We might actually be able to vote Ming into the game. Shaq is still injured, and I didn't see any other centers worth a damn in the West. We need the Chinese BBall fans to help us out.
EGAD! I cant believe you guys!!! After all those years that Hakeem got screwed because of the fan vote for Robinson yall are suggesting this???? Personally, I like to see players at the All-Star game who deserve it. I think Ming will be made to look like an idiot if he starts the game. Dont give into temptation my friends! Yikes.
The first statement is one of the reasons why. The All-Star game will never be about who deserves it, as long as it is fan-voted. Of course, you're free to do so if you choose, but it's pointless. Do you really think Michael Jordan deserved to start last year over Jason Kidd, Paul Pierce, and others? All-Star voting is a popularity contest, and most people around the league recognize it as such. It's not who the best players are, but who the fans want to see. Yao's not going to look like an idiot. He'll have time to adjust by then, and I'm sure he wouldn't play for long anyway. We have a great chance to see two of our own players representing the West in the starting lineup. Don't blow it. The results will be a popularity contest no matter how you vote... the question is, do you want your own players to win, or someone else's? I'd prefer my own. Also, I hope those of you on the "I'm voting for who deserves it" soapbox aren't voting for Shaq, someone who hasn't played a game this season.
The difference is Yao is a Rocket and Robinson is a Spur. If you don't see the logic in that statement, then you shouldn't be on this board.
Maybe the Rockets can hire the head of the Republican National Committee to work as a consultant and get fans to stuff the ballot boxes. He can get the results that we need for a prosperous tomorrow!
Well the first thing Id say is, I agree about Jordan starting. But its Michael Jordan. Plus, the disparity between Jordans #s and Pierce's #s wasnt astronomical like it would be between Shaqs and Yaos (assuming Shaq comes back in the next few games and puts up 24 pts, 10 rebs and 2 blocks). Second, the selection process has never been fair. I agree. I just dont think two wrongs make a right. I actually think the starting lineup should be based partially on the fan vote and include coach's vote and player vote. Robinson always had more votes than Hakeem, but their stats were almost a wash. If Yao and Shaqs stats were close, then of course, stuff away!!!!!! I mean seriously, lets say Yao improves as the season goes by and by the break, hes at 9 pts, 9rbs and 1.5 blocks. Do you really think the fans of the NBA (not just Houston) want to see Yao (with those stats) ahead of Shaq? You dont think it would be embarassing to have a player start whos not even the best center on his own team? Also, Im not against voting for Yao, Im just against stuffing the ballot just to get him on the team. Then it becomes more than what the fans want to see, it becomes what Houston Rocket fans want to see. IMO, that goes for all fans of any team. Actually, at this point in the season, if its about who deserves it (I havent voted yet and wont till later on in the season), Id vote for Olawokandi or Robinson (followed by Nestrovic and Cato).
The logic is: revenge. Right? Like I said, I have no problem voting for Yao. I just dont agree with stuffing just to see him get to the game because we like him better than Shaq. Even if it is about a popularity contest, Shaq is still more popular than Yao and will be until Yao makes a name for himself. Yao has enough problems without being looked at as the guy that was selected as a starter while averaging 8pts 5rbs and 1 block. Imagine the field day the media would have with that one.
Nope!!! Its because we are fans(fanatics) and should be biased towards the rockets beyond reason. That is what being a fan is all about.
But that's the point of it! The NBA isn't some cheapskate organization. They could more than likely find a way to prevent ballot-stuffing, if they really believed in that. Some sports actually promote this... and the NBA obviously doesn't totally disapprove of it. In a way, All-Star voting is a contest between fan bases. If there's a larger percentage of Rockets fans, or if Rockets fans as a whole are more determined to stuff the box, we deserve to see more of our own players. Take the game for what it is, has been, and always will be about... a fan contest over who the fans want to see. It's never been about who deserved it the most, or the coaches could have some input. I'd rather see my own players.
I guess thats where we are different. Im a Rockets fan and have been for going on 20 years. I am basied towards our team, just within reason. I just think with all the media pressure that Yao has on him, he doesnt need the scrutiny that will come with an All-Star starting berth (assuming his stats only slightly improve as the break approaches).
