All star voting

[Lurker]

Man, this "fan" voting is getting completely out of hand.  This is becoming worse than the BCS rankings.

McGrady, who has not played 1 minute this year and 35 games last year, is SECOND among guards in the west and would be a starter!  He has more votes than Paul, Nash, Billups, Roy, DWill, Dallas' guards or San Antonio's guards.

Iverson is sixth in the East despite playing only 5 games and "leading" Philly towards a better lottery pick.  And this is despite being listed on the ballot as a western player because of signing with Memphis.  He would also be 6th in the west voting for guards...ahead of many of the guards listed above.

At least McGrady can be explained as part of the "China Effect".  Ariza and Scola are 6th and 8th in voting for forwards.  Aaron Brooks is 7th among guards.  I guess they at least realize that Yao isn't playing because he doesn't appear in the top 12 western centers.

And these are just the two worse offenses.

[Reality]

Man, this "fan" voting is getting completely out of hand.  This is becoming worse than the BCS rankings.

That must mean the leading vote getter is?

[jemagee]

I'm told that fan voting isn't a popularity contest and they usually get it right.

As for the previous center debate, Amare was in the lead.

[westkoast]

I'll have to look it up somehow but I wonder just how much NBA is actually played in China.  I wouldn't imagine they play many games outside of the big match ups (Lakers/Cavs type games) and of course the Rockets.  Should their votes be weighed differently?  If they only know of the Rockets and Kobe how is it fair that every single year guys like Yao and McGrady get on the all-star team even though they don't really deserve it compared to others?

Jem, who do you feel is more popular, Bynum or Stoudamire? 

[jemagee]

Jem, who do you feel is more popular, Bynum or Stoudamire? 

Outside of Los Angeles?  Stoudamire, more popular and more 'known' to the general public.

[westkoast]

Jem, who do you feel is more popular, Bynum or Stoudamire? 

Outside of Los Angeles?  Stoudamire, more popular and more 'known' to the general public.

Ok so if Stoudamire does not get the starting spot would that change your idea that all positions are based on popularity and not numbers?

[jemagee]

Ok so if Stoudamire does not get the starting spot would that change your idea that all positions are based on popularity and not numbers?

Who is the second leading vote getter in guards in the west again?

[rickortreat]

People who have voted already aren't doing it based on play in the current season. We've only gone a quarter of the way through, so these votes are from loyal fans who will vote for their player regardless. You may not think Iverson deserves to be the Sixth most popular guard, but his fans will disagree with you. Seriously, what's the big deal about 6th anyway? That won't make the team!

T-Mac's standing is even worse, as he hasn't even played. The Chinese need to start watching other NBA teams and picking teams based on something other than if a Chinese national is on the squad.  (Though it would be nice if they had a 6'7" forward who could do a nice imitation of MJ)

The more important point is the players who won't get it, because of blind fan votes.  Players who are marginal will get squeezed out. I don't care if Iverson gets in or not, but if that keeps Andre Iguodala from getting a chance that would bother me.

[westkoast]

Ok so if Stoudamire does not get the starting spot would that change your idea that all positions are based on popularity and not numbers?

Who is the second leading vote getter in guards in the west again?

Again, just because it happens at the guard position doesn't mean for every single selection it happens that way.

The guard position itself, is the most popular position among fans, so it's no surprise that it would be a 'popularity' contest.

[ziggy]

Ok so if Stoudamire does not get the starting spot would that change your idea that all positions are based on popularity and not numbers?

Who is the second leading vote getter in guards in the west again?

Again, just because it happens at the guard position doesn't mean for every single selection it happens that way.

The guard position itself, is the most popular position among fans, so it's no surprise that it would be a 'popularity' contest.

I believe it is an urban myth that the all-star fan voting is all about popularity, and that there are a bunch of undeserving players who have been voted in by the fans.  There have been a couple of examples (Yao's first couple of elections over Shaq, and an occasional hurt player), but the overwhelming majority of the fans picks are solid.  You might quibble over Duncan and Garnett getting selected over Dirk, but in my mind that isn't a big deal, the difference between those 3 is so minor that arguing over it is a waste of breath.  McGrady this year?  He will not get elected, no way no how.

So here are the last 10 years of all star game rosters, with starters and reserves.  Have at it, and make a case for the fans blowing it.  It is all organized nice and neat, and easy to figure it out.  It doesn't happen very often.  I didn't every instance of a hurt player getting elected, but I tried to find some, there may be more.

