http://www.nba.com/news/allstar_060119.html

(Skip to the bottom for a list, if you don't care about all the blah blah blah)


Yao, Bryant Lead 2006 NBA All-Star Balloting Fourth Returns


NEW YORK, Jan. 19 -- Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference, while Shaquille O’Neal of the Miami Heat and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference in votes received after the fourth returns of the 2006 NBA All-Star Balloting program.

Through the Balloting program, which concludes this Sunday, Jan. 22, NBA fans from around the globe are responsible for voting in the starters for the 55th NBA All-Star Game, which will be played in Houston on Sunday, Feb. 19. The game will be broadcast live on TNT, Rogers Sportsnet, ESPN Radio and audio in several languages on NBA.com at 7 p.m. (CST). The All-Star starters will be unveiled on Thursday, Feb. 2, prior to the TNT doubleheader featuring Cleveland at Miami at 8:00 p.m. ET followed by San Antonio visiting Golden State at 10:30 p.m. ET.

TOP 10 VOTE-GETTERS:

Yao Ming (Hou.) 1,990,303
Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,891,204
S. O'Neal (Mia) 1,840,207
LeBron James (Cle.) 1,827,008
Allen Iverson (Phi) 1,743,700
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,571,867
Steve Nash (Phx.) 1,515,474
Tim Duncan (S.A.), 1,269,683
Dwyane Wade (Mia.) 1,256,071
Kevin Garnett (Min.), 1,203,726


Yao (1,990,303) and Bryant (1,891,204) lead all players in votes received. The Houston Rockets’ Tracy McGrady leads all Western Conference forwards with 1,571,867 votes, followed by the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (1,269,683). Bryant and the Phoenix Suns’ Steve Nash (1,515,474), the 2004-05 NBA Most Valuable Player, lead all Western Conference guards.

O’Neal leads all Eastern Conference players with 1,840,207 votes, followed by James (1,827,008). The Indiana Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal (1,067,619) is second to James among Eastern Conference forwards. The MVP of the 2005 NBA All-Star Game, Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, leads Eastern Conference guards (1,743,700), followed by the Heat’s Dwyane Wade (1,256,071).

Fans have the opportunity to vote in NBA arenas, in 19 languages on the NBA.com Network, in approximately 130 Loews Cineplex Entertainment movie theaters in the United States and through mobile phones at t-zones using T-Mobile service or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. This year’s All-Star Balloting partners include T-Mobile, AOL, NBA 2K6, Xbox and retailers GameStop & Electronics Boutique.

NBA All-Star 2006 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world’s greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community enhancing activities and fan festivals.

Following the completion of fan voting on Jan. 22 and the starting line-up announcement on Feb. 2, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Feb. 9, on TNT. Detroit’s Flip Saunders and his coaching staff earned the honor of coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars as the Pistons (31-5, .861) last night clinched the best possible winning percentage in the Eastern Conference through games of Feb. 5.

The leaders of both the Eastern and Western Conference players for the fourth returns of the 2006 NBA All-Star voting program are attached:


2006 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING:

EAST FORWARDS
LeBron James (Cle.) 1,827,008
Jermaine O’Neal (Ind.) 1,067,619
Rasheed Wallace (Det.) 654,391 Chancey:"Uh Oh"
Chris Webber (Phi.) 490,928
Ron Artest (Ind.) 403,634
Grant Hill (Orl.) 392,219
Paul Pierce (Bos.) 349,539
Tayshaun Prince (Det.) 346,721
Chris Bosh (Tor.) 265,322
Dwight Howard (Orl.) 244,687

EAST GUARDS
Allen Iverson (Phi.) 1,743,700
Dwyane Wade (Mia.) 1,256,071
Vince Carter (N.J.) 1,065,464
Chauncey Billups (Det.) 519,936
Jason Kidd (N.J.) 484,711
Steve Francis (Orl.) 368,463
Richard Hamilton (Det.) 349,049
Gilbert Arenas (Was.) 326,325
T.J. Ford (Mil.) 150,705
Gary Payton (Mia.) 132,028

EAST CENTERS
Shaquille O'Neal (Mia.) 1,840,207
Ben Wallace (Det.) 970,379
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Cle.) 191,679
Andrew Bogut (Mil.) 145,101
Nenad Krstic (N.J.) 110,970
Samuel Dalembert (Phi.) 92,102
Jamaal Magloire (Mil.) 80,183*
Eddy Curry (N.Y.) 77,019
Jeff Foster (Ind.) 73,439
Raef LaFrentz (Bos.) 69,860

