let up from his MVP season as his averages (29.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists) is actually better than last year's, so his spot is well-deserved, even if he reneged on his promise to join the Slam Dunk Contest. The other spot, however, shouldn't be given to KG. I love KG as he remains one of my favorite players, but he has not recovered his dominance since his devastating injury last season. KG is averaging a competent 15 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 blocks per game, but these are at the lowest level since his rookie year. Meanwhile Chris Bosh, who many thought would the this generation's version of Garnett has been big for the Toronto Raptors this year. He is averaging 23.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, .523 FG % and .462 three point % and each of these numbers are career highs. Even with the distraction of the possibility of him leaving, Bosh has shown Toronto fans that he is indeed the face of the franchise and deserving of an All Star starting spot.
Guards
Who Will Be Voted In: Dwayne Wade, Allen Iverson
Who I Voted For: Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson
Dwayne Wade has continued to be spectacular for the Heat, who have been competitive this season and it is because of this that Wade deserves a starting spot. His 27.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists are the only thing keeping Miami in the playoff hunt and an All Star starting spot is well-deserved. Allen Iverson, meanwhile, is a completely different matter. While he has done some positive things for Philly this year, his numbers are not impressive (career-low in points) and he was quite a distraction in his brief stay in Memphis. Joe Johnson, meanwhile, has continued his stellar, consistent play with numbers almost as impressive as Wade (21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds 4.9 assists). What is most impressive for him, though, is he is leading the Atlanta Hawks to their best season in years, currently atop the Southeast Division.
Western Conference
Center
Who Will Be Voted In: Amare Stoudemire
Who I Voted For: Chris Kaman
Without Yao Ming, the Western Conference has featured a host of inconsistent, but talented centers. With a litany of inconsistent centers one has to just go by the numbers. Stoudemire overcame a rough start to the year to help lead the Suns with 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks. Despite these impressive numbers, he has been wildly inconsistent and his constantly disappearing defense is one of the reasons the Suns have barely won on the road. Kaman deserves the spot this year, after following up an injury-riddled year with great numbers like 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. The Clippers are playing better lately too and that should be attributed to him too.
Forwards
Who Will Be Voted In: Carmelo Anthony, DIrk Nowitzki
Who I Voted For: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant
It's hard to get this one wrong, but Durant does deserve a starting spot this year. Both Anthony and Durant are averaging eye-popping numbers (Anthony 30 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and Durant 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists) and they are both leading their teams to greater heights. No offense to Dirk, but these two guys have been dominant.
Guards
Who Will Be Voted In: Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady
Who I Voted For: Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul
I'm not even going to talk about Kobe. He deserves this spot by virtue not only of his numbers but also his overall toughness in playing through at least three different injuries. T-Mac, though, is a total absurdity. Shame on the world for trying to vote in a player who has barely played this year and who has been placed on ice by his own team. That spot should go to Chris Paul, the Hornets' sole superstar. Paul's averages of 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 11.2 assists are more than enough to earn a starter's spot, and considering the kind of teammates he has, these numbers become all the more impressive.
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