Year   Starter/reserve   Conf    Kobe Bryant   2009   Starter   West    Chris Paul   2009   Starter   West    Amare Stoudemire   2009   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2009   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2009   Starter   West    Brandon Roy   2009   Reserve   West    Tony Parker   2009   Reserve   West    Chauncey Billups   2009   Reserve   West    Pau Gasol   2009   Reserve   West    David West   2009   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2009   Reserve   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2009   Reserve   West                 Dwight Howard   2009   Starter   East    LeBron James   2009   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2009   Starter   East    Kevin Garnett   2009   Starter   East    Allen Iverson   2009   Starter   East    Joe Johnson   2009   Reserve   East    Rashard Lewis   2009   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2009   Reserve   East    Ray Allen   2009   Reserve   East    Devin Harris   2009   Reserve   East    Mo Williams   2009   Reserve   East    Danny Granger   2009   Reserve   East                 Dwight Howard   2008   Starter   East    LeBron James   2008   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2008   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2008   Starter   East    Chris Bosh   2008   Starter   East    Ray Allen   2008   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2008   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2008   Reserve   East    Rasheed Wallace   2008   Reserve   East    Joe Johnson   2008   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2008   Reserve   East    Antawn Jamison   2008   Reserve   East                 Tim Duncan   2008   Starter   West    Carmelo Anthony   2008   Starter   West    Allen Iverson   2008   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2008   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2008   Starter   West    Brandon Roy   2008   Reserve   West    Chris Paul   2008   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2008   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2008   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2008   Reserve   West    Carlos Boozer   2008   Reserve   West    David West   2008   Reserve   West                 Kobe Bryant   2007   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2007   Starter   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2007   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2007   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2007   Starter   West    Carmelo Anthony   2007   Reserve   West    Tony Parker   2007   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2007   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2007   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2007   Reserve   West    Josh Howard   2007   Reserve   West    Mehmet Okur   2007   Reserve   West                 LeBron James   2007   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2007   Starter   East    Chris Bosh   2007   Starter   East    Gilbert Arenas   2007   Starter   East    Shaquille O'Neal   2007   Starter   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2007   Reserve   East    Dwight Howard   2007   Reserve   East    Joe Johnson   2007   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2007   Reserve   East    Vince Carter   2007   Reserve   East    Caron Butler   2007   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2007   Reserve   East                 Dwyane Wade   2006   Starter   East    LeBron James   2006   Starter   East    Allen Iverson   2006   Starter   East    Shaquille O'Neal   2006   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2006   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2006   Reserve   East    Rasheed Wallace   2006   Reserve   East    Chris Bosh   2006   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2006   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2006   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2006   Reserve   East    Gilbert Arenas   2006   Reserve   East                 Steve Nash   2006   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2006   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2006   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2006   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2006   Starter   West    Tony Parker   2006   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2006   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2006   Reserve   West    Elton Brand   2006   Reserve   West    Kevin Garnett   2006   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2006   Reserve   West    Pau Gasol   2006   Reserve   West                 Allen Iverson   2005   Starter   East    LeBron James   2005   Starter   East    Shaquille O'Neal   2005   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2005   Starter   East    Grant Hill   2005   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2005   Reserve   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2005   Reserve   East    Zydrunas Ilgauskas   2005   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2005   Reserve   East    Gilbert Arenas   2005   Reserve   East    Ben Wallace   2005   Reserve   East    Antawn Jamison   2005   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2005   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2005   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2005   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2005   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2005   Starter   West    Ray Allen   2005   Reserve   West    Manu Ginobili   2005   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2005   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2005   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2005   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2005   Reserve   West    Rashard Lewis   2005   Reserve   West                 Kobe Bryant   2004   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2004   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2004   Starter   West    Steve Francis   2004   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2004   Starter   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2004   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2004   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2004   Reserve   West    Sam Cassell   2004   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2004   Reserve   West    Andrei Kirilenko   2004   Reserve   West    Brad Miller   2004   Reserve   West                 Jermaine O'Neal   2004   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2004   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2004   Starter   East    Allen Iverson   2004   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2004   Starter   East    Kenyon Martin   2004   Reserve   East    Jason Kidd   2004   Reserve   East    Jamaal Magloire   2004   Reserve   East    Ron Artest   2004   Reserve   East    Baron Davis   2004   Reserve   East    Michael Redd   2004   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2004   Reserve   East                 Kevin Garnett   2003   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2003   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2003   Starter   West    Steve Francis   2003   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2003   Starter   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2003   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2003   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2003   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2003   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2003   Reserve   West    Stephon Marbury   2003   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2003   Reserve   West                 Allen Iverson   2003   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2003   Starter   East    Michael Jordan   2003   Starter   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2003   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2003   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2003   Reserve   East    Vince Carter   2003   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2003   Reserve   East    Brad Miller   2003   Reserve   East    Jamal Mashburn   2003   Reserve   East    Antoine Walker   2003   Reserve   East    Zydrunas Ilgauskas   2003   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2002   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2002   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2002   Starter   West    Chris Webber   2002   Starter   West    Steve Francis   2002   Starter   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2002   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2002   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2002   Reserve   West    Elton Brand   2002   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2002   Reserve   West    Wally Szczerbiak   2002   Reserve   West                 Allen Iverson   2002   Starter   East    Michael Jordan   2002   Starter   East    Dikembe Mutombo   2002   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2002   Starter   East    Antoine Walker   2002   Starter   East    Ray Allen   2002   Reserve   East    Tracy McGrady   2002   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2002   Reserve   East    Shareef Abdur-Rahim   2002   Reserve   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2002   Reserve   East    Alonzo Mourning   2002   Reserve   East    Baron Davis   2002   Reserve   East                 Allen Iverson   2001   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2001   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2001   Starter   East    Antonio Davis   2001   Starter   East   Alonzo Mourning was hurt Anthony Mason   2001   Starter   East   Grant Hill was hurt Dikembe Mutombo   2001   Reserve   East    Ray Allen   2001   Reserve   East    Stephon Marbury   2001   Reserve   East    Glenn Robinson   2001   Reserve   East    Latrell Sprewell   2001   Reserve   East    Jerry Stackhouse   2001   Reserve   East    Allan Houston   2001   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2001   Starter   West    Jason Kidd   2001   Starter   West    Chris Webber   2001   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2001   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2001   Starter   West    Rasheed Wallace   2001   Reserve   West    Michael Finley   2001   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2001   Reserve   West    Antonio McDyess   2001   Reserve   West    David Robinson   2001   Reserve   West    Vlade Divac   2001   Reserve   West    Karl Malone   2001   Reserve   West

