West

Nash
Bryant
McGrady
Duncan
Ming


East


Wade
Iverson
James
Oneal
Oneal

[smilie=angryfire.g:

Soley based on voting did you really think there would be?

All voting long the Pistons outside of Ben and Sheed were no better than 4th or 5th. Not a surprise. I am sure this slight will provide the coaches with enough motivation to select 3 or 4 Pistons as reserves. Seriously if your an EC coach do you realy want the Pistons starters to have a new chip to serve as motivation by not chosing as many as possibe for the AS team?

If I am an EC coach who votes for Pistons I would announce it publicly, so they don't hold a grudge when we play. If I had to guess the only coach from the East who won't vote for Piston's is LB.

hmm....i really hope none of the Pistons get voted on now. imagine the thrashings they'll give out after the All-Star break....

I'd almost be certain that Sheed will be a starter though.

It has to go by voting, and Sheed is 3rd in voting, and number 2 is hurt, so I don't see how Sheed can't be in the starting lineup.

I'd almost be certain that Sheed will be a starter though.

It has to go by voting, and Sheed is 3rd in voting, and number 2 is hurt, so I don't see how Sheed can't be in the starting lineup.
loophole. its up to the league i hear in the event of injury who starts in their place. so i heard anyways.

West

Nash
Bryant
McGrady
Duncan
Ming


East


Wade
Iverson
James
Oneal
Oneal

[smilie=angryfire.g:


this guy....

????

what are u mad about?

did you expect pistons too start?

I'd almost be certain that Sheed will be a starter though.

It has to go by voting, and Sheed is 3rd in voting, and number 2 is hurt, so I don't see how Sheed can't be in the starting lineup.

I definitely think Chris Bosh deserves to start over Sheed. He has much better stats, for one. But he's a young kid that goes out, does his business, doesn't talk a whole lot, and gets no attention for it. I know his team his a bad record, but come on, when Rafael Arajuo is your frontcourt mate there isn't much hope.

And I would also play Dwight Howard over Sheed. He is in a very similar situation to Bosh. A young kid that doesn't get much attention at all who plays his tale off and keeps his mouth shut. His team sucks too, but when your frontcourt mate is Tony Battie...

I love Sheed, but he doesn't bring it every night. Some games he doesn't really seem to care. He has stated he doesn't want to go, which I don't like at all. And he has also been an All-Star before, so when there is doubt, you would like to reward it to the players that haven't had the chance.

what are u mad about?

did you expect pistons too start?No. It pisses me off that fans are so stupid.

I'd almost be certain that Sheed will be a starter though.

It has to go by voting, and Sheed is 3rd in voting, and number 2 is hurt, so I don't see how Sheed can't be in the starting lineup.
loophole. its up to the league i hear in the event of injury who starts in their place. so i heard anyways.

The coaches vote for the reserves, Stern picks the injury replacement, and Flip will choose who starts.

Stein on the reserves:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2317012


Eastern Conference reserves
GUARDS: Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton

THE CASE: I'm not ready to embrace Doc Rivers' Vote For Every Piston idea. But if you're going to bang the team-success drum as much as I do, you have to have at least three Pistons on the East squad, starting with both halves of their backcourt. Billups is a top-three MVP candidate on my scorecard and likely to be a top-five MVP candidate on pretty much every voter's list if the Pistons maintain their current 71-11 pace. He should be starting in this game; over Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson. Hamilton, meanwhile, falls a bit shy of Michael Redd's numbers on the list of Flat-Out Scoring Twos, but Rip edges Redd here because of his efficiency (shooting nearly 50 percent beyond and inside the 3-point line) and his role in Detroit's overwhelming success.

FORWARDS: Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh

THE CASE: The two best young big men in the game not named Amare have been so good that I can look past the fact that neither plays for a team with a winning record. Given how much time Grant Hill has missed in Orlando, and considering Toronto's more-than-decent play (15-15) since a 1-15 start, Howard and Bosh are irresistible. Especially in an Eastern Conference that, Detroit aside, has been wholly disappointing. I have a bigger problem with the Nets sitting at a mere two games over .500 (injuries only explain so much) than I have with rewarding Howard and Bosh. The only disclaimer here is that going with the kiddies, as backups to starters LeBron James and Jermaine O'Neal, means that I'll have to exclude Paul Pierce or Vince Carter.

CENTER: Ben Wallace

THE CASE: I was thinking about moving Howard or Bosh here to open up a forward slot, but my third Piston is Ben Wallace, not Rasheed Wallace. And this is where Big Ben belongs if the fans prefer Shaquille O'Neal in the first five.

WILD CARDS: Redd and Carter.

