Baron should be an All-Star

by EternalWarriorsOptimist on Jan 25, 2007 5:43 PM PST

NBA.com just announced the All-Star team

Starters:

"Leastern" Conference
F - LeBron James, Cleveland
F - Chris Bosh, Toronto
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Miami
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami
G - Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Head coach: TBD

Western Conference
F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
C - Yao Ming, Houston
G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G - Tracy McGrady, Houston
Head coach: Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix

The only one of these I really have a problem with is Shaq. Seriously, he hasn't done anything this year and he shouldn't be on the All-Star team. Whatever though, it just gives the West and advantage.

I think Baron should definitely be named a reserve. Looking at the balloting, it's clear that the majority of basketball fans don't think so. Now either these people are just dumb or there's ballot-stuffing happening in certain states (Texas, Florida, ahem, ahem) or both. Check out the difference between the votes and performance of Western Conference guards:

Player Team Votes FSPI*
Kobe Bryant Lakers 2,138,777 5.56
Tracy McGrady Rockets 1,942,796 4.38
Allen Iverson Nuggets 1,813,638 4.97
Steve Nash Suns 1,504,826 5.70
Manu Ginobili Spurs 541,341 4.75
Tony Parker Spurs 501,429 4.18
Chris Paul Hornets 462,206 4.12
Ray Allen Sonics 444,443 5.17
Jason Terry Mavs 421,924 4.42
Baron Davis Dubs 354,412 5.02

Baron has the 4th highest FSPI!!! (Monta, by the way, is 17th in FSPI among Western Confernce guards, with a score of 3.93)

*FSPI is fantasy player rating system explained here. As other people on this site have said, it's a great way to evaluate and compare different players' overall game.

So all I'm saying is that if they went strictly by a player's performance, Baron would be an All-Star.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

Yeah... but those are just the starters...

Yao is out for sure so Amare will probably get the start in the middle... leaving 7 spots in the west. The 2 guards will probably be Nash and Iverson... Forwards look like Dirk and Marion... the Center looks like Boozer leaving 2 spots and about 5 players trying out for those two spots: Baron Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Elton Brand, Josh Howard, and perrenial all star Ray Allen. Hopefully Diddy can kill the opposing coaches within the next week to steal a spot.

by mightymadskillz on Jan 25, 2007 6:11 PM PST reply actions

the all star game is a joke.

Remember when last year for the first half, Tmac was injured for most of it with his back spasms and family problems... AND HE STILL GETS TO BE A STARTER ON THE ALLSTAR TEAM!

The allstar game is purely a popularity contest with maybe a TINY big of legitimate recognition.

Baron should totally be an allstar the way he carries this team but he will never get to be on the allstar team in the next 5 years or so because Nash, Kobe, and Iverson are all in the West. Not to mention the guard/foward tweeners like Tmac that will be on the allstar team as a guard because of the plethora of allstar caliber fowards in the West.

The allstar game is a joke.

by ZombieWarrior on Jan 25, 2007 6:29 PM PST up reply actions

ALSO

Shaq is going to be an allstar this year.... again.... WTF!??!!

He barely even played this season and hes gonna be an Allstar?? uhh.....

by ZombieWarrior on Jan 25, 2007 6:50 PM PST up reply actions

this guy

is an idiot, it's been a popularity contest, the starters are VOTED by "fans".

by CatchAndShoot on Jan 26, 2007 9:58 AM PST up reply actions

could you be more immature?

What? I'm an idiot when I complain about how fans can even think to vote for Shaq over Dwight Howard when Howard has easily been the best center in the east this year when Shaq has only played for like 4 games?

I'm an idiot when I complain about how TMac gets the starting spot when Dirk has easily been the Allstar worthy of a starting spot over Tmac this season hands down? Not to mention a possible MVP winner?

I'm not even going to get started on KG. Why dont you take your immature attitude somewhere else.

by ZombieWarrior on Jan 26, 2007 11:04 AM PST up reply actions

It seems like the NBA would rather have

Josh Howard in there instead of Baron.

Rewarding the winning teams players and ignoring Davis' return to MVP of the team form.

Josh Howard is nice, a big part of Dallas' playoff runs the past few years, but our team literally lives or dies by Baron.

He can play all 48 minutes(and has done so plenty of times this year) and is the constant triple double threat a'la Nash and Kidd.

But it all depends on if Carmelo's suspension counts against him, or if they want more forwards again this year on the West -which seems to happen every year.

My pick would be Melo and BD, sorry Brand/Allen/Howard.

by back2back51s on Jan 25, 2007 6:51 PM PST up reply actions

MVP of the team meaning

the Warriors a losing team? This is what you mean right? You couldn't be holding Baron up as a realistic MVP of the league?

by Zig on Jan 25, 2007 11:44 PM PST up reply actions

MVP of the team

He carries our team. Best player we have, etc.

