One Vote Doesn't Make A Difference

The voters don't always know what they're doing when they cast annual all-star ballots. Actually, they rarely do. They only reason I vote online is to cancel out at least one idiot who perenially checks Vince Carter's name and thinks Tracy McGrady is automatically entitled to a starting spot no matter how poorly his team is doing or how often he is carried out of stadiums on a stretcher. (In fact, the NBA.com voting ballot contains the header "Vote For Your Favorite Players.") Although it was suprisingly difficult, I've gone online and voted and here are my proposed 12-man rosters:

Eastern Conference Starting Five

PG: Allen Iverson: noone can deny AI is one of the toughest guys in the league. He's second in scoring (33.2 p/g), seventh in assists (7.5), and fourth in steals (2.1). His heart is disproportionately large to his size as he is truly one of the few inspiring players left in the money-driven NBA.

SG: Dwayne Wade: he's got the Heat sitting in the two seed in the eastern conference (right behind the ridiculous Pistons) while carrying a team often without the injury-prone Shaq and a handful of has-beens. A prolific scorer that has a good inside and outside game and who throws in about 7 assists and rebounds each night.

SF: Lebron James: along with Iverson, the easiest picks on the entire ballot. I was a doubter two years ago but have since changed my opinion of this all-around player who at least appears to be humble enough to put the team first. His numbers of 31.1/6.6/6.0 are good enough that any GM would gladly take this young buck and create a team around him.

PF: Chris Bosh: alright viewers, begin the debate. Bosh is probably the most questionable player on my ballot, but deserving nonetheless. He plays for an awful team with awful players and fights through the double and triple teams to notch over 22 points and 9 boards a game. The stats aren't stellar, but look around at the rest of the forwards in the East; aside from Lebron, you can go down the list and pass the top eight forwards from the West before you get to a big man from the East that can hold his ground. The Raps are getting better, and even though they still dwell near the basement, just think where they would be without Bosh.

C: Ben Wallace: the first reason would be the same as above--there just aren't any dominant centers. And yes, this season that include Shaquille O'Neal. The Pistons are playing phenominal ball and should be recognized with at least one member in the starting five, and Big Ben gets the nod because he does lead the league in rebounding, afterall. I wish there was something else that supports this pick, but there just isn't.

Subs (in deserving order): Paul Pierce (F), Chauncey Billups (G), Jason Kidd (G), Jermaine O'Neal (F/C), Gilbert Arenas (G), Shaquille O'Neal (C), Dwight Howard (F)

Western Conference Starting Five

PG: Baron Davis: another questionable call, but he is having a career year. I know, how could I possibly not start Steve Nash, but even with their numbers being very comparable (Davis' 18.1/4.6/9.3/1.7 to Nash's 19.1/4.2/11.2/0.9) I think Baron has had slightly less to work with and has managed to give this dismal program at least a little hope of making the playoffs. I consider Shawn Marion to be one of the top 5 best all-around players in the league, a significant upgrade from Jason Richardson. Baron wins by a nose.

SG: Kobe Bryant: because I had to. No matter how much I dislike the guy, his gutsy performances night in and night out while carrying an awful team on his shoulders make him an all-star. I often criticise how much he shoots and refuses to play a team game, but when was the last time you looked at the standings? His 'team' is currently in the #6 spot.

SF: Shawn Marion: the Suns picked up right where they left off last season, without Amare and Q. Marion continues to fill in the stat line from points to blocks. He's a guy I think is underrated as a defender and is extremely athletic. In a conference with so many great forwards he narrowly beats out Timmy and Elton (as much as I'd like to see Brand get his due) as it is his time to get some credit owed to him from last years Pheonix success.

PF: Kevin Garnett: and it's not only because he is one of my favs. KG is silently having his typical MVP-caliber season of 22.2/11.3/4.9/1.4/1.4 while not being surrounded by much talent, again. The MN owners teased for one year by bringing in valuable free agents, but only an overrated Olowakandi and Wally remain. Using the formula that calculates fantasy points for the league I am currently in, a point allocation that I do consider reasonable, the website has Garnett as the top fantasy point attainer to date. The numbers don't lie. Then again, neither does the T-Wolves' record.

C: Marcus Camby: another odd pick that is partially justified through reasons not related to his performance. First off, neither Dirk or Duncan are available under the center position. Secondly, much like the East, the West is lacking true centers. Although he's been injured the past ten games, he did jump out to an amazing start to the season and helped fool us into thinking Denver might actually be a contender this year. The only alternative to Camby are Brad Miller (underachieving on a bad team), Yao (spent even more time on DL), and Mehmet Okur (team has same record, but individual numbers are less). I should give him credit, though, for being the early favorite for Defensive Player of the Year with 13 boards and over 3 blocks a game.

Subs: Steve Nash (G), Elton Brand (F), Tim Duncan (F/C), Dirk Nowitzki (F/C), Pau Gasol (F), Sam Cassell (G), Ray Allen (G)