<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>RealGM Staff Report - <u>Kevin Garnett</u> of the Boston Celtics and <u>LeBron James</u> of the Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference, while <u>Kobe Bryant</u> of the Los Angeles Lakers and <u>Carmelo Anthony</u> of the Denver Nuggets lead Western Conference players after the first returns of 2008 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Los Angeles Lakers guard <u>Kobe Bryant</u> leads all Western Conference players. The 57th NBA All-Star Game will be played in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 17. The game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. While Garnett leads all players with 735,664 votes, Cleveland’s James – the 2007 top vote recipient and All-Star Game MVP – follows Garnett at the forward spot in the East with 597,768 votes, the second-highest overall tally. The Orlando Magic ’s <u>Dwight Howard</u> leads Eastern Conference centers (596,187), with the Miami Heat ’s <u>Dwyane Wade</u> (470,921) and the New Jersey Nets ’ <u>Jason Kidd</u> (342,468) pacing the conference’s guards. Bryant leads all Western Conference players with 569,302 votes, with the Houston Rockets ’ <u>Tracy McGrady</u> following him at guard (388,959). Denver’s Anthony (482,127) is second to Bryant among Western Conference players and is followed at forward by the Dallas Mavericks ’ <u>Dirk Nowitzki</u> (443,117). The Rockets’ Yao Ming leads Western Conference centers (439,125). <u>Eastern Conference</u> Forwards: <u>Kevin Garnett</u> (Bos) 735,664; <u>LeBron James</u> (Clev) 597,768; <u>Chris Bosh</u> (185,294); <u>Paul Pierce</u> (Bos) 164,346; <u>Yi Jianlian</u> (Mil) 98,507; <u>Hedo Turkoglu</u> (Orl) 73,781; <u>Rashard Lewis</u> (Orl) 70,737; <u>Tayshaun Prince</u> (Det) 63,787; <u>Caron Butler</u> (Wash) 55,796; <u>Andrea Bargnani</u> (Tor) 52,734. Guards: <u>Dwyane Wade</u> (Mia) 470,921; <u>Jason Kidd</u> (NJ) 343,468; <u>Vince Carter</u> (NJ) 277,705; <u>Ray Allen</u> (Bos) 270,114; <u>Gilbert Arenas</u> (Wash) 256,994; <u>Chauncey Billups</u> (Det) 125,202; <u>Michael Redd</u> (Mil) 101,942; <u>Andre Iguodala</u> (Phi) 70,476; <u>Richard Hamilton</u> (Det) 66,617; <u>T.J. Ford</u> (Tor) 58,894. Centers: <u>Dwight Howard</u> (Orl) 596,187; <u>Shaquille O'Neal</u> (Mia) 282,727; <u>Rasheed Wallace</u> (Det) 69,331; <u>Ben Wallace</u> (Chi) 68,871; <u>Jermaine O'Neal</u> (Ind) 53,107; <u>Andrew Bogut</u> (Mil) 39,764; <u>Zydrunas Ilgauskas</u> (Clev) 27,814; <u>Emeka Okafor</u> (Cha) 27,040; <u>Eddy Curry</u> (NY) 19,494; <u>Zaza Pachulia</u> (Atl) 19,210. <u>Western Conference</u> Forwards: <u>Carmelo Anthony</u> (Den) 482,127; <u>Dirk Nowitzki</u> (Dal) 443,117; <u>Tim Duncan</u> (SA) 423,608; <u>Carlos Boozer</u> (Utah) 175,248; <u>Shawn Marion</u> (Pho) 154,641; <u>Josh Howard</u> (Dal) 146,909; <u>Kevin Durant</u> (Sea) 113,314; <u>Luis Scola</u> (Hou) 101,981; <u>Shane Battier</u> (Hou) 95,757; <u>Grant Hill</u> (Pho) 83,544. Guards: <u>Kobe Bryant</u> (LAL) 569,302; <u>Tracy McGrady</u> (Hou) 388,959; <u>Steve Nash</u> (Pho) 317,091; <u>Allen Iverson</u> (Den) 292,565; <u>Manu Ginobili</u> (SA) 141,891; <u>Jason Terry</u> (Dal) 121,397; <u>Tony Parker</u> (SA) 117,881; <u>Chris Paul</u> (NO) 110,688; <u>Jerry Stackhouse</u> (Dal) 103,307; <u>Baron Davis</u> (GS) 100,422. Centers: Yao Ming (Hou) 439,125; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 286,401; <u>Erick Dampier</u> (Dal) 101,878; <u>Marcus Camby</u> (Den) 94,473; <u>Pau Gasol</u> (Mem) 73,461; <u>Mehmet Okur</u> (Utah) 51,017; <u>Chris Kaman</u> (LAC) 40,256; <u>LaMarcus Aldridge</u> (Por) 35,601; <u>Tyson Chandler</u> (NO) 32,595; <u>Andris Biedrins</u> (GS) 29,026. <font size="1" color="#cc6600">[READ]</font></div></p> Wow. Kidd's in? And Wade's in?</p> Oh well, glad to see Melo and Dwight finally in there. Both definitely deserve it.</p> Shaq's not in. Surprised?</p>
Shaq and Kidd are the two surprises to me. I was assuming Shaq would get it just because of who is is...and I didn't think Kidd would get the votes for it.</p>
I'm surprised Yi doesn't have more votes.</p> The East might actually win this year with KG on their squad.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GM3)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I'm going to start voting my ass off for Ray Allen.</p> </div></p> </p> While you're at it, vote your ass off for Nash and Camby.</p>
