All-Star Team Includes Melo
Fan voting is ridiculous. Anyone who watched Yao Ming and Shaquille O’Neal rock it out in the All-Star’s starting five when they were playing poorly or hurt, realizes that. It’s a big popularity contest, with little regard to how players are actually preforming at the time. This is true in all fan voting. The Ottawa Senators occupied four of the NHL’s six All-Star voting spots because their fans wanted to see the players in their home city.
The NBA All-Star Game is probably the most entertaining these days. While it seems absurd that the NBA is having an All-Star Game based on a little over a month’s worth of a season, the superstars fit perfectly into such a showcase. Since so few NBA teams play defense anyway, it allows for a display talent. However, baseball probably has the best All-Star Game from a purely competitive standpoint.
This year’s fan voting made sense for the most part. In the West, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, and Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum made the team. I think Kevin Love should have gotten in instead of Andrew Bynum, but apparently he is listed as Minnesota’s Power Forward. The fearful Darko Milicic is dominating the center of Wolves’ territory.
The East side has Chicago guard Derrick Rose, Magic center Dwight Howard, Miamis’ Lebron and Dwayne Wade and of course, New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony. This guy represents an 8-14 team.
First of all, why are both Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony listed as Shooting Forwards? If Kevin Love cannot have the Center spot, why should Carmelo be given special consideration? I understand that Chris Bosh would give Miami three spots, but he is having a better year than Carmelo.
Anthony, the scoring machine, is averaging fewer points per game and a lower shooting percentage than his career averages. He also is grabbing fewer rebounds and dishing out fewer assists, making small numbers even smaller. Should he and his team’s poor play be rewarded because he is still in the top five in scoring?
I understand that the East has a lack of star forwards this early in the season, but they should reward a guy who is working hard to keep his team competitive. For example, Andre Iguodala’s Philadelphia 76ers are tied for second in the East with the Heat. He is averaging 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5 assists.
There are other worthy players too. Danny Granger, who leads the fourth place Indiana Pacers with 18.3 points per game; they sit two games behind Chicago for first in the East. Reward Josh Smith’s line of 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. You could also make a case for Carlos Boozer, or even Cleveland’s Anderson Varejo who is averaging a double-double per game.
Instead of seeing someone who is making his team better, we will see the always scoring Carmelo Anthony, who only one point against the Charlotte Bobcats last week.
The NBA should let fans vote for the top player in each conference and end it there. I have never heard of a fan watching the All-Star game because they voted for someone who is on the roster. It is a gimmick that does much more harm than good to the honor of making the team. Even after Melo scores 30 points under the veil of the All-Star Game, the Knicks are still six games below .500.
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