[WayOutWest]

Just from memory:

Year   Starter/reserve   Conf    Kobe Bryant   2009   Starter   West    Chris Paul   2009   Starter   West    Amare Stoudemire   2009   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2009   Starter   West    HELL NO! Yao Ming   2009   Starter   West    Brandon Roy   2009   Reserve   West    Tony Parker   2009   Reserve   West    Chauncey Billups   2009   Reserve   West    Pau Gasol   2009   Reserve   West    David West   2009   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2009   Reserve   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2009   Reserve   West                 Dwight Howard   2009   Starter   East    LeBron James   2009   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2009   Starter   East    Kevin Garnett   2009   Starter   East    HELL NO! Allen Iverson   2009   Starter   East    Joe Johnson   2009   Reserve   East    Rashard Lewis   2009   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2009   Reserve   East    Ray Allen   2009   Reserve   East    Devin Harris   2009   Reserve   East    Mo Williams   2009   Reserve   East    Danny Granger   2009   Reserve   East                 Dwight Howard   2008   Starter   East    LeBron James   2008   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2008   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2008   Starter   East    Chris Bosh   2008   Starter   East    Ray Allen   2008   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2008   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2008   Reserve   East    Rasheed Wallace   2008   Reserve   East    Joe Johnson   2008   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2008   Reserve   East    Antawn Jamison   2008   Reserve   East                 Tim Duncan   2008   Starter   West    Carmelo Anthony   2008   Starter   West    Allen Iverson   2008   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2008   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2008   Starter   West    Brandon Roy   2008   Reserve   West    Chris Paul   2008   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2008   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2008   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2008   Reserve   West    Carlos Boozer   2008   Reserve   West    David West   2008   Reserve   West                 Kobe Bryant   2007   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2007   Starter   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2007   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2007   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2007   Starter   West    Carmelo Anthony   2007   Reserve   West    Tony Parker   2007   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2007   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2007   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2007   Reserve   West    Josh Howard   2007   Reserve   West    Mehmet Okur   2007   Reserve   West                 LeBron James   2007   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2007   Starter   East    Chris Bosh   2007   Starter   East    Gilbert Arenas   2007   Starter   East    HELL NO! Shaquille O'Neal   2007   Starter   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2007   Reserve   East    Dwight Howard   2007   Reserve   East    Joe Johnson   2007   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2007   Reserve   East    Vince Carter   2007   Reserve   East    Caron Butler   2007   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2007   Reserve   East                 Dwyane Wade   2006   Starter   East    LeBron James   2006   Starter   East    Allen Iverson   2006   Starter   East    Shaquille O'Neal   2006   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2006   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2006   Reserve   East    Rasheed Wallace   2006   Reserve   East    Chris Bosh   2006   Reserve   East    Chauncey Billups   2006   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2006   Reserve   East    Richard Hamilton   2006   Reserve   East    Gilbert Arenas   2006   Reserve   East                 Steve Nash   2006   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2006   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2006   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2006   Starter   West    Yao Ming   2006   Starter   West    Tony Parker   2006   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2006   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2006   Reserve   West    Elton Brand   2006   Reserve   West    Kevin Garnett   2006   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2006   Reserve   West    Pau Gasol   2006   Reserve   West                 HELL NO! Allen Iverson   2005   Starter   East    LeBron James   2005   Starter   East    Shaquille O'Neal   2005   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2005   Starter   East    Grant Hill   2005   Starter   East    Dwyane Wade   2005   Reserve   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2005   Reserve   East    Zydrunas Ilgauskas   2005   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2005   Reserve   East    Gilbert Arenas   2005   