THE CASE: The Bucks' injury list has been longer than most and Redd's role in keeping Milwaukee above .500 earns him a return to All-Star Weekend ... a position I'd take even if you throw out my not-so-secret fondness for the best lefty shooter in the game. The toughest call -- right there with any decision in the West, believe it or not -- is figuring out who gets that last spot in the East, with two Nets (Carter and Jason Kidd), Pierce, Gilbert Arenas and, yes, 'Sheed all legit contenders for a Houston invite. In the end, my disappointment with the Wiz and Boston's way-under-.500 record work against Arenas and Pierce and point me to Vince. The Nets deserve one representative even if you're not satisfied with their first half.

LEADING SNUBEES: Pierce and Arenas share top billing here. Kidd and 'Sheed are up there as well, with Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Chris Webber further back. Don't forget, though, that Commissioner Stern will be selecting a player to replace the injured Jermaine O'Neal after the reserves are chosen. East coach Flip Saunders will decide who actually starts in O'Neal's place, but Le Commish has the final say when it comes to filling out the roster.

So if the coaches go the veteran route and select, say, Pierce over Bosh as a reserve, don't be surprised if Stern goes for Bosh to ensure some Canadian interest. Don't be surprised, furthermore, if Stern ignores everyone else and nominates 'Sheed in a bow to Detroit's dominance.

In that event, how could any of us argue? I'm more comfortable with three Pistons, but if any team can justify four All-Stars, it's this Detroit team in this storybook half-season, leading its nearest East pursuers (Miami) by 11 games. Agreed?

Ben and Chauncey are near locks to make the team as reserves and Sheed has a great chance to make it too.

But I think Rip will be the odd man out even though he is having his best season yet. I don't think that he would be selected over Carter, Pierce and Arenas.

I'm not convinced that Ben is a lock. I think he should be but the coaches might think otherwise. Dwight Howard is giving more competition for back up center then he's ever really had before.

I'm not convinced that Ben is a lock. I think he should be but the coaches might think otherwise. Dwight Howard is giving more competition for back up center then he's ever really had before.

That's a legitimate point but I don't think any of the coaches would dare leave Ben off the AS team.

To be honest I think the EC coaches are going to use logic, they know that there will be snubs no matter who they chose. However I believe they will favor guys who have been the odd men out in previous years, and let record be the tie breaker in those cases.

So for example Michael Redd has AS numbers but if it comes down to him and Rip, Rip wins out because he deserves it more.

In the cases of Howard and Bosh sure both are havng great seasons but there are many AS games in their futures, they need to reward guys who play the way coaches want guys to play and do it on winning teams.

I think the NBA prefers the names like Carter, Howard, Kidd and Pierce to be reserves, but coaches want to reward winners and those who aren't about themselves.

I'm so sick of this All-Star voting system. I understand that the All-Star game is about the fans, but they should make it for the intelligent fans. Give the fans a basketball IQ test before letting them have a ballot. If they don't pass it, then they can't vote!

Shaq is starting. He's played what, half the year? Ming is starting and he's been injured with a hangnail for almost 2 months now? Give me a break. The All-Star game isn't fun unless there is new, more deserving blood in it.

I for one hope we don't have a single all-star. I'd love to see this team play with an even bigger chip on their shoulder.

Kevin Garnett is not an All Star Game starter.

That's all that needs to be said about the selection process.

People are way too fascinated with this whole "chip on the shoulder" fad.

Kevin Garnett is not an All Star Game starter.

That's all that needs to be said about the selection process.


McGrady doesn't deserve to start because of injuries but Garnett doesn't deserve to start either. Brand, Dirk, and Marion are having just as good seasons, if not better.

To be honest I think the EC coaches are going to use logic, they know that there will be snubs no matter who they chose. However I believe they will favor guys who have been the odd men out in previous years, and let record be the tie breaker in those cases.

Thats simpathy, not logic.

I don't care who's in the All-star game. The team gets plenty of respect because this year their regular season record demands it.

honestly I have no problem with what the fans choose. but im a lil irked that the fans chose rasheed after JO and the league stepped in to hose him.

I actually think it should be up to the fans. the all star game is irrelevent if you can win titles IMO. its a popularity contest and has always been in the nhl, nfl, nba, and mlb. its done to keep the main fan base involved and interested. writers and coaches vote on damn near everything else. i say let the fans vote because the coaches can be just as currupt if not more as well as writers with their favorites. i mean honestly cbill could outplay everyone and lose the mvp becvause the writers get starstruck.


this just isnt a big deal to me.

honestly I have no problem with what the fans choose. but im a lil irked that the fans chose rasheed after JO and the league stepped in to hose him.

I actually think it should be up to the fans. the all star game is irrelevent if you can win titles IMO. its a popularity contest and has always been in the nhl, nfl, nba, and mlb. its done to keep the main fan base involved and interested. writers and coaches vote on damn near everything else. i say let the fans vote because the coaches can be just as currupt if not more as well as writers with their favorites. i mean honestly cbill could outplay everyone and lose the mvp becvause the writers get starstruck.


this just isnt a big deal to me.

