If things go as planned, Yao should get the ROY without problem. But, no one is talking about All-Star selection. Now, given the fact that All-Star selection is more slanted toward "popularity" rather than skill. I still think we don't have to worry about Yao not holding up his end of the bargain in the * skills department. * This being said, who is Yao's competition on the NBA All-Star ballot? Well, glad you asked... S._O'Neal,_Los Angeles Lakers V._Divac,_Sacramento Kings M._Olowokandi,_Los Angeles Clippers J._Tsakalidis,_Phoenix Suns E._Dampier,_Golden State Warriors R._LaFrentz,_Dallas Mavericks R._Nesterovic,_Minnesota Timberwolves A._Sabonis,_Portland Trail Blazers D._Robinson,_San Antonio Spurs L._Wright,_Memphis Grizzlies M._Camby,_Denver Nuggets Now, giving due respect to O'Neal as a sure starter, and Divac has a great back-up. Who, else would be considered better than Yao in the West? I mean, even if China "stuffs" the ballot box and gives Yao the popular vote Shaq will still start, as he should. But, there's no denying that Yao doesn't have the skill and talent to be considered the third best center in the West (behind Shaq and Divac). We're not talking only about "popularity" here people. He's popular because he's GOOD! If Yao doesn't make it on the All-Star team, I'd be surprised. The last rookie to make it to the All-NBA First Team was Tim Duncan. Before that, it was Larry Bird. Tim Duncan, had four years of college and was polished. San Antonio used the rookie to the fullest (they always got him the ball). Just because Yao isn't getting the same touches as TD, doesn't mean that he's not as good as TD was in his rookie season. Given that the All-Star vote is combination of popularity and talent. Yao should take the cake! Yao should be All-Star. P.S. Next year, Yao should pass Divac (the 15 year vet) and reach the title as the 2nd best center behind Shaq. Not bad for a 2nd year kid!
Agreed. Just want to know if the All Star selection only based on the fan selection, or are there other decision making power?
David, Ive never ever seen you start a thread before. What gives? I seriously doubt Divac would get alot of consideration. Hes a solid center on a winner, but nothing about his stats impresses me. The only 3 players I see in the same company of Yao with regards to an All-Star berth are Dampier, Olowokandi and Robinson. Dampier: 11 ppg, 9 rpg and 3 bpg. Probably the most underated center in the leauge. Also one of my favorite players. If he can add another 2 pts or so to his scoring average by the break (not likely), he might get consideration. Robinson: Started out hot this year but has tapered off and while he is rebounding very well, his scoring average is below 10 PPG and his shooting percentage is pretty bad at 44%. However, might get the sympathy vote from Don Nelson with it being his last year and all. Olowokandi: I think this is Yao's biggest competition as of right now. O is at 14 PPG, 9 RPG and 2 BPG. Not bad. It will be hard to overlook him. Ming: I think it will depend on how his learning curve progresses. If he can go into the all-star break at 14-15 PPG, 8 RPG and 2 BPG plus the high FG%, it will be a very close pick between Kandi and he. Overall, right now, I think Yao comes up short and Shaq and Kandi are your centers. If they were picked today, my Western squad looks like this: SF - Garnett Nowitzki PF - Duncan Webber Brand or Marion (VERY tough call here) C- Shaq Kandi SG - Kobe Finley PG - Francis Payton Nash Dark Horse: Doug Christie (doesnt have the sexy scoring stats, but has great all around numbers and might be the best defensive 2 guard in the West) Alternates: Brand or Marion, Lewis, Mason, Gasol, Jamison (probably deserves to be on this squad...tough luck), Arenas, Marbury and Richardson EDIT: I just realized Marion is a 3 this year. So Brand should have a spot locked up on the team and with Garnett and Nowitzki at the 3s, Marion may get the shaft.
wait...i'm not sure that's right...i think if yao gets voted in as a starter, he will start the game. i don't think yao is a lock for ROY...i'm rooting for him, but i bet right now most voters would choose dejuan wagner... on a side note...the all star game doesn't seem to carry the importance it once did...it used to be a big event...a big deal...part of that was the incredible slam-dunk competitions with jordan...but the game itself used to be a much more publicized and interesting event...not so anymore...
There will be endless agrument if you take the all-star selection by statistics or skill. It's all about popularity. If my memory serve me good, grant hill couldn't even play in regular season and got selected. Well, is YM > O in popularity? KH
Actually I believe Kobe Bryant made the allstar team as a starter his rookie year and he did not even start for his own team.
In his second season he was voted a starter for the 1998 All-Star Game, becoming at 19 the youngest All-Star in NBA history.
Well, I think you're gonna see Shaq get voted as the starting center. If he doesn't get voted as the starting center, he might not want to be on the squad. I think you'll also see David Robinson get the sympathy vote since this is his last year. Kandiman's had a decent season, as had Vlady and even Nesterovic. Unless Yao gets voted as the starter, I don't see him making the all star squad ... this year. He should dominate the rookie game, though
OK, guys, this is the rule: The all star starters are solely decided by fans' votes. If Yao Ming gets more votes than O'neal, then Yao will be the starter of the all star game. No one can argue about that. The rest of the all stars will be voted by NBA coaches. If Yao doesn't get the most votes for a center, I don't think he will make the all star team this year. Kobe didn't play in the all star game as a rookie. It's a fact for sure.
Forget the all star game. I want to see Yao in the Rookie Game. Yao will have the rest of his career to be in the all star game, but he'll only have TWO chances to play in the Rookie Game. I think it would be hilarious watching Yao try his fundamental, post up game while the rest of the rookies and sophmores toss lob passes from half court. C'mon, Wagner to Ming on the alley oop?? How many times will we get to see that?
All Rookie first and second. All NBA first team, second and third. TD was on the All NBA First team in his rookie season. Robinson was on the All NBA Third team in is rookie season. Kobe (Second Team) and Vince (First Team) were on the All Rookie teams. http://www.nba.com/history/awards_allnba.html http://www.nba.com/history/awards_allrookieteams.html But, these are awards. But I'm not sure these are directly tied to the All Star voting count of some sort of behind the scene coaches poll.
If Dujuan Wagner keeps up his scoring he's a lock for the ROY. The only way Yao has a chance is if the ROX understand that he needs to have more than 5 touches to get into the flow of the game. And I do think as of today Yao is the second best center....when he played against Candi man he held him in check.
Will Yao start in all-star game Will Yao start over Shaq in the all star game? the starters are decided by vote and many people are going to vote for Yao. Plus, there is now a Chinese all star ballot so Yao will get even more votes from the fans in China
I think it will be close, and I would like to see it, but I dont really think so. Even with the Mandarin version of the AllStar ballot, I'm unsure of how many of the Chinese people would *actually* vote.. Also, afaik not everyone in China speaks mandarin..yes? so that would cut down on the amount of people that could use the ballot. I realize that there is an increasing amount of internet access there, but do you honestly think that there will be enough votes from China to swing the vote? The only people over here that will vote for YM are mainly Houston fans...not enough to make up the difference imo. oh yea...I did vote for YM on the AS ballot.
It will be close. Regardless, I feel that Yao and Kandi man are the two best centers after Shaq. So, Yao may still make the all-star game.
The written language in Chinese is exactly the same, so I don't even know why they use the term Mandarin votes, it would not affect how many people can vote. And I read stats and there are A LOT of internet users though. However, I just don't see them Chinese people stuffing the ballot.
oh yeah, not everyone in China speaks mandarin, only 1,299,000,000 out of 1,300,000,000 can do that. we got to teach the rest ....
