The 2011 NBA All-Star ballot has been released and fans are in for a real treat when looking at this year’s potential selections. Forget about Kobe Bryant and LeBron James this year. Want to vote for Mario Chalmers, ladies and gentlemen? How about the distinguished Troy Murphy? Or maybe Utah’s dominating big man Mehmet Okur, who has yet to play this season? The tantalizing choice is all yours.
Check out this year’s ballot, courtesy of Sports Illustrated HERE.
Seriously, I hate the fact that we’re in the process of voting for NBA All-Star starters in the middle of November. I also dislike the fact that the ballots are produced before the season even begins, but who am I to judge? I understand the complications and difficulties creating the ballot during the season would create, but Linas Kleiza, folks? Really?! I know it was probably difficult to pick three Raptors players before the season started but how about Reggie Evans – he would’ve been a much better selection.
I know that these guys aren’t psychics but you would think that common sense would win out in this case.
Besides, how in the world can I complain about the All-Star game ballot when Mr. Paul Pierce is so gosh darn excited? Tell us how you really feel, Paul!!!
That being said, as a reminder here are a couple of