This argument is going to continue every year as long as fans are voting. If fans vote, you are bound to have at least one player every year who gets voted in substantially based on factors other than their basketball skills. That is arguably the case with Steve Francis this year. In any case, as long as the NBA lets fans vote, then the All-Star game is necessarily not intended to be the Western Conference stars All NBA First/Second team vs. the Eastearn Conference All NBA First/Second team as many people seem to want.
I can understand folks saying Francis doesn't deserve to start (don't agree, but I understand). I don't understand saying he doesn't deserve to go at all. Assuming there are 5 guards on the squad, who should go instead of him? Even shooting as badly as he is, I'd still take him over Parker or Payton or whomever you want to put in as a 5th guard. Bryant Cassell Nash Bibby Payton Parker Allen Finley Mobley Ginobili
Neither guy deserves to be on the team based on play. Sam I Am should have been the guard as we all know Steve has had a terrible season thus far. And Yao has been a dissappearing act off and on all season with no consistency so I don't think you can say he deserves it over Brad Miller. That said .. It is all about who gets the most votes and therefore they DO deserve to be starters. I just hope Yao doesnt play much in either of his games .. It would be nice if he could get some rest over the break.
Agreed, it's amazing that he's having his worst season ever and I would still put him in the top 5 guards category in the west (especially since Stephon left) but man it just shows you how good his first 2 years were. It just pisses me off that he's taking step backwards in effort to change. I do believe it's more mental than anything and maybe, just maybe, he needs to change his game.
The problem with that is that it doesn't have to be five guards, the fans select 2 guards, and the coaches have to select 2. It's unfortunate that because Stevie got voted in that a much more deserving center/forward will not get their due. At most, the Western Conference should elect 4 guards because of the logjam with deserving forwards this year - Garnett, Tim Duncan, Kirilenko, Nowitzki, Antoine Walker, Carmelo Anthony, Peja Stojakovic, Zach Randolph, Elton Brand and Pau Gasol. And then there is Erick Dampier and Brad Miller. Stuart
xiki --- A terrific, original, spot-on, pithy post. You've nailed the issue: Francis starting is GOOD NEWS, regardless of whether you want him here or not.
You are assuming, of course, that every poster on this board is smaller than Barkley. And you would be wrong. Although being traunced on by Barkley will be financially rewarding, so some here wouldn't mind that.
Bryant and Cassell are clearly better the Francis. Nash, Bibby, Payton, Allen and Finley, together with Francis are all worth considering. Personally, I'd take Nash, Bibby and Francis.
LOL! I wasn't saying Charles would beat you up, I just said it was funny imagining someone saying what you said to his face. And whats up with the "If it would make you feel better" line? Stop thinking I was attacking you, I wasn't, no need to get all defensive...it was a joke.
First let me admit to being a complete homer who is pleased two Rockets are starting whether they deserve to be or not. that said, I couldn't in good conscience vote for Francis over Sam Cassell right now. Sam has played on a much higher level. I do however think he's the best choice for back up point guard. The only other point guard I can possibly consider is Bibby. I'm just not very impressed with any other western point guards this season. (including Nash) As for Yao at starting center, Yes, Shaq actually has missed about half the season. That said, I don't see how he deserves to be an All-Star unless we're taking his entire career into consideration. Brad Miller has played as much time at the 4 as he has at the 5 and he is actually starting each game at the 4. That makes him a power forward in my mind. And after Shaq and Brad Miller who else is there? Eric Dampier? I'm not saying Yao has been consistently good this year, but I am saying that despite that, he's been better than everybody else and he's played every single game. Now, as to LeBron, Carmelo and Antwoine Walker making their back up list, I don't understand why that's something to be scoffed at. Antwoine Walker is having arguably the best season of any Maverick right now. Lebron has been amazing (and you're talking about hating on stevie but Lebrons numbers have been better than stevie's and his impact on that team has been unbelievable) and Carmelo (along with the arrival of Andre Miller and a few key roleplayers off the bench) is leading the Nuggets to a possible playoff birth. I mean arguements can always be made for other players more deserving. That's a matter of perspective. But I'm amazed somebody would actually scoff at these guys deserving spots on the all-star team.
I'm proud as hell they will be there, but Steve doesn't deserve to be an all-star this year and Yao is a toss-up behind Shaq no matter what the injury. Truth is, if it were up to the coaches, Miller would probably get the nod simply because his team is winning and doing so without their best player. Miller is not an overall better player than Yao, but he is having a comparable season to Yao on one of the best teams in the west where he is about the fourth option offensively.
It is truly comparable only when one takes into consideration that Brad Miller plays for the best offensive teams in the league where Yao is doing much more for a team that is 27th in the league in scoring. Also, Houston is still one of the top 10 teams in the league. One shouldn't penalize Miller, but it is a factor that should not be ignored, especially when comparing stats. Stuart
Yes, but, Miller is having to do it as a fourth option on a team with a LOAD of scorers. Yao is getting every opportunity to score, pass, etc. Miller has to work to get his shots. It's kind of a toss up THIS YEAR. But, it will be no contest in a couple years and that's what really matters.
And if they are bigger than Shaq, then they pretty stupid to not be playing Ball in some sort of a league.
Hey I like Miller and if I had any sort of credentials, he'd be one of the first guys I'd put down as a reserve. So the question is, who deserves it more? A player that averages 14 and 9 as the third or fourth option on the best offensive team (104ppg) or a player that averages 16 and 9 as the main focus offensively on one of the best defensive teams and is 27th in the league in scoring? (87ppg) Who is more important to their respective teams when taking in those factors? I think it would be Yao Ming. Stuart