WEST FORWARDS
Tracy McGrady (Hou.) 1,571,867
Tim Duncan (S.A.) 1,269,683
Kevin Garnett (Min.) 1,203,726
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal.) 530,291
Pau Gasol (Mem.) 517,161
Carmelo Anthony (Den.) 343,038
Elton Brand (LAC) 317,426
Amaré Stoudemire (Pho.) 218,782
Shawn Marion (Pho.) 217,157
Lamar Odom (LAL) 179,681

WEST GUARDS
Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,891,204
Steve Nash (Pho.) 1,515,474
Manu Ginobili (S.A.) 722,754
Ray Allen (Sea.) 558,611
Tony Parker (S.A.) 513,120
Baron Davis (G.S.) 313,780
David Wesley (Hou.) 239,468
Jason Richardson (G.S.) 217,459
Mike Bibby (Sac.) 196,892
Jason Terry (Dal.) 167,370

WEST CENTERS
Yao Ming (Hou.) 1,990,303
Marcus Camby (Den.) 694,979
Mehmet Okur (Uta.) 366,054
Chris Mihm (LAL) 179,308
Erick Dampier (Dal.) 176,393
Brad Miller (Sac.) 166,067
Chris Kaman (LAC) 109,480
Michael Olowokandi (Min.) 84,484
Lorenzen Wright(Mem.) 81,419
Kurt Thomas (Pho.) 81,094

How many of the top vote-getters actually go to the game?

Most fans are giant fucking idiots.

I just scratch my head in bewilderment at Manu Ginobili > Ray Allen.

If they took flopping and cheap free throws out of his game, he'd be WORSE than Carlos Delfino.

Isn't it two guards, two forwards, and one center, and the rest are chosen by vote of all NBA coaches?

The only beef I have is with Yao. Stop voting for that giant tard. He's a good player, but not an all-star starter.

Isn't it two guards, two forwards, and one center, and the rest are chosen by vote of all NBA coaches?

http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2005/01/24/image668659x.jpg
You are correct sir.

Hiyohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (pass the scotch)

You are correct sir.

It would be nice if they mentioned that in all those fucking words. :evil:

So, there's talk of all 5 Pistons starters making the team. How big is each squad? Do all the coaches in the NBA vote on the rest of the team? When will that be done?

There's no way all five make it. It would be nice if CB, Rip and Ben all make it, though.

Yes, all the coaches vote - its not like the MLB, where the all star coach gets to pick.

Francis over RIP is rediculous too (though not as much as Manu over Allen).

Rip:
PPG 21.5
RPG 3.3
APG 3.0
SPG .46
BPG .14
FG% .500
FT% .873
3P% .458
MPG 37.1

Francis:
PPG 16.6
RPG 4.4
APG 5.4
SPG 1.31
BPG .31
FG% .441
FT% .758
3P% .239
MPG 37.8

Here's Allen vs Manu...

Ray Allen:
PPG 24.1
RPG 4.2
APG 3.6
SPG 1.54
BPG .17
FG% .430
FT% .901
3P% .373
MPG 38.9

Manu:
PPG 15.7
RPG 4.0
APG 3.2
SPG 1.69
BPG .52
FG% .482
FT% .760
3P% .337
MPG 27.8

Francis over RIP is rediculous too (though not as much as Manu over Allen).

Rip:
PPG 21.5
RPG 3.3
APG 3.0
SPG .46
BPG .14
FG% .500
FT% .873
3P% .458
MPG 37.1

Francis:
PPG 16.6
RPG 4.4
APG 5.4
SPG 1.31
BPG .31
FG% .441
FT% .758
3P% .239
MPG 37.8

Yeah, that's all fine and good.

But what about rewarding a fine young man like Francis for his team first attitude, as well as leading his team to such a great record at the break?

This is Exhibit A in the case to take away fan voting. Want to know why Bosh will leave Toronto in a couple of years - look at his votes. If he was in even a mid-major US city he'd be the "next big thing" right now. Think of the endorsement money he is losing...

Ming gets votes because friggin China is voting for him. I think China votes for most of thebig names as well. Maybe we should stop votes from China...

Canada can carry an All-star. Its just that they are still stuck on Carter.

Thanks, MOLA1!

On behalf of the NBA, I would like to thank you for voting for the starting lineups
for the 2006 NBA All-Star Game. Our on-line balloting enables you to vote daily
for the players you feel are most deserving of this honor. Voting for every single
one of the Pistons starting 5 and then writing in Jason Maxiell is a little too much.

So far this season, there have been many All-Star caliber performances, but our
players' most significant endeavors have occurred off the court. That said, I love
the Maxiell pick. He eats people on a daily basis.

Thank you again for voting for this season's All-Stars and look for the fourth round
of balloting results today on NBA.com. Tell Billy D I said what up.


Best regards,
http://tinypic.com/m8iwwh.gif
David J. Stern
NBA Commissioner