I think Francis is the only Rocket that will make it. Stockton is still good, but no longer an all-star. Francis' just has to beat out either Payton or Marbury. I don't think Mobley will make it next season, just because of Kobe and Finley. If either of them get injured Mobley would most likely be the top replacement at SG. No way Rice makes it. Dirk, Marion, Odom, Peja and even Lewis would make it before Rice...and who knows if these guys will even make it. The West uses such a big lineup they might have KG and McDyess playing SF.
For Francis to become an All Star next year, he needs to become more aggressive with his shots. He is the best point guard around but the fans around the league haven't quit noticed yet.
If Francis produces the same from as last year I think he's a lock for the All-Star game. He was desperately unlucky not to get selected last year (bumped for Stock?) and I think he'll get his shot this time around.
<b>Damn with just Cat alone he should be getting like 10!! </b>-Voice of reason How do you figure? Cat iso's a lot, so any passes that he receives from passes dont count as assists.
I'm pretty sure Steve will make it- he's the best PG in the league behind Payton and Kidd. He may even be voted in. Bibby also has a small chance, you never know, he may blossom on the Kings. I see the West all-star team looking something like this: PG: Payton, Francis, Marbury SG: Kobe, Finley SF: Garnett, Nowitzki PF: Duncan, Webber, Wallace C: Shaq, Robinson I don't think Malone will make it. I mean he has always voiced his displeasure about going to the all-star game. He even told Rick Adelman this past year that he doesn't mind not playing the whole second half. I think he only played like 5 minutes the whole game. He's been to enough all-star games already and he should understand that the NBA needs to showcase its new stars. I think the West Coach should let Duncan count as a center, because Robinson doesn't deserve to be there, but he's the best center in the West after Shaq. That way McDyess could be on the team.
Not really... Factor in the fact that the West is loaded with big men, and Marbury will have trouble scoring layups at will like he did in the East... He probably will have the red-light to shoot, but he will be lucky to shoot over 42%...
Since we're on the subject of the Al-Star game, i think they have areally good team this year. Add Kidd, Reef, and a healthy Ratliff? As backup C/PF there's Nazr Mohammed? Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Stackhouse, Eddie Jones, Allen Iverson...Micheal Jordan maybe? Not bad at all, it'll be a fair game. These are my prjected starters for the West: PG: Payton,Franchise or Marbury SG: Kobe,Finley SF: Garnett,Nowitzki PF: Webber,Wallace,Mcdyess C: Shaq,Duncan The shortest player on the frontline is Antonio Mcdyess. Next shortest? Either Webber or Garnett. WOW.
Some of you are saying Stevie has to beat out Payton or Marbury to go to the all-star game, I don't think that is true. I think there usually are 3 point guards that go, with Stockton typically getting the free ride with Kidd and Payton in the past. I think it would look to horrible biased to put Stockton in again, and Stevie is clear notch ahead of the other good younger point guards (Nash, Bibby). Even if they don't neccesarily are rquired to bring 3 PGs, surely there will be 5 guards in the West. Kobe, Payton, Marbury, Stevie would seem like the surest bets to be 4 of the 5.
I can guarentee you guys that only 4 guards are going. There were only 4 guards this year(kobe, michael, jason, and gary) and since the west has so many good front court players, i don't see it changing. Steve is going to have to be better than gary or stephon, which he may be, but he definitely isn't more recongnized than them which will hurt his chances.
