Restructuring the NBA All Star Game
Posted by Phil Partington Categories: Editorial, NBA,
.For years, the NBA All Star Game has been a bit of a joke, the biggest problem being that the fans are allowed to vote in the starters. While there is truth to the argument, this game is for the fans, there are many NBA player contracts with incentives written into them for making the All Star roster. If this game is to measure the quality of a player’s recent production, how can it be determined by a popularity vote by casual fans who don’t even follow the game?
Take Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers, for example. Iverson was voted in as a starter, despite not getting minutes with the Memphis Grizzlies, and only producing 14.5 ppg and 4.2 apg in a respectable 32 minutes a night while in Philadelphia. Take Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets, who was nearly voted in as an All Star over Steve Nash, despite playing in just six games this season where he averaged 3.2 ppg. The problem is an embarrassment to the whole event, and should undergo serious reconstruction.
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Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson are 2010 All-star starters?
In the last update of NBA all-star balloting before the starters are announced on January 21, 2010, one can easily see two travesties within the voting leaders. I have checked my calendar a billion times since the new year to make sure it actually is 2010 and not 2000. Allen Iverson, after playing only 13 games this year, leads Vince Carter by more than 185,000 votes for the right to start in the Eastern Conference backcourt alongside Dwyane Wade. The Answer being the answer to so many fans’ question of who should start in the all-star game this year is an equation that has all sorts of holes in it, but with an insurmountable lead, us sane NBA fans will just have to find a way to accept it.
However, there is still enough time to right the other wrong.
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December 2009 NBA All Star Potential Starters
Posted by Phil Partington Categories: Editorial, NBA,
Fan voting is a major folly of the NBA All-Star Game. Each year, NBA fans are allowed to vote to determine which players start in the esteemed game. The problem with this format is that 1) fans on the whole don’t know squat about which players actually deserve the honor, and 2) fans are biased. Since online voting has been allowed, Chinese players, such as Yao Ming, have had an unfair advantage due to their huge popularity in China. This leads to a tainted All-Star Game, where, in all likelihood Yao may be voted in as the starting center for the Western Conference, despite not playing in one single game this season to injury.
With that in mind, here are the players—after considering only the first month of the season—who deserve to start in the 2010 NBA All Star Game in February.
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2009-2010 NBA Pacific Division Preview
Posted by Phil Partington Categories: Editorial, NBA,
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking like a fantasy basketball team this year. Coach Phil Jackson has the ideal challenge of which star to play at what times. Beyond that, the NBA’s Pacific Division should be competitive in 2009-2010. Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire hope to lead the Phoenix Suns back to the playoffs after a disappointing season in 2008-2009; the Los Angeles Clippers look like a playoff team on paper if they can stay healthy; the Golden State Warriors have plenty of talent, but no chemistry, defense or size; and the Sacramento Kings also hope its stars can stay healthy and the younger talent can continue to improve. Ring the bell, the fight for the Pacific Division is about to start.
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Fantasy NBA: Analysis of Second Round
The first two picks usually define the direction your fantasy team builds towards. For example, matching Dwight Howard with Jose Calderon would not be the best play for a head-to-head league; although this pairing begins to cover all the various categories, the strengths of these players do not overlap. Punting categories gets too much attention in head-to-head articles; however the art of building up strength in certain categories is a requirement for success. And so, let us now look at the second round based on Yahoo average draft position (ADP) rankings, with some specific attention to how these players might complement certain players taken in the first round.
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 6
In a month where Kanye West further distinguished himself with his antics and Serena Williams suggesting she could overcome laws of physics and anatomy by shoving a tennis ball down a line judge’s throat, perhaps what set the sports blogosphere the most ablaze was the Hall of Fame speech from his Airness, Michael Jordan. Something tells me that when this next pick, a two-time MVP, steps up to the podium, he will be nothing but gracious as he reflects on the good life that this game of basketball has given him.
Some might argue against his credentials for being a Hall-of-Famer, but I for one believe it is a no-brainer. Him, Amar’e Stoudemire and the rest of the “7 Seconds or Less” Phoenix Suns brought back fast-break fun to the league.
Round 2, Pick 6: Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 2, Pick 5
So who wins the bronze medal in fantasy point guards heading into this season? Chris Paul gets consideration for first pick overall, so calling him the first point guard to be taken comes across as a big understatement. Deron Williams sits solidly in the #2 position. As you prepare for week 1 of the NFL season, keep in mind that NBA teams will open their training camps in just a few weeks. At least four to five point guard-eligible players will come off the board in between the early second round and the beginning of the third round. I always like a point guard who can score as well as shoot the three, plus of course dish the rock in elite fashion. “Mr. Big Shot” took his trade to his home state team in stride and led them to the conference finals last season.
Round 2, Pick 5: Chauncey Billups, PG, Denver Nuggets
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One Man Mock Draft, Fantasy NBA 2009: Round 1, Pick 12
Following the all-time leader in assists and steals is a lot of pressure, both for the management who must try to find “the next one” and for the player who must work to fill the shoes of one John Stockton. Plus, the Utah Jazz picked this player over Chris Paul! The Portland Trail Blazers continue to receive ridicule for picking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan, but the Houston Rockets generally get a pass because they drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, a player who became a two-time champion and MVP over a hall of fame career. Expect the noise to be as quiet as it was for Hakeem for this player, as he is on track to do almost as well as Paul, moving forward.
Round 1, Pick 12: Deron Williams, PG, Utah Jazz
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The End Score Report 003: Joey Crawford’s Ego, Steve Nash for MVP, Brady Quinn a Bust?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Athletes, Editorial, Front Office, NBA, News, NFL, Videocasts,
In this edition of the End Score Report, Dan Devone gives his take on the latest news from the world of sports. Today we talk about:
- Referee Joey Crawford’s insane ego, throwing Tim Duncan out of game due to personal reasons.
- Who should take MVP in the NBA this season? We say Steve Nash.
- Brady Quinn and the NFL draft - a mistake?
Agree or disagree? Let us know your thoughts on the End Score forums.
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Cavaliers and Spurs Draw First Blood
Posted by Milo Taibi Categories: Athletes, NBA, Playoffs,
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs each won the first game in their series on Sunday. The New Jersey Nets and the Phoenix Suns each lost. Each Series is now 1-0.
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