Based on his performance this year, Yao is a borderline All-Star. You may select him or you may not. One can present a valid argument either way. However, the ASG is all about popularity. Yao is the most popular basketball player in the world (according to the ASG voting results) and he should be in the game.
If the all star game was based on potential, then lebron James would have been playing when he was still in high school and you would have the same guys every year which would be boring and also unfair on the many also-rans, who would be also rans year after year, despite often playing better. I for one never said that yao didnt deserve the starting position. Just that some argument needed to be made; it is not self evident "by far". I think that many people think yao hasnt quite lived up to expectations in terms of improvement this season. Yao said it himself. This isnt a tragedy, but this is why even pro Yao guys can be leaning into other camps this year.
If Yao is not all-star, I don't know what an all star is anymore. People need to watch the game and judge a player by his impact on the team and the game, not by numbers. We all know Yao does not care about his number, he'll get better number if he played more selfishly.
why are we having the same discussion in every year's all star game? Just look back at last year's discussion. It's a popularity contest for the ASG starters. Fans want to see them, then let them see the players they voted for. It's not Yao's or other "lesser" All-Stars fault to be voted in by fans or coaches. Majority rules.
I think that Joel Przybilla should be the all star. Forget his form for the rest of the seasons (for that matter since he was drafted). Hes been on the spinach. Some great blocks last night and today 19 pts 17 rebounds. When did Yao last do that?
Your guys are all wrong. Earl Boykins of the Nuggets should be the starting CENTER of the western conference all stars. His point production per height is phenomenal, way better than what Shaq did. The fans and coaches just do not know what basketball games are. They got everything wrong. It is the production per height , stupid. According to production per height, Iverson is the #1 player in the league, Boykins is #2 and everybody else just lags behind.
You've got to love Przybilla's FG percentage. 8/11 tonight. Started off a little over 1/3 in his rookie seaons and now a touch below 2/3. That is approximately the difference between the team scoring 70 and 130 points a game...
You know what, I wish NBA should require the fans voting for All stars must show their American passport first, then we might have no these stupid articals and argument again and again this time every year.
One decent game followed by one good game and you are saying he should be in the all star game? The four games before the last two games he scored 2, 0, 8, 4 points and he's averaging 4.3 points for the season.
I didn't think it was possible for people to be this stupid, but I guess I'm wrong. Hey, if Przybilla should make the all star based on one team, I can think of hundreds of HOFers based on one game. Billa is so good that his jailblazers are a grand 21 and 29.
Let's see... Stats - wise PPG: Advantage Yao Boards: Advantage Miller Dimes: Advantage Miller Blocks: Advantage Yao Yeah, I can definitely how Miller comes ahead stats wise, especially if you consider that Yao plays fewer minutes Others Intangibles: Advantage Yao Defence: Advantage Yao Oh yeah, we sure need a good argument to prove Yao is clearly better, especially consider that Yao's the one facing double/triple teams and fronting and Miller's the one taking open jumpers.
Yao recent performance is a star of ALL-STAR. B. Miller? come on !!!!this guy doesn't have any any low-post, play like small forward!
all sports writer who have written about all-star selection so far are against Yao's selection. some just think Yao shouldn't start. others think Yao shouldn't even be on the bench. i don't value their opinions more just because they write for a living. but these guys can surely influence the opinions of a lot of people who don't follow Yao play closely. in the long term it's gonna hurt Yao's popularity if Yao doesn't improve.
Yao drawing in the defense, so his teammates get easier shots. Miller's teammates spreading out the opposing defense, so he can take open jumpers. Enuf said.
There's not a better center in the West. Period. Brad Miller's the only one that come close statistically to Yao, but he makes no where near the impact on his team that Yao does. Remember, I'm the one that's come in for the past two years around All-Star time and said that Yao shouldn't be starting.
I don't even know if Miller should really be considered a center. No post moves, no shotblocking, no decent post defense (at least when guarding Yao).
Most of the 'experts' are saying that Amare should have been the starting C BUT Amare is listed at PF in the ballot (even if he was listed at C, he wouldn't start) After Yao..you have NO ONE ELSE he's the natural, justifiable choice
The writers are probably just going on their memories of Yao at the beginning of the season, when he was playing while injured. Since the Rox don't appear that often on national TV, the writers probably don't realize that Yao is now consistently a 20/9 guy, and would have even better numbers if he were just a little bit more selfish.
B.Miller isn't that bad but he's not that far off from Yao. Yao has a larger impact on the game defensively but b.miller isn't a scrub. He may not block but he plays pretty good on the ball defense. I'm saying yao is better but b.miller is no slouch. He's still behind Yao though. Brad is a really good all around player. He was lighting it up when webber and peja were out of the line-up so he is capable of scoring but he's playing his role in Sacramento. I don't think he reached his peak until he got to the kings though. He has the same problem as yao sometimes by not being aggressive enough but he definitely is talented. Only place Brad is better than Yao though is Fantasy basketball
