NBA All Starts Game

[wiseman]

...Finally, a place where to talk about NBA.

Hi guys I found this interesting article about the NBA All Starts game, take a look and let disscuss about it.

Enjoy ....

The NBA all-star starters were announced last week, and for the most part, the fans did their job (other than the selection of Shaquille O'Neal, who has scored fewer points than Royal Ivey this season). Now it's up to the league's coaches to fill in the blanks, as they vote on the seven available reserve spots in each conference. The results will be announced Thursday on TNT at 7 p.m. ET.

Inevitably, there will be controversy, with deserving players left off the roster due to a numbers crunch. Players, fans and coaches will be upset and the debates will ensue. Allow me to be the first to stir the pot.

In the Western Conference, a few of the slots are simple. Steve Nash is a no-brainer at one guard, as is Dirk Nowitzki at the forward position. But given the format – the coaches must select two guards, two forwards, a center and two wild cards – the picks begin to get dicey.

As a general rule, I believe that playing for a winning team should be a major part of the selection criteria. That's why I'll go with Tony Parker at the other guard spot alongside Nash. The San Antonio Spurs have the third-best record in the NBA, and Parker is a big reason why.


Nowitzki's running mate in Dallas, Josh Howard, has had a phenomenal season and is my choice for the other forward spot. The Mavericks have dominated the league all season and anything less than two all-stars would be a crime.

The same holds true for the Phoenix Suns, and that's why Amare Stoudemire is my reserve center. His terrific bounce-back season is a prime reason why the Suns have scorched the league since a 1-5 start.

As for the West's wild cards, one was simple: Shawn Marion. Phoenix's do-it-all forward is having another great season and deserves a place on the team. The other slot would have been easy because Carlos Boozer has been dominant for the Utah Jazz, who have enjoyed a fantastic campaign. But with Boozer out four to six weeks with a hairline fracture in his left leg, he'll be unable to play in Las Vegas in two weeks.

With so many deserving players waiting in the wings, I decided on Elton Brand. The Los Angeles Clippers have been mired around the .500 mark all season, but it's not because of Brand, who has been his usual consistently brilliant self.

I can hear the complaints and the typing of angry emails already. What about Carmelo Anthony? (He missed too many games with the suspension.) Zach Randolph, Kevin Martin and Ray Allen? (They play for bad teams.) Deron Williams? (Almost). Chris Paul? (Injured). And most glaringly, what about Allen Iverson? That was the toughest omission, and I'm solving that one by naming him as my replacement for injured starter Yao Ming.

In the East, my reserve guards are Jason Kidd and Ben Gordon. Kidd is playing the best basketball of his career, almost averaging a triple-double (15 points, eight rebounds, nine assists) for the New Jersey Nets. Gordon has been almost unguardable for the Chicago Bulls, who are one of the best teams in the conference.

The forwards are Jermaine O'Neal and Caron Butler. O'Neal wasn't a lock, but he's still one of the top post-up forwards in the league. Butler has been underrated all season, but his scoring and toughness have helped turn the Washington Wizards into one of the East's top teams.

The backup center is the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard, who is still scratching the surface but has been dominant, particularly at the defensive end. Howard beats out Charlotte's Emeka Okafor, who is playing outstanding ball for the suddenly respectable Bobcats.

The two wild-card selections were terribly difficult, with a slew of talented wing players all very deserving. Ultimately, I chose Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons. They beat out Michael Redd, Joe Johnson and Vince Carter based on one factor: winning.

Redd and Johnson are having amazing seasons, but their teams (Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks, respectively) are really struggling. Carter was the toughest choice because he has played really well, particularly of late, but I couldn't get over the fact that the Nets have been stuck below .500 for most of the season. Billups and Hamilton are the key players on a Detroit team that has been at or near the top of the Eastern Conference all season long.

There you have it – my all-star reserves. Bring on the complaints.

[thegambler]

Hi wiseman,

Very interesting article, I think sometimes the ballot is not fair enough, cause some players from small cities, maybe won't get all vots they deserve.

Anyway, could you tell me when exactly is the NBA AllStarts Game?? Do you know which station is going to bradcast it?? Where are they playing??

Thanks

Keep posting about basketball!!!!

[thepichi]

Here are the final rosters for the NBA All Stars game, this weekend in Las Vegas.

