2005 NBA All-Star weekend(Denver) thread. Since we're getting closer to the all-star weekend, I figured I get this thread goin and start talking about what to expect and what you're looking forward to seeing the most? Obviously, the biggest news for us is that our two stars, McGrady and Ming will start on Sunday and with Ming being the record breaker for most vote ever in an NBA All-Star ballot. Here are some thoughs and Q/A: -How many points will T-Mac and Yao score individually? I think T-Mac will get 20pts while Yao will end up with 10-15pts. -How many minutes will they play? T-Mac with 25min and Yao with 19 min. -Will they look for one another for an assist? I think they will get at least one alley-oop assist for each other. - I would love to see the T-Mac/Yao vs Shaq/Wade duo. -Who will win West or East? Lets hope its West again. -Who will win MVP? I hope its T-Mac, but it could be VC,Iversion or Amare. -Do you guys think Yao will get booed, get a standing ovation or mixed of both? -Finally what other event(s) are you lookng foward too? Me personally, I will try to catch the slam dunk contest and the 3pt. shootout...don't care for anything else. Do you guy find this promo art unsual? Thats Yao dunking on someone...
...why would yao get booed? if you're implying it's because he gets votes from china, that would be very short-sighted. everyone, especially shaq uses that as an excuse, but truth is, yao would be starting center even if china wasn't open to voting. he's definitely not going to get a standing ovation either, he'll get cheered just like every other allstar at the game.
thank god he is cuz i would imagine d'antoni leaving his suns in there long so one of them can get mvp. the guy is such a fake of a coach its not even funny, i bet even patrick ewing could have coached that team to the 40 win record they have right now the way steve nash is controlling the entire offense and tempo of the game. mvp i am thinking its actually going to be mcgrady not trying to a "homer" but i think he may try to prove that he is a legit player in the west too and not just the east and since there are no players from denver in the game he should be fine. as far as i can remember in the past years the mvp has always been a starter except for last year when it was shaq off the bench, but the game was being played in la and he ended up playing more than yao did. so it'd be rare for someone off the bench to win it again this year.
Yao actually played pretty well in that game.. I think Yao is comfortable with his role as a starting W center. I hope he wins all star MVP I think it would do wonders for his career and confidence. J
Kobe will be MVP for many of the same reasons that Yoyo is saying McGrady will be. He'll want to make sure no one forgets how great he is even though his team is #8. And, being a guard he'll have the needed access to dominate the ball and not pass it into his big men.
But I think Popovich would not stand for that.. I have a feeling Pop will regulate on Kobe if he starts ball hogging. Plus he will want the post fed (to his big man) hahaha J
I would have said the same thing if kobe wasnt injured, word out of the LA radio stations is the Kobe has asked pop to play him about 10-12 minutes only just so he pleases the fans. Now come game time I dont know what he'll actually do but I think the lakers organization also put some pressure on him not to play too much in the game since he is still nursing a bad ankle injury. I think McGrady may try to make a push for it, but I dont think he'll be the high scorer but I think'll he will have close to a triple double to try to show what kind of player he really is
I wouldn't be surprised if Shaq gets the East a W and the MVP to go with it. Duncan may not get big minutes because of his ankle, either. Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing LeBron and Wade gonig crazy on the court at the same time. Evan
Man, I would pay big money to see McGrady do that pass off the back board to himself for a jam. I saw a vedio of that from another board and it looked so flawlless yet powerfull. I think he only did that twice in his career...can anyone confirm this?
in Denver? for what reasons, that I can't imagine, would the fine citizens of Colorado have against Mr. Bryant?
Man, it would be sweet if Tracy could win the MVP (centers never win the MVP so it's not even worth talking about it). Usually, Rockets players suck in all-star games, so pretty much I'm just hoping that Tracy and Yao aren't embarassed.
