Long Time No Post
It’s been I think just over a week since I’ve written here, partially because there hasn’t been much to write about and partially because I haven’t had time to write anything anyway. In the limited time I’ve had I’ve been playing a bit of poker here and there but not too much. I’ve just been too busy with work, and twice a week my 9 year old’s basketball practices. To say the least I’ve been keeping busy.
There have been lots of basketball games on this week and if you haven’t read the About Me post, I’m an avid fan. There’s been lots of controversy in the NBA regarding it’s All Star voting. Up until the announcements were made the other night, both Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady were leading their positions to be starter. This would be an absolute travesty to those that have been playing all year and deserve those spots, especially Steve Nash who is having an MVP calibre season. Well, the votes are all in now and Nash made a late surge to and will now start over McGrady. Iverson, on the other hand, will still start.
The East starters are: LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and Allen Iverson
Other than Iverson, who has only played 19 games and not at an All Star level, the only problem I had here was Kevin Garnett. No way should he be starting over Chris Bosh who is leading the league in double doubles and has been a beast all year. More on this later.
The West All Stars are: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan (also making a late surge over Dirk Nowitzki who will be in the game regardless), Carmelo Anthony, Steve Nash, and Amare Stoudemire. Can’t really complain about this lineup at all other than I would have personally liked to see Dirk start and Duncan come off the bench.
I think this could have been a really embarrassing thing for the league if McGrady had made it in after only playing a handful of games and only averaging 7 minutes per game during that stretch. He isn’t even really on any team right now. The voting system needs to change. The fans are given too much say and it’s just a popularity contest now than it is about recognizing those that are having great seasons. That’s the only reason that Kevin Garnett is starting over Bosh, and the reason McGrady and Iverson are even being considered for the game. For whatever reason, the fans don’t realize how dumb they look for voting these guys in. Fans don’t vote for the baseball, football, or hockey all-star games so why should they for basketball. I say let the players and media vote, and the coaches still pick their reserves. The fans are still going to attend the games, they’re still going to turn it on the TV. No fan is going to grumble, “They took my vote away so I’m not watching”. If they do, let them. They’re not real fans anyway. It will still be an entertaining game but let’s put the people out there that deserve it the most.
