Now that the Eastern and Western Conference rosters have been finalized for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, two things are obvious: the fans can't vote, and deserving players miss out because of these so-called “fan” selections.
The two most glaring inclusions to the game might be the Detroit Pistons' Allen Iverson, a shooting guard inside an aging point guard's body, and the Phoenix Suns' Amare Stoudemire, the hometown star with porous defence. Both players are having mediocre seasons when compared with their usual stellar production. Yet both have somehow persuaded the public to vote them in as the top players at their respective positions.
Some of the players who were slighted when the coaches voted for the reserves include the Boston Celtics' Ray Allen and the Cleveland Cavaliers' Mo Williams, both guards. Inevitably one or two deserving players get cut from the game whenever an aging star or unfulfilled talent with immense popularity gets top votes. So, when the basketball blogosphere reverberates with outrage for those who won't be packing their bags for Phoenix, blame the fans.
The rosters are completed in two stages. The fans vote for a total of 10 players that make up the conference's starting line ups. NBA head coaches vote for the remaining seven players to represent their conference in the game.
This season, like others with this voting system, featured the usual array of obvious selections and head-scratchers. It wouldn't be All-Star season without the perennial voting-in of the Houston Rockets' Yao Ming, whose starting position is cemented by a large Chinese fan base.
Some of the other no-brainers in the starting line-ups include Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Stoudemire and Iverson rank as the only questionable decisions. Stoudemire averages 21 points and eight rebounds per contest — on par with his career averages, though severely below his best statistical seasons. The addition of Shaquille O'Neal was intended to free up room for Stoudemire and make him the focal point of their offence. Instead, the only person who has benefitted is O'Neal, who received his 15th All-Star selection.
Iverson plays for a Pistons squad who lost their identity when they swapped point guard Chancey Billups for Iverson in a deal with the Denver Nuggets. The 33-year-old guard has a season average of 17 points per game, about 10 points below his career average, while Billups has garnered a coaches selection after changing the underachieving culture of basketball in Denver.
So how do Stoudemire and Iverson slip into the starting line-up? In the case of Iverson, his popularity remains intact on the basis of former glory, even when's he a shell of his former self.
But in the case of Stoudemire, his inclusion defies explanation. He plays on a worse team than reserves like the Lakers' Pau Gasol and one of the biggest snubs, the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony, both wildly popular league-wide. Plus, Stoudemire's statistics pale in comparison to the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, who has invigorated his play behind 26 points and eight rebounds per contest.
While Stoudemire and Iverson are both capable players who can entertain on this stage, some truly horrendous players almost garnered starting positions because of fan voting. The San Antonio Spurs' Bruce Bowen, an offensively-challenged forward who averages three points per game, nearly overtook Stoudemire due to rabid fan voting from his hometown faithful.
And speaking of those errant Chinese votes, the New Jersey Nets' Yi Jianlian was nearly voted into the starting line-up ahead of reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Kevin Garnett. Not only that, but Jianlian finished hundreds of thousands of votes ahead of the Celtics' Paul Pierce and the Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh, both superior players who were later named to the Eastern Conference line-up.
The NBA All-Star Game might have a greater focus on fan satisfaction and entertainment, but when some of its best players are sitting at home in lieu of weaker players, the integrity of the game is compromised.