Seems kinda racist to assume that a million Chinese people are going to vote Yi an all star even if he sucks. You think Chinese NBA fans can't actually vote based on merit?
Each person can vote every day. And I think last year one of the ways, you could vote every hour. If we ALL made a pact to do this and try to get as many others as we know to also do this, maybe we can actually see a push in their votes. I know I tried to keep up last year, and it isn't the easiest thing to do when life is busy. Maybe we need a sticky thread as a reminder where everyone who voted posts that they voted every day. Friendly reminder for the rest of the members to vote and keeps those of us voting, ON TOP of our votes.
Does it though? We cant get our merit right in this country and we know the game like no other country. We voted Kobe in last year! I don't think it is racist or far fetch to think the Chinese would vote for one of thier own regardless of his game play. They are still new to the game and have tons of pride. Not racist, just truths. Reverse the role. IF Dame went to play in China, but was the 5th best PG, would you vote him as such or vote him as number 1 regardless of stats, so you can see him play in their all star game? I bet the majority would Vote dame in regardless of him being the best or not. Furthermore, many American fans vote for their own cities' teams players even though they aren't the best in the league.
Huh? Is it racist to assume that the majority of Yi or Lin's voters come from Asia? How else do you explain it? Not sure I understand the second part of your question. Fwiw, I would bet my house that both Yi and Lin get more votes than Dame this year. Hell, as a backup last year in Charlotte, Lin ended up with 196k votes. Dame ended up with 158k. Nearly 40k more votes then, and now he's playing in the largest market and will be the definite starter.
I don't think it's racist to think that fans from a particular country may be nationalistic, ethnocentric, chauvinistic, or even consider it patriotic to support a player from their own country. As far as voting based on merit, this is the NBA All Star Game we're talking about. I'd venture the majority of fans vote for players from their favorite team, or their home country, regardless of merit. Kobe Fucking Bryant was on the all star team last season, for crying out loud.
We'll trade CJ to the Lakers so he makes it in easily. If the NBA insists on keeping the fan voting system, it should weight the votes by the population of the country they originate from. Chinese votes would count as roughly a third of a US vote. Some people would get around it with IP trickery, but it would be a lot better than it is now.
It shouldbe run like we do elections. fans get a single vote, but the coaches can trump (not trump the candidate!!!) with an electoral vote.
How can a fan not want to see our guys passed over at allstar break and then come back and beat the Warriors by 50pts first game? I just doesn't get better than that....as Wes Mathews used to say...we don't have allstars...we have dogs!
I know it's not impossibe to tip the scales. KC Royals fans flooded the 2015 All Star ballot to get their players on. I would think the problem is their are so much more people voting in this event. It would be hard to dent the Dub Nation band wagoner's or quasi-Laker fan boys. But if it helps gets Dame or CJ on the team it's worth it!
I'm still not convinced they count the Chinese vote straight up 1 Chinese vote = 1 vote. If they did, there is no way Jeremy Lin doesn't lead the NBA in All-Star voting. They let the Yao votes through because he was the main bridge for the NBA to China.