http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/01/22/amare-stoudemire-voted-as-all-star-starter/ The official announcement of who will start the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 15 in Phoenix is due Thursday night at 7 PM ET on TNT. But word of who at least one of the starters will be has leaked early, and it really was the only position that there was even a question about. Amare Stoudemire has reportedly beaten out Carmelo Anthony for the second starting forward spot in the West. The last returns that were released on January 8th had shown 'Melo ahead of Amare by less than 10,000 votes, but it appears that either Stoudemire's campaign or Carmelo's injury inspired the fans to put Amare back in the starting spot. Amare's recent play (especially that stinker in Boston) has been under scrutiny, as fans who follow the team closely have cited his lack of defense this season as a big reason for the team's inconsistency. The All-Star game however, has never been about defense -- just ask Marcus Camby. It's about getting the most exciting offensive players in the game on the floor together to put on a high scoring, alley-oop filled affair that the fans will get excited about. And if Amare can do nothing else, he can throw down some powerful slam dunks. We'll have to wait another week to see if Carmelo will end up making it in as a reserve, because the coaches vote on that and the announcement doesn't come until next Thursday. Between his injury and the fact that Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol look to be perhaps more deserving choices, I'd say that Anthony getting in is, at this point, a long shot. Tags: Amare+Stoudemire, AmareStoudemire, Carmelo+Anthony, CarmeloAnthony, Dirk+Nowitzki, DirkNowitzki, Marcus+Camby, MarcusCamby, Pau+Gasol, PauGasol
15 minutes too late. But statistically and dunk-ing-ly speaking, does that surprise anyone? If you can make the crowd oooooh and aweeee you're gonna get all-star votes. I'm surprised Gerald Green isn't starting.