Reserve   East    Ben Wallace   2005   Reserve   East    Antawn Jamison   2005   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2005   Starter   West    Tracy McGrady   2005   Starter   West    HELL NO! Yao Ming   2005   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2005   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2005   Starter   West    Ray Allen   2005   Reserve   West    Manu Ginobili   2005   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2005   Reserve   West    Amare Stoudemire   2005   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2005   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2005   Reserve   West    Rashard Lewis   2005   Reserve   West                 Kobe Bryant   2004   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2004   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2004   Starter   West    HELL NO! Steve Francis   2004   Starter   West    HELL NO! Yao Ming   2004   Starter   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2004   Reserve   West    Ray Allen   2004   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2004   Reserve   West    Sam Cassell   2004   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2004   Reserve   West    Andrei Kirilenko   2004   Reserve   West    Brad Miller   2004   Reserve   West                 Jermaine O'Neal   2004   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2004   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2004   Starter   East    Allen Iverson   2004   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2004   Starter   East    Kenyon Martin   2004   Reserve   East    Jason Kidd   2004   Reserve   East    Jamaal Magloire   2004   Reserve   East    Ron Artest   2004   Reserve   East    Baron Davis   2004   Reserve   East    Michael Redd   2004   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2004   Reserve   East                 Kevin Garnett   2003   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2003   Starter   West    Kobe Bryant   2003   Starter   West    HELL NO! Steve Francis   2003   Starter   West    HELL NO! Yao Ming   2003   Starter   West    Shaquille O'Neal   2003   Reserve   West    Shawn Marion   2003   Reserve   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2003   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2003   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2003   Reserve   West    Stephon Marbury   2003   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2003   Reserve   West                 Allen Iverson   2003   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2003   Starter   East    HELL NO! Michael Jordan   2003   Starter   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2003   Starter   East    Ben Wallace   2003   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2003   Reserve   East    Vince Carter   2003   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2003   Reserve   East    Brad Miller   2003   Reserve   East    Jamal Mashburn   2003   Reserve   East    Antoine Walker   2003   Reserve   East    Zydrunas Ilgauskas   2003   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2002   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2002   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2002   Starter   West    Chris Webber   2002   Starter   West    HELL NO! Steve Francis   2002   Starter   West    Dirk Nowitzki   2002   Reserve   West    Steve Nash   2002   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2002   Reserve   West    Elton Brand   2002   Reserve   West    Peja Stojakovic   2002   Reserve   West    Wally Szczerbiak   2002   Reserve   West                 Allen Iverson   2002   Starter   East    HELL NO! Michael Jordan   2002   Starter   East    Dikembe Mutombo   2002   Starter   East    Jason Kidd   2002   Starter   East    HELL NO! Antoine Walker   2002   Starter   East    Ray Allen   2002   Reserve   East    Tracy McGrady   2002   Reserve   East    Paul Pierce   2002   Reserve   East    Shareef Abdur-Rahim   2002   Reserve   East    Jermaine O'Neal   2002   Reserve   East    Alonzo Mourning   2002   Reserve   East    Baron Davis   2002   Reserve   East                 Allen Iverson   2001   Starter   East    Vince Carter   2001   Starter   East    Tracy McGrady   2001   Starter   East    Antonio Davis   2001   Starter   East   Alonzo Mourning was hurt HELL NO! Anthony Mason   2001   Starter   East   Grant Hill was hurt Dikembe Mutombo   2001   Reserve   East    Ray Allen   2001   Reserve   East    Stephon Marbury   2001   Reserve   East    Glenn Robinson   2001   Reserve   East    Latrell Sprewell   2001   Reserve   East    Jerry Stackhouse   2001   Reserve   East    Allan Houston   2001   Reserve   East                 Kobe Bryant   2001   Starter   West    Jason Kidd   2001   Starter   West    Chris Webber   2001   Starter   West    Tim Duncan   2001   Starter   West    Kevin Garnett   2001   Starter   West    Rasheed Wallace   2001   Reserve   West    Michael Finley   2001   Reserve   West    Gary Payton   2001   Reserve   West    Antonio McDyess   2001   Reserve   West    David Robinson   2001   Reserve   West    Vlade Divac   2001   Reserve   West    Karl Malone   2001   Reserve   West

