Baseline Cut's

The 2010 NBA All-Farce Game November 19, 2009

Posted by thebigfundamental in NBA.
Tags: NBA, NBA All Star Game
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by thebigfundamental

I love the feeling of democracy on your face as you metaphorically walk to the virtual polling booth for the 2010 NBA All-star game. Yep nothing like a bit of recognition for a tough 10 games played so far in the season irrespective of what is going to happen in the next 72. Completely democratic so nothing about this could be wrong – right? Right?????

That was until I metaphorically opened the voting form (went to NBA.com and clicked the link) and saw what was on offer… West Forwards: Al Thornton, Ron Artest, Jeff Green, Blake Griffin, Grant Hill, Richard Jefferson, Anthony Randolph….*gulp* Which one to choose… Such a tough choice… So many big names…. Ok I’ll just skip to the East Forwards: Hakim Warrick, Udonis Haslem, Tayshaun Prince, Anderson Varajao, Elton Brand, Michael Beasley…. *sigh* this isn’t any easier… What do I do????

I’ll lose the sarcasm now and tell you what I do – wonder how the hell Anderson Varajao gets nominated for an all-star game over Joakim Noah. Or how Blake Griffin is the only rookie on the form even though he’s not playing at present, and Jennings/Evans/Flynn are 3 of the better PG’s in the league but get snubbed for Chris Duhon and Raymond Felton… Heck why not chuck Luke Ridnour on there? Actually even better, AI could come back and play us a song (see picture inset), or why not chuck Jerry Stackhouse on there because potentially come all-start time he might be in the NBA again and we all love “the Stack” right? ? Wrong….

It’s bad enough that the all-star weekend is dying a slow and painful death but to make the balloting process an embarrassment shows where the game is it – pure corporate greed. It’s bad enough that “rules” have been modified to make the game “more exciting” [N.B. if I ever see another "spin move" by a guard that's 3/4 steps long and hear a commentator go "how do they do it?"....] and that refs rig the outcome of games (we all know it’s happening) but do we really need to bump the sales of Anderson Varajao jerseys by making him an All-star or was there an oversight in processing and now they’re trying to “pass the savings onto us?”

From the players available I’ve decided I’d share my vote casting with you. I made several teams such was the quality of players on offer:

The All-Absent Teams: These teams comprise some of the NBA’s most amazing talent, that is if they actually make it to the game.

East:

Guards: Devin Harris & Jameer Nelson: Harris may not return for a long time, especially when NJ are not looking like contending at all. Nelson is out AGAIN so we shouldn’t hold our breath come All-star time.

Forwards: Tayshaun Prince & Troy Murphy: One is out for the season whilst the other has been “due to return” any day now for well… The season? Given Prince was injured before the ballot went out why is he even here? Not to mention… Why would he even be there anyway?

Centre: Shaq: We love Shaq. Shaq loves the odd night off too, and by odd I don’t mean every now and then, I mean games numbered 1, 3, 5 etc etc etc….

West:

Guards: Josh Howard & Kevin Martin: These two are done for the season pretty much and have a rich history of injury, absence, and wearing suits to games.

Forwards: Blake Griffin & Kevin Love. They played a combined 2 games this season and one can only speculate what amazing, all-star worthy seasons they’re going to have. Special mention to Kenyon Martin as well.

Centre: Al Jefferson: If he was healthy he’s the best C in the West. But we’ve been saying that for 2 seasons now. No reason not to put him on the ballot though!!!

The All-Aged Teams: These teams comprise some of the NBA’s most amazing talent, from Sprite commercials in the 90′s. No seriously – these guys are merely here for sentimental reasons. Basically we can’t let go and neither can their ego’s.

East:

Guards: Mike Bibby & Michael Redd: Everyone see Bradon Jennings drop 55 the other night??? These guys didn’t because they’d already been drugged up, and put to sleep in their respective nursing homes.

Forwards: Elton Brand & Kevin Garnett: Two fo the best low-block players ever… At their primes!!! Right now KG is meandering on in an efficient manner but Brand is completely in limbo. I’d allow KG to be a bench player but straight out all-star – well as we’re only 10 games into the season he’s falling well below Bosh/Smith et al.

Centre: Rasheed Wallace : Sheed’s another who won’t recognize that the writing is on the wall. Putting him in here only further extends that illusion.

West:

Guards: Tracy McGrady & Jason Terry: T-Mac almost made the above team but I had to put him in here. In 1.5 years he’s hardly touched a ball and when he does his back goes out. JT is a nice sub, but nowhere near an all-star yet “the jet” would have to admit the writing is on the wall if he were not to be nominated.

Forwards: Grant Hill & Kenyon Martin. K-Mart is like T-Mac but had to go in here. He was an all-star in his early days but has been far off that type of form since. Remember Grant Hill back in the Sprite commercial days? You don’t? Probably because you weren’t born….

Centre: Antonio McDyess: No idea why this is – he’s hardly played for his new team and even then is playing the PF spot. Go figure. Anyways Antonio was in the draft directly after Grant Hill – nuf sed!!!

The All-”You gotta be kidding”Teams: These teams comprise some of the NBA’s most unamazing talent – pure and simple. How they got on the form can only be attributed to syntax error… Repeatedly…

East:

Guards: Chris Duhon & Raymond Felton: Both playing terribly. One just got benched behind a rookie who can’t pass, but can shoot which is somehow an upside given Duhon can’t pass or shoot. Felton is just insane for not taking that extension – if this is “playing for a contract” he’s in big trouble come next FA period.

Forwards: Udonis Haslem & Anderson Varajao: How do two role players of the bench for 20 mins a night get nominated?  Whacky hair? Beats me but they’re on the form…

Centre: Samuel Dalambert/Tyson Chandler/Brad Miller: All playing woefully and all getting picked ahead of Noah and Hibbert. Go figure.

West:

Guards: Leandro Barbosa, Ramon Sessions & Andre Miller: Sessions and Miller haven’t gelled with their new teams and would be on the street if not for their hefty contracts. Barbosa is clearly just a marketing ploy. Why not put Yao Ming on then even though he is out for the season?

Forwards: Al Thornton& Anthony Randolph: Thornton has been relegated to the bench for the Clippers while Randolph seems to have made the team based on his pre-season game where he scored 40 points. Pre-season game I said….

Centre: Andris Beidrins: I may as well have put Allen Iverson here as at this point, even though he’s not even in the NBA now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him nominated for a gig. Biedrins has hardly played and is all-star caliber if fit but that’s the thing isn’t it?

A lot of this can simply be put down to the marketing scheme of the NBA – get ballots out early to try and get as many people there as possible. I mean, they are holding it in a football stadium this year to try and squeeze as many in as possible!!! But 10 games in players like Biedrins are still unknown. McGrady may never come back. Jennings/Evans/Noah aren’t even there!!!! The All-star game has become a farce in the face of excessive marketing and over-commercialisation but hey, all the yanks experiencing the GFC will have the money to fill a football stadium right??? No??? Beter get advertising then….