NBA All Star Picks

The NBA All-Star starters were announced this week and, as always, the fan voting has screwed the whole thing up. Truthfully, it's not the fault of the fans; the entire system is screwy. The fans really shouldn't have a say in who gets to play in the all star game and if they do, the NBA should make some restrictions to keep stupidity from prevailing. For instance, Allen Iverson will be starting in this game despite the fact that he's played in only 19 games and has averaged less than 15 points per game. I'm a HUGE Iverson fan; one of my top five favorite players of all time. But Iverson has no business being in this game. Likewise, up until last week, Rockets guard Tracy McGrady was in line to start this game despite having played only three games this season. Pathetic.

But I digress. After the fans get their ridiculous say in who should start this game, the coaches vote for the remaining 7 players on each squad. The format for this voting is 2 guard, 2 forward, 1 center, and two more players of any position. Like every other sports writer, professional or not, I feel the need to make my picks.

EAST
Guards - Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo
Rando is the best point guard in the Eastern Conference (despite not being able to make a free throw) and Joe Johnson has been lights out yet again as the best player on a contending team.
Forwards - Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce
Really, Bosh should be listed as a center. This is yet another example of how outdated the NBA's system really is. Still, he's having a great season in what should be his last as a Raptor. Pierce has carried the Celtics this year with Garnett missing time.
Center - David Lee
I don't know, this whole center thing is ridiculous. Lee isn't really putting up an All-star season and he's playing for a crappy team but the other options at center (Al Horford, Shaq, Joakim Noah) are no more inspiring.
Wildcards - Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith
Wallace is having the best season of his career and is finally getting his just due. He absolutely fills the stat sheet. Smith has cut the bad shots and technical fouls down and that has made Atlanta a much better team.
Last two out - Ray Allen, Stephen Jackson
Man the East sucks. Allen is having a mediocre year by his standards. Jackson probably deserves to be in just based on the impact he had on Charlotte after the trade, but I just can't put two guys from a team that is barely over .500 on the All-star team.

WEST
Guards - Brandon Roy, Chris Paul
You could make a case for either one of these guys to start over Nash. Roy has been the only consistent player for Portland and Paul has been the only player for New Orleans, period. Both of them are pretty much locks for the All-star team for the next decade.
Forwards - Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant
I'm not going to say is absurd that Duncan is starting this game over Nowitzki, but it's not far off. Dirk is having an incredible season on a much less talented team whereas Duncan is sitting out games when the Spurs play on back to back nights. Duncan deserves to be here, sure, but his year doesn't compare to Dirk's. Durant is perhaps the best pure scorer in the league right now and only getting better.
Center - Chris Kaman
Again, the center position is weak. I don't think anyone can make much of a case one way or another for why Kaman, Andrew Bynum, or Marc Gasol should make it over the other two. Heck, even Erick Dampier is having a career year. But I'll take Kaman simply because I think he impacts the game the most on a consistent basis. I guess.
Wildcards - Deron Williams, Zach Randolph
Williams is a lock, no questions asked. It pains me to see Randolph on an All-star team. That guy has wasted more talent over the last nine years than most people will ever have at their disposal in any field. He's been a bum since day one. But he's having a heck of a season on an extremely surprising Memphis team and he deserves a spot, though I hope it never happens again.
Last two out - Pau Gasol, Carlos Boozer
Gasol has missed almost half of his team's games and really hasn't been THAT great. Boozer has been a little inconsistent, but really it comes down to the fact that I'm not sure a team that's in the bottom half of the playoff picture deserves two All-Stars.

We'll see how it all shakes out.

-BG