Once again, the fans got it right.
There was no chance to oust Wade or King James from the top five in voting, both are in the top three in scoring on the most profiled team in the N.B.A. Meanwhile, Howard is tops in rebounding and Rondo leads the ways in assists.
In the Wild Wild West, Bryant is well established in his starting guard role. Paul is enjoying the best defensive year with 25 more steals than the closest player, Monta Ellis. Then factor in that Durant is looking for a second consecutive scoring title at nearly 28 points per game, and Melo stands fourth in that same race.
So what's the big fuss? Eight out of the top 10 players seem to have earned their spot in the big game in Los Angeles come February 21. The fans clearly know what's going on and who is deserving -- right?
Yeah they know who is leading in these statistical categories, but let me hit you with the "but." Notice who these players are -- Celtics, Heat and Lakers, with the overwhelming star power of Melo, Howard and CPIII.
Can the little guys, (not in height, but name), get some love?
Not to overwhelm anybody with statistics, because numbers are just numbers in many cases, but look at some of the ballers on the outside looking in that are getting overlooked:
- Right behind Superman in the East, Al Horford has 18 double-doubles this season. The top five is rounded out behind his Hawks teammate Josh Smith, better known as J-Smooth, as well as N.Y. Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire and Raymond Felton.
- In that same category in the Western Conference, none of the top six are top vote-getters. Kevin Love is the league's leader by a distance 31 double-doubles, averaging 21 points and almost 16 boards a night. That's ridic.
- Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, and Steve Nash follow Love in double-doubles. That's right -- a Clipper and Grizzlie are second and third, behind a first place Timberwolve, or Timberwolf? Well, at least no one is picking favorites.
- King James, better known as the Jester in Cleveland, is the most well-rounded player in the East in terms of points, rebounds and dimes. In the West, it's Love and Griffin No. 1 and 2 in that rank -- Love's average is actually better than LeBron's.
- And how about giving some boring teams some credit? Not actually boring, but considered dull to a national audience because of their superb fundamentals. Manu Ginobili and Richard Jefferson of the San Antonio Spurs, owners of the best record in the N.B.A., and Houston's Kevin Martin are second, third and fourth in three-pointers made this year. In the lead is Golden State Warriors' Dorell Wright, but I'm sure nobody outside of Lawrence or Oakland has even heard of that cat.
Not included in my stats were Stat and Felton, who people refuse to pay attention to because they do not believe in the Knicks. Stoudemire is second only to Durant in scoring in the league by just over a point, and almost single handedly has turned the Knicks from a conference bottom-dweller to a contender.
I say "almost single handedly" because of the other free agent acquisition N.Y. got this summer -- their new point guard. Felton is second only to Rondon is assists this season, who deservingly is the No. 1 vote-getter in All-Star votes. Yet Felton's 15 double-doubles rank first among Eastern Conference point guards. Take that, haters.
In the East, the blunder that stands out the most is The Big Ticket starting at forward. For one, he's injured, and if he's healthy come February's end you know his elderly legs will not allow him to play for more than the opening five minutes.
I'm not saying Garnett's season -- 15 ppg and 9.5 rpg -- is not worthy of All-Star honors. Because this cat plays in Boston though, he is stealing the vote of obnoxious, ignoring Celtics fans that fail to realize there are lesser names elsewhere that are more deserving of the vote.
Garnett is a 13-time All-Star -- do you think he really cares at this point in his career? He'd prefer to get his mid-day nap and the early bird dinner special somewhere in Cambridge, Mass. than suit up for another All-Star shootout.
In his place: 1. Amar'e Stoudemire 2. Josh Smith 3. Danny Granger
Getting to the West, listen to this bone I need to pick: Are fans just messing around by actually voting Yao Ming in at center for the game? Dude's been eating fried chicken and pounding brews for the last few months. Is Allen Iverson getting the nod, too?
Seriously...is China going bazerk on their Sony's and Toshiba's voting for their hometown boy? I understand the logic behind it, but they need to tune in at 4 a.m. or whatever time it is over their in Beijing and realize Yao isn't on the hardwood anymore.
What's problematic in this situation is there is a scarcity of quality big men in the Western Conference. Sure, the East has Howard and Stoudemire, but the West is limited to a handful of true centers and a lot power forwards posing in that role.
Aside from abolishing Yao's eligibility to even play in the All-Star Game, open up the slot for the fans to vote for either a center or even a power forward into the starting five.
Listen -- Yao would love nothing more than to enjoy his K.F.C. and Natty Light's and watch another cat take his spot in the game.
In his place: 1. Kevin Love 2. Pau Gasol 3. Al Jefferson
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