I absolutely agree. Great post.

awhile ago i suggested stuffing the boxes with all pistons. but people here acted like we were messing up the system voting for our favorite home teams. wtf, thats what happens all the time every year and if ya'll wanna get pistons starters in. then thats what you do. sheed coulda got 500,000 extra votes along with everyone else if michigan fans weren't ignorant to it being a popularity contest from the jump. not a prestigious process.

TMac gravy trains off those Chinese Yao ballots.

That is all.

Fans are the most important part of the game. To take the voting away from them is absolutely stupid.

And the starters who voted in are worthy of being on the team. It's not like they voted Steve Francis or Nene or something. Quit fucking whining.

I believe that I will whine all I want to.

I'd like if they did a weighted balloting system.

Weigh it 1/2 for the fan vote, and the other half weighed on the players, coaches and writers' selections.

I believe that I will whine all I want to.

I'd like if they did a weighted balloting system.

Weigh it 1/2 for the fan vote, and the other half weighed on the players, coaches and writers' selections.
Glenn you're just being difficult. they already do that in ALL LEAGUES with the reserves. is being a reserve in the all star game really that bad?

lol...you also preassume the writer/coach half would vote piston. theres no balance in sharing with the coaches. thats a naive thought IMO. Let the fans have their fun. if you dont like it then do like i suggested and stuff them ballots. What on earth is wrong with stuffing ballots? we're not voting for the president(and even they are stuffing ballots these days) [smilie=antlers.gif] [smilie=angel.gif]

I know it would be difficult, but I got sick of seeing Ozzie Smith start the All Star game every year too.

And this is not about me being a Pistons fan at all. It's stupid that Yao Ming is a starting All Star.

It makes a joke of the NBA's product, IMO.

I know it would be difficult, but I got sick of seeing Ozzie Smith start the All Star game every year too.

And this is not about me being a Pistons fan at all. It's stupid that Yao Ming is a starting All Star.

It makes a joke of the NBA's product, IMO.

been happening for years. i dont see the big deal of it. i will say that voting outside of america does fuck shit up. no team plays in china so they'll vote in a 12th man if they please in their billion people populatin.

worldwide votinbg is retarded to me. but thats a personal opinion.

I know it would be difficult, but I got sick of seeing Ozzie Smith start the All Star game every year too.

And this is not about me being a Pistons fan at all. It's stupid that Yao Ming is a starting All Star.

It makes a joke of the NBA's product, IMO.

I think he's the best center in the West when he's healthy. And there really isn't that much competition for him in the West except Camby and Miller(and Stoudemire).

I think he's the best center in the West when he's healthy. And there really isn't that much competition for him in the West except Camby and Miller(and Stoudemire).

[smilie=applause.gi:

A solid opinion for once, keep 'em coming.

I'll take Duncan, Gasol, Miller, Camby, and hell, maybe even Memo over him based on what he's done this year.

I think he's the best center in the West when he's healthy. And there really isn't that much competition for him in the West except Camby and Miller(and Stoudemire).

[smilie=applause.gi:

A solid opinion for once, keep 'em coming.

I'll take Duncan, Gasol, Miller, Camby, and hell, maybe even Memo over him based on what he's done this year.

Duncan and Gasol are forwards(one is starting) and Camby has missed some time as well(although his numbers are better). And I wouldn't take Momo over him based on 40something games....

I think he's the best center in the West when he's healthy. And there really isn't that much competition for him in the West except Camby and Miller(and Stoudemire).

[smilie=applause.gi:

A solid opinion for once, keep 'em coming.

I'll take Duncan, Gasol, Miller, Camby, and hell, maybe even Memo over him based on what he's done this year.

Duncan and Gasol are forwards(one is starting) and Camby has missed some time as well(although his numbers are better). And I wouldn't take Momo over him based on 40something games....

But that's the point...you HAVE to take he best players over the last 40 games...that's what this is supposed to based on. Those that don't realize that it's not about these 40 games are the same people that vote Yao Ming, that voted Vince a starter when he only played 20 games a couples yrs back and even voted in Magic Johnson the season that he didn't even play.

Exactly HOW many games has YAO played this year?

Any?????

I'll take Duncan, Gasol, Miller, Camby, and hell, maybe even Memo over him based on what he's done this year.

Duncan and Gasol are forwards(one is starting) and Camby has missed some time as well(although his numbers are better). And I wouldn't take Momo over him based on 40something games....

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/grizzlies/article/0,1426,MCA_475_4455939,00.html


Gasol was listed on the fan ballot as a forward. But the coaches chose to claim him as the backup center to starter Yao Ming.