<div class="quote_poster">Quoting amador08:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone who watches basketball knows what Shaq can do even if he didnt play the first part of the season. The point is Yao is not better them Camby, but thats the way the system works. Its a popularity contest and when your from China the most populated country in the world. It works to your advantage in getting votes.</div> If yao ming didn't exist, camby still wouldn't be voted a starter, he just doesn't have the fanbase. Like Brand who is getting less votes then amare who hasn't even played one game this season. So don't blame yao for camby not being a starter, he'll be a reserve anyways...if he lasts the season he's already injured.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting amador08:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone who watches basketball knows what Shaq can do even if he didnt play the first part of the season. The point is Yao is not better them Camby, but thats the way the system works. Its a popularity contest and when your from China the most populated country in the world. It works to your advantage in getting votes.</div> What if shaq was in west, could you gaurentee that he'd have a better season than camby if he wasn't injured?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting babybulls:</div><div class="quote_post">What if shaq was in west, could you gaurentee that he'd have a better season than camby if he wasn't injured?</div> A healthy Shaq is, without question, the best center in the league. Regardless of the conference he's playing in.
The All Star contest has ALWAYS been a popularity contest, the NBA is first and foremost a business, the big names will always gain popularity votes. Case in point, Yao the most vote getter, Brand getting snuffed, Amare when he hasn't even played a game this season...it's unfair but it's thanks to these big names that the NBA continues to thrive. PS: Yao is better than Camby. When TMac was out, teams focused their D on Yao, often double-teaming him. I'd like to know one team that has said ok, let's focus on Camby and make the rest of the Nuggets (Carmelo, Martin) beat us...with that said I think Camby is a all star caliber player for sure, and players like him deserve more recognition.
Man I was hoping vince would be one of the top vote getters do you guys think the coaches will pick as a reserve?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yudalicious:</div><div class="quote_post">The All Star contest has ALWAYS been a popularity contest, the NBA is first and foremost a business, the big names will always gain popularity votes. Case in point, Yao the most vote getter, Brand getting snuffed, Amare when he hasn't even played a game this season...it's unfair but it's thanks to these big names that the NBA continues to thrive. PS: Yao is better than Camby. When TMac was out, teams focused their D on Yao, often double-teaming him. I'd like to know one team that has said ok, let's focus on Camby and make the rest of the Nuggets (Carmelo, Martin) beat us...with that said I think Camby is a all star caliber player for sure, and players like him deserve more recognition.</div> Camby may get over 16 ppg, but he's not a star because of his offensive presence. He's rather a star for his shot blocking and his presence on the boards, so with that in mind, I don't really think that the way a defense focusses on him would hurt his All-Star status too badly. Camby's always been capable of putting up numbers like the ones he's putting up this season, but he's just never been able to get through an entire season without going down with some trivial injury. He's Mr. Glass. I don't want this to turn into a Camby vs. Ming argument though. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Man I was hoping vince would be one of the top vote getters do you guys think the coaches will pick as a reserve?</div> It's odd to not see him up there. Usually he's at least in the top five. I don't think he'll make the roster with the competition in the East at the guard spot (Arenas, Pierce, Kidd, etc.), but there's a lot of basketball to be played between now and then. The Nets could really help his case if they weren't a sub .500 team right now.
Yao, whether you love him or hate him, he forces double team action in the paint like a true center, gets 20 and 9 or something like those numbers. I think what ticks me off is the David Wesley Votes over JRich and Elton Brand getting no love. Brand is playing like an MVP.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">David Wesley still makes me laugh though.</div> I've seen better post entry passes made at the local gym.. though he's not a natural 1, he makes alot of dumb mistakes for being a veteran. I do not want to turn this into a Yao vs. Camby argument, but I do think, as well as Camby as played this year (and you made a very good argument about Camby being more of a rebound/defense center), Yao is a better overall center. PS: Also I think Yao is an underrated defensive presence, he doesn't block many shots, which is what alot of fans see as the only mark of a good defensive center, but he does alter alot of them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Air JerseY:</div><div class="quote_post">Carter <u>should</u> be a starter..but he's not. In my opinion, that's bull.</div> No, he <u>shouldn't</u>. Not only is he not putting up the numbers, but his team is below .500 on the year despite having another potential All-Star wing in Richard Jefferson and one of the greatest point guards of all-time in Jason Kidd. You can't tell me that he deserves to start over Allen Iverson or LeBron James.