I thought that was pretty clear. I didn't say anything about MVP of the league.

by back2back51s on Jan 26, 2007 3:49 PM PST up reply actions

Does anyone have espn insider?

I'm curious to see who Hollinger's all-star teams are... please post if you do

by mightymadskillz on Jan 25, 2007 6:22 PM PST reply actions

argh.

I HATE what the all-star game stands for now. it's a joke. Shaq a starter?? Is that the same Shaq that was unimpressive in all of his four games this season? He, a starter, over league-leading rebounder Dwight Howard? Tracy McGrady at guard? Yeah he's good and all, but people can't base their all-star selections on people because they were awesome dunkers 4 years ago. And Yao, who's played half the season, a starter? It is absolutely sickening to me that the 2 players who could quite likely be 1 and 2 in MVP voting were it held today (Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash), are not starting in the all-star game.

by bradyk2 on Jan 25, 2007 6:24 PM PST reply actions

Tracy McGrady

is carrying the Rockets without Yao to a great record. Why wouldn't he go over Baron?

by Zig on Jan 25, 2007 11:45 PM PST up reply actions

Monta

is rated that high because they don't count turnovers in that fantasy league.
Also funny that they use Baron as a guy you want to have despite the fact that he's always hurt.

by bloodsweatndonuts on Jan 25, 2007 6:44 PM PST reply actions

Always Hurt?

Yea maybe in years past, but not this year.

by Psion on Jan 25, 2007 7:17 PM PST up reply actions

Not this season...

He's only missed 4 games to injury...

by bradyk2 on Jan 25, 2007 6:58 PM PST reply actions

Which puts him over

Ray Allen with that category considered this year.

And if they put in Allen when Seattle has a (slightly right now, which is depressing) worse record by the All Star break when its all said and done, that's a shame.

by back2back51s on Jan 25, 2007 7:03 PM PST up reply actions

d-howard got snubbed

this is absolutely ridiculous.

by reppin the bay @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 25, 2007 7:37 PM PST reply actions

all-star game

hate to be a party-pooper, but Baron has slim chances of making it. The all-star team requires 4 guards, 4 forwards, 2 centers, and 2 of any position. The west is very deep at forward so the 2 of any position will almost surely be 2 forwards. 2 starting guards have already been chosen, so Baron has to get one of the last two guard spots among a group including Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Chris Paul, and Allen Iverson. If it's even close, the player that is on a winning team is almost always rewarded. I see the last two guard spots being Nash and Iverson. It sucks, if we were in the East not only would our record be better but Baron would almost surely be an all-star.

by gsw4life on Jan 25, 2007 7:37 PM PST reply actions

I really don't think he deserves it

when you consider the others

He is a good talent but he isn't at the level of these other guys

by Zig on Jan 25, 2007 11:46 PM PST up reply actions

voting is a joke

the all-star game itself isn't the problem, it's the fact that the nba allows the idiot fans to have 100% say on who the starters are. i agree that fans should have some input, but with the way they constantly mess it up year after year it needs to be changed. it should be 40% coaches, 40% players, and only 20% fans.

by AJC3317 on Jan 25, 2007 8:18 PM PST reply actions

I wouldn't put an of the Spurs guards

on the team, because they haven't done anything great, and Manu is now a bench player. I don't think the NBA should put Carmelo on the team after he threw a punch at a guy. Iverson...well he did miss a lot of time while deactivated. Chris Paul was out for a while. Ray Allen is on a worse team than the Warriors and has been out for a while. Steve Nash is a gimme. Baron is the only consistent player. Even if Iverson was put on the team, I would give one of the two extra spots to Baron instead of Carmelo.

by racsan on Jan 25, 2007 8:21 PM PST reply actions

perhaps

you wouldn't, but I'm positive that most NBA experts would, because the player on the winning team gets the advantage if it's even close

by gsw4life on Jan 26, 2007 7:35 AM PST up reply actions

i thought

the coaches get to pick reserves? or is it ALL voting.

by djchuckdeez on Jan 25, 2007 8:52 PM PST reply actions

yes

coaches pick reserves

by AJC3317 on Jan 25, 2007 10:08 PM PST up reply actions

maybe he'll get voted in?

2 more guards plus 2 players regardless of position right

by djchuckdeez on Jan 25, 2007 11:09 PM PST up reply actions

All Star game...

has been a joke for YEARS. Shaq should at least hand over the start to D-howard. If he doesn't then I really question his character since he hasn't touch a game all season! Congrats on Arenas though, winning the start over VC.

by MVP @ Golden State Of Mind on Jan 25, 2007 9:01 PM PST reply actions

True...

Baron will have a hard time making it. 2 guards, 2 forwards, 1 center left. Most likely AI and Nash will take the guards. Carmelo and Dirk have good shots as forwards, and Camby the center. that leaves 2 spots left....many analysts put Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and Josh Howard there. Plus there's still Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Kevin Martin, etc...

by bradyk2 on Jan 25, 2007 9:13 PM PST reply actions