NBA

Fans Provide Yet Another Reason Why They Shouldn’t Decide NBA All-Star Game Starters

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By @b2brennan

Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant

Brian Spurlock- USA TODAY Sports

The NBA All-Star game is all about entertainment, and in order for the league to get maximum viewership from its fans, they need to include them somehow. Because of this, the fans have the say in picking the starters for the game. I am glad they only pick the starters and the reserves are left to the experts, but I believe the fans should not have a say at all.

The starters were unveiled last night and look as follows:

Eastern Conference: Kyle Lowry, John Wall, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol

Western Conference: Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol

I could argue about a couple players who should be ahead of Anthony, but for now I’m going to stick with the fact that it is an absolute joke that Bryant and Griffin are starters this year. The reason they are in is because they are two of the most popular players among fans. The reason they shouldn’t be in is they are two of the most overrated players in the league right now.

Let’s start with Bryant. He’s having his worst season (excluding last year’s six-game tenure) since he was named a starter on the Los Angeles Lakers in 1998. He is shooting a disgusting 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range. Did I mention he’s on one of the worst teams in the NBA? Yes I know he probably won’t play because of his torn rotator cuff, so it’s easy to vote him in an then take him off, but that is exactly what is wrong with awards nowadays.

Players should receive individual awards based on what they deserve, not based on who the fans want to see get it. James Harden, who will make the All-Star team as a reserve, should have been the sure pick as the starter. Now I am not a fan of Harden by any means (mainly due to his habitual flopping), but he leads the league in scoring and is on a playoff team. It’s ridiculous that he is not the starter.

Now let me move over to Griffin. He is a high-flying dunker which is what the fans love, but his numbers, which are what matter, are not nearly as good as two players, either of whom should take his place as a starter — LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMarcus Cousins. Griffin is averaging less points, rebounds and blocks per game than both and is nowhere near either in double-doubles (Griffin 12, Aldridge 20, Cousins 25). He is a pathetic defender and doesn’t deserve to be in the starting lineup. And with the amount of talent in the Western Conference, I honestly don’t even know if he deserves to be on the team at all.

Long story short, Griffin and Bryant being named All-Star starters is a joke. Fan voting is becoming defined by getting players who don’t deserve it in the game. If there ever is a protest on Adam Silver‘s door about this, I’ll be the first in line.

Brian Brennan is a Portland Trail Blazers writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @b2brennan.

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