[WayOutWest]

Earlier this year some Laker fans were talking about Bynum FINALLY becomming an All-Star.  LOL@ those guys.  Bynum was a total useless punk today vs Shaq.  Shaq is a shell of his former dominant self and he still owned Bynum.  Bynum is a soft minded prIma-donna, he's most def a DONNA.  No sack, no hunger, no hustle.  Kid is a big dummy, he complains about his touches and talks about becomming more of a scorer.  What a waste.  Marc Gasol should get into the All-Star game ahead of Bynum at C!

[ziggy]

HELL NO! Yao Ming   2009   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Allen Iverson   2009   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Shaquille O'Neal   2007   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Allen Iverson   2005   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Yao Ming   2005   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Steve Francis   2004   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Yao Ming   2004   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Steve Francis   2003   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Yao Ming   2003   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Michael Jordan   2003   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Steve Francis   2002   Starter   West   
HELL NO! Michael Jordan   2002   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Antoine Walker   2002   Starter   East   
HELL NO! Anthony Mason   2001   Starter   East   Grant Hill was hurt

Good on ya WOW for giving it a shot.  You came up with 14%.

Yao Ming   2009   Starter   West     Yao was 20-10 last year.  Now I could argue for starting Duncan, Gasol or Amare at C and have Dirk as PF, but all 4 of those are PF according to NBA rules, so Yao was the most deserving C.  Yao was better than Shaq.

Allen Iverson   2005   Starter   East   In 04-05 AI lead league in scoring at 30.7 ppg.  He earned his start.

Yao Ming   2005   Starter   West     Yao was 18-8 that year.  Same thing as 2009, except that Shaq was in the East that year, making it even easier to justify Yao.

Steve Francis   2004   Starter   West    Was a down year for PG in the west.  The only other PG to make the AS team that year was Cassell, who was probably a little more deserving, but no other PG was better than Francis.

Steve Francis   2003   Starter   West    This was Francis' best season 21.0 ppg, 6.2 rbs, 6.2 ast, and 1.7 stls.  Marbury and Payton had good years as well, but in totality neither was clearly better than Francis.

Anthony Mason   2001   Starter   East   Grant Hill was hurt  Mason was selected by the coaches because Grant Hill was hurt.  Hill was out the entire year so he didn't deserve it either.

So one could make the argument that about 1 in 10 all-stars is probably not deserving based upon the fan vote.  So the fans get it right 90% of the time.  So Jemagee do you agree, or is this all just a joke and nothing more than a popularity contest?

[WayOutWest]

Yao Ming   2009   Starter   West     Yao was 20-10 last year.  Now I could argue for starting Duncan, Gasol or Amare at C and have Dirk as PF, but all 4 of those are PF according to NBA rules, so Yao was the most deserving C.  Yao was better than Shaq.

My bad, I thought that was Yao's votes this year.....most def he was the best center in the West last year.