Actually, most people forget that in Yao's first seasons, when he started of Shaq in the All-Star game, Yao only played 17 minutes, while Shaq played 26 minutes. The same thing happened in his second year. It wasn't until last year, when Shaq went to the Heat, that Yao started to play significant minutes in the All-Star Game. So I think that coaches consciously or unconsciously give minutes to players they think are better, regardless of minutes. At least that's what happened in Yao's case.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">No, he <u>shouldn't</u>. Not only is he not putting up the numbers, but his team is below .500 on the year despite having another potential All-Star wing in Richard Jefferson and one of the greatest point guards of all-time in Jason Kidd. You can't tell me that he deserves to start over Allen Iverson or LeBron James.</div> Amen. But I am suprised to see VC, who for the last few years has always had the most votes not even make the top 10. But like Voodoo said, the guard spot has some competition for Carter with players like Redd, Areanas, Francis etc.
This is the year Chauncey Billups should be in the all-star game. Be a crime If he isn't. He has been the best PG in the east this year.
I think people hate the fact that foreign votes count compared to their all American votes. Maybe we should do like the Virginia Plan suggests, but instead of African Americans it's the Chinese. Their votes can only count as 1/2 a vote? Maybe then some of you Yao-Haters will be happy? That is basically what most of you are saying. You guys admit its a popularity contest, but don't want to admit how popular Yao ming is globally? Just because he isn't as popular in the states or to you doesn't mean **** to the NBA who cares about revenue. Vince Carter not starting sucks a lot, but I admit I had to vote for D-Wade, and AI over him. As for David Wesley's votes I = 1 of them. I don't understand why the NBA would put him on the ballot, or think he deserves to be on there. I have to vote for him since they did simply because he is a Rocket, and I want him to have some votes. If his home team doesn't vote for him, who the hell will?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the year Chauncey Billups should be in the all-star game. Be a crime If he isn't. He has been the best PG in the east this year.</div> It would be hard to argue against AI there. You do realize the type of season he is having right?
I think he is saying that because Billups is leading the Pistons to the top of the NBA. I agree, that Billups has been playing well. But I still think Allen Iverson is having a bigger year then he is individually the thing is his team isn't doing nearly as well. Chauncy is averaging 18 and 9, while Allen Iverson is at 34 and 8. That 16 point is what sets them apart, and shows who really is the better player. On the other hand I do agree that Billups should make be considered for a backup spot, and the coaches will likely vote him in. I also think Rip Hamilton deserves to make it this year as well, he deserves it more then Billups in my opinion.
it's still early yet, y'all. these are only the FIRST returns, meaning -- if you don't like the team as it stands -- vote! you can vote once a day online: http://www.nba.com/webAction?actionId=surv...p&surveyId=1251 i've already got it bookmarked for easy access.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting igotask8board:</div><div class="quote_post">I think people hate the fact that foreign votes count compared to their all American votes. Maybe we should do like the Virginia Plan suggests, but instead of African Americans it's the Chinese. Their votes can only count as 1/2 a vote? Maybe then some of you Yao-Haters will be happy? That is basically what most of you are saying. You guys admit its a popularity contest, but don't want to admit how popular Yao ming is globally? Just because he isn't as popular in the states or to you doesn't mean **** to the NBA who cares about revenue. Vince Carter not starting sucks a lot, but I admit I had to vote for D-Wade, and AI over him. As for David Wesley's votes I = 1 of them. I don't understand why the NBA would put him on the ballot, or think he deserves to be on there. I have to vote for him since they did simply because he is a Rocket, and I want him to have some votes. If his home team doesn't vote for him, who the hell will?</div> Someone was doing his history homework while on JBB... And no, that's not basically what people are saying. People aren't saying that the Asian votes shouldn't matter as much as the American votes. People are saying that there shouldn't be a voting process period. There's no racial discrimination going on here. And again, nobody has denied that Yao is popular around the world. They just don't think that he deserves the starting Center spot, and he doesn't. Sorry; no conspiracies here either...
