A spoonful of sense to sweeten the All-Star Game: OK, so we'll probably never have a perfect system for picking All-Star starters. But at least we can get the reserves right

Sporting News, The, Feb 11, 2005 by Sean Deveney

Now's the time when NBA observers everywhere adopt a standard pose of indignation, a haughty pooh-poohing of the opinions of the masses. Every year, the results of fan balloting for the All-Star Game come in, and every year there's something that makes the know-it-all writer gnash his teeth and demand that the league forever ban the outdated practice of fan balloting. But every year, the NBA does not listen (because the All-Star Game is played for the enjoyment of fans, perhaps the league has good reason to give them a vote, but NBA observers are not supposed to mention that).

So the outrages pile up. Vince Carter will be an All-Star starter, which will make him the worst All-Star starter since ... Vince Carter, last year. One gets the sense that Carter could be caught on video dining on a meal of puppy livers and bald eagle wings and he still would be voted a starter. In less offensive news, because the league sets up the ballot before the season starts, LeBron James will be a starter at guard, though he has been a forward all season. Ditto for Tracy McGrady. Amare Stoudemire has excelled at center and should start over Yao Ming at that position, but he's listed as a forward.

Here, the writer must tell himself: Relax. There are greater injustices in the world. It's only an All-Star Game.

Based on the most recent balloting, the starters in the East will be Allen Iverson and James at guard, Grant Hill and Carter at forward and Shaquille O'Neal at center. In the West, it'll be Kobe Bryant and McGrady at guard, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett at forward and Yao at center. The starters aren't likely to change--but the reserves, voted on by coaches, are still up in the air. Perhaps good sense will prevail there and the All-Star reserves will look something like this:

East reserve guards: Dwyane Wade, Heat; Gilbert Arenas, Wizards; Paul Pierce, Celtics; Steve Francis, Magic.

Apologies to: Michael Redd, Bucks; Stephon Marbury, Knicks; Richard Hamilton, Pistons; Chauncey Billups, Pistons; Jamaal Tinsley, Pacers; Kirk Hinrich, Bulls.

The East is stacked with guards. Redd, an All-Star last year, has done nothing to diminish his status, except that the Bucks are losing. Overall, Marbury's numbers are superior to Francis', but Francis' scoring ability, especially in the clutch, has rescued several wins for the Magic, and Marbury's team has sunk. Arenas' decision-making has improved dramatically, and though Pierce's Celtics have struggled, he is still an exceptional scorer who can pass and rebound.

East reserve forwards: Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers; Antawn Jamison, Wizards.

Apologies to: Emeka Okafor, Bobcats.

The East has few quality forwards, especially with Richard Jefferson and Ron Artest out. O'Neal is the only no-brainer on the forwards list. It's a tough call between Okafor and Jamison, but Jamison's scoring punch and the Wizards' excellent start make the veteran the choice.

East reserve center: Ben Wallace, Pistons.

Apologies to: Nazr Mohammed, Knicks; Jeff Foster, Pacers; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers.

Mohammed is having the best season of his seven-year career, Foster has been a rebounding machine, and Ilgauskas is a fine offensive weapon--but none of these three has the impact on his team that Wallace has.

West reserve guards: Ray Allen, Sonics; Steve Nash, Suns.

Apologies to: Jason Richardson, Warriors; Mike Bibby, Kings; Tony Parker, Spurs; Manu Ginobili, Spurs.

Richardson's all-around improvement has gone overlooked because the Warriors have been bad this season, but he shows signs of All-Star talent. Not enough signs yet, though, to challenge Nash and Allen, the leaders of the two most surprising teams in the league.

West reserve forwards- Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks; Chris Webber, Kings; Shawn Marion, Suns; Peja Stojakovic, Kings.

Apologies to: Troy Murphy, Warriors; Elton Brand, Clippers; Rashard Lewis, Sonics; Pau Gasol, Grizzlies; Zach Randolph, Trail Blazers; Carlos Boozer, Jazz.

It's hard to imagine a time when Brand and Randolph, who churn out 20 points and 10 rebounds consistently, will have a chance to be regular All-Stars. In the West, 20 and 10 gets you the same as six points and three rebounds per game---four days off in February. You either have to be a dazzling scorer such as Nowitzki and Stojakovic or a wonderfully versatile player such as Garnett, Webber and Marion to make the cut. If Andrei Kirilenko had stayed healthy, he probably would have beaten out Stojakovic.

West reserve center: Amare Stoudemire, Suns.

Apologies to: Brad Miller, Kings. Stoudemire is a natural power forward who has helped key the Suns' fast start with his willingness to play center. What he lacks in bulk, he more than makes up for in athleticism, power and intelligence. He has developed a nice midrange jumper to go with those hide-the-children dunks.

INSIDE DISH

Folks in Los Angeles are not at all surprised by SF Darius Miles' behavior in Portland last week. Miles reportedly directed a racial epithet at Portland coach Maurice Cheeks during a film session and told him he didn't care if the Blazers lost 20 in a row because Cheeks was on his way to being fired. Reportedly, when Cheeks told Miles to leave, Miles (very maturely) responded, "Make me." Says a former assistant coach with the Clippers, Miles' team in his first two seasons, "The thing about Darius, the only thing he's ever really cared about is money. He got a lot of money this summer, so what does he have to care about now? "The reference is to the six-year, $48 million contract Miles signed in the offseason. The size of the contract, combined with Miles' reputation, ensures the Blazers will find it almost impossible to trade him. > He still flashes the same problems (lack of hustle, muscle and smarts) that he did throughout his three-year stint with Orlando, but backup C Steven Hunter is showing progress with Phoenix. He's mostly a dunker who stays out of the way on offense, but Hunter is expanding his offensive game a bit, and his shot blocking is outstanding (as usual) with 1.4 per game in just 13.3 minutes. He has cut down his mental lapses and is benefiting from playing next to C Amare Stoudemire. > The Hornets never really expected SF Jamal Mashburn to play for them this season, but the team hopes he still can be a big part of its future-this summer. Mashburn's contract expires after the 2005-06 season, and the Hornets figure he could be a valuable piece for a team wanting to clear cap space for future contract extensions. The 2002 draft class is up for extensions this summer that will begin in 2006. The Pistons could use the space to sign SF Tayshaun Prince. The same applies to the Rockets in their quest to keep C Yao Ming and to the Suns, who will be looking to keep Stoudemire. The Pistons also have C Ben Wallace up for a new contract in 2006.