I agree with what you are saying somewhat. But being that it is about who the fans want to see, do you really think the fans want to see Kobe, Shaq, Duncan, Garnett and say for example, Derrick Fisher? How pissed would you be if Francis lost the starting nod because of ballott stuffing? If LA fans decided to stuff the ballot box for Fisher, does that make it right cause thats "who the fans want to see"? Again, I think the starting vote should come partially from the fans, partically from the coaches and partially from the players. It has to be a combination of who the fans want to see and who deserves it.
I think it would be right, because that's what the system allows. My frustration would be with the system that allows it, but by that system it would be right. I agree with your point... I do think it should be a combination of the fans, coaches, and players to determine who starts. But, the reality is that it isn't. And until it is the reality, it would be foolish for us to all vote by "who deserves it" while the rest of the league is voting for their favorites. Regardless of your vote, it's not going to be who deserves it; it's going to be who is the most popular. I'd rather it be our players. Also, if you really want a change in the system, one way for it to happen is for the NBA to be embarrassed by having Shaq on the bench at the All-Star game.
LA fans would be happy. Personally, I wouldn't be pissed because of LA fans' voting practices. I'd be pissed because of our own apparent lack of ballott stuffing prowess. All Star voting is a competition between fans, and ballott stuffing is the weapon of choice. You either come with it or don't come at all.
Thats my point I guess. I dont agree with the system and I think it should be changed. I mean, for me personally, as far as who the fans want to see, I want to see the player that deserves it. Thats just MO. I fully realize thats not how everyone thinks though. Again, its not that I dont agree with voting for hometown favorites, i just dont agree with voting for them an absurd amount of times just to see them play in the game. We get to see Yao play 82 times this year. If he develops like we think he will, and in conjunction with the fact that Shaq might very well be gone after 2 or 3 more seasons, Yao will not only get the fan vote, hell deserve it too.
See, thats the point I was trying to make. The NBA has made it so easy to manipulate the vote. Its like a vicious cycle. For example: When the first all star vote totals are posted, and (in theory) we see Payton ahead of Francis, well stuff the ballott to put Francis in the lead. Then when the next round of vote totals come out, Seattle fans will see Francis ahead of Payton and then they will stuff the ballot boxes. On and on and on. I fully realize its a product of the system. Thats why it should be altered slightly. Kinda of like the whole theory of everyones vote should count equally. If I vote 1 time for Steve and some guy in LA votes 1,000 times for Fisher, then his vote counts 1000 times more than than mine. Not fair. I mean, I realize we arent electing a president here, but there is still an inherent unfairness in all this to players AND fans. In the end, its not "who the fans want to see", its "who the fans that have so much spare time that they can cast 100 ballots a day in between being a couch potato and looking at p*rn on the internet want to see". BTW, I am not assuming or accusing any of you of looking at p*rn all day.
Sorry but Ming does not even deserve a spot on the all star ballot This is a farce, why no eddie griffin?
i voted 10 times........... all the rockets. except for one forward spot. it was dirk.. and i been sendin ppl emails remindin them to vote for HTOWN. over. and over. and over and over........................
There's only one problem with changing the date on your computer to 2005: The cookie that clocked itself when you first voted ALSO re-cookies that confirmation number when you go back to vote. The same number over and over again might not be valid. In other words, their system might catch it. Even though it's slower, I'm voting, closing my browser window, clearing my NBA.com cookies, and then voting again. It sucks because I have to re-type a new comfirmation number each time, but at least I know for sure that my votes are counting. And by the way...all you have to vote on is the Rockets, you don't have to waste your time BSing with the Eastern Conference while you're trying to stuff the ballots.
I'm gonna have to take a break. I've voted a good 200 times today, and I know when I go to sleep all I'll hear is my self-narrative of "K.Thomas, S.Francis, C.Mobley, Y.Ming, write in Eddie Griffin, confirmation numbers, vote now, close window, tools, cookie manager, clear cookies, OK, click on link, K.Thomas, S.Francis...."