2007 EASTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS Roster

0 *Gilbert Arenas (Washington) G
1 Chauncey Billups (Detroit) G
4 *Chris Bosh (Toronto) F
3 Caron Butler (Washington) F
15 Vince Carter (New Jersey) G-F
32 Richard Hamilton (Detroit) G-F
12 Dwight Howard (Orlando) C-F
23 *LeBron James (Cleveland) F
5 Jason Kidd (New Jersey) G
7 Jermaine O'Neal (Indiana) F-C
32 *Shaquille O'Neal (Miami) C
3 *Dwyane Wade (Miami) G

Head Coach: Eddie Jordan (Washington)

2007 WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STARS Roster

5 Carlos Boozer (Utah) F-C
24 *Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) G
21 *Tim Duncan (San Antonio) F
21 *Kevin Garnett (Minnesota) F
3 Allen Iverson (Denver) G
31 Shawn Marion (Phoenix) F
1 *Tracy McGrady (Houston) G
13 Steve Nash (Phoenix) G
41 Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) F
9 Tony Parker (San Antonio) G
1 Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix) C
11 *Yao Ming (Houston) C

Head Coach: Mike D'Antoni (Phoenix)

[thepichi]

More rosters from the All Stars weekend.

T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam

All Stars Rookie Team Roster

Andrea Bargnani Toronto F 7-0 250 Italy
Jordan Farmar L.A. Lakers G 6-2 180 UCLA
Randy Foye Minnesota G 6-4 213 Villanova
Jorge Garbajosa Toronto C 6-9 245 Spain
Rudy Gay Memphis G 6-9 220 Connecticut
Paul Millsap Utah F 6-8 258 Louisiana Tech
Adam Morrison Charlotte F 6-8 205 Gonzaga
Brandon Roy Portland G 6-6 229 Washington
Marcus Williams New Jersey G 6-3 205 Connecticut


All Stars Sophomore Team Roster

Andrew Bogut Milwaukee F 7-0 245 Utah
Andrew Bynum L.A. Lakers C 7-0 275 St. Joseph HS
Monta Ellis Golden State G 6-3 177 Lanier HS
Raymond Felton Charlotte G 6-1 198 North Carolina
Danny Granger Indiana F 6-9 228 New Mexico
Luther Head Houston G 6-3 185 Illinois
David Lee New York F 6-9 249 Florida
Chris Paul NOK G 6-0 175 Wake Forest
Deron Williams Utah G 6-3 210 Illinois


Sprite Slam Dunk

Nate Robinson New York
Gerald Green Boston
Dwight Howard Orlando
Tyrus Thomas Chicago

PlayStation Skills Challenge

Kobe Bryant L.A. Lakers G
LeBron James Cleveland F
Steve Nash Phoenix G
Dwyane Wade Miami G

Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout

TBA

Haier Shooting Stars

TBA

[thegambler]

Here are the results of the past NBA All stars weekend at Las Vegas.

Gerald Green Is Slam Dunk Champ
Boston's Gerald Green had the night's three top-rated slams, including a perfect 50 on his final flush, to dethrone defending champion Nate Robinson and become the 2007 Sprite Slam Dunk champion. On the last jam, Green windmilled while hurdling an All-Star table. In the first round, Green caught a Paul Pierce lob off the side of the backboard and flushed it home for a 48, and then covered his eyes while jumping over Robinson himself for a 47. His first-round total of 95 edged Robinson (90), Orlando's Dwight Howard (85) and Chicago's Tyrus Thomas (80).

Jason Kapono is Three-Point Champ
Jason Kapono tied Mark Price's final-round record with 24 points and outlasted Gilbert Arenas on his way to the 2007 Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout title. Arenas notched a first-round high of 23 points and had 17 in the finals. Defending champion Dirk Nowitzki had 20 in round one and nine in the finals, and Kapono narrowly made the finals with a first-round score of 19. Mike Miller (18), Damon Jones (15) and Jason Terry (10) were eliminated early.

Wade Repeats as Skills Champ
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade took home the PlayStation Skills Challenge title for the second straight year, posting a final-round time of 26.4 seconds to best Los Angeles' Kobe Bryant. Wade's first-round time of 31.3 seconds was second only to Bryant (29.8) and eliminated Cleveland's LeBron James (35.4) and New Orleans/Oklahoma City's Chris Paul (39.6).

Jackpot: West Dominates All-Star 2007
The Western Conference set All-Star records with 69 field goals and 52 assists on its way to an emphatic 153-132 win over the East stars at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday. Kobe Bryant racked up 31 points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals to take home MVP honors. Amare Stoudemire added 29 points and nine boards and Carmelo Anthony had 20 and nine for the West. 2006 All-Star MVP LeBron James led the Eastern Conference with 28 points, six rebounds and six assists and Dwight Howard tallied 20 points and 12 boards.

[casanova]

I am following the game of Shaquille O'Neal this season and am really eager to see how he finishes this year.
Besides these i think the All start games has some really conflict in ranking the stars as many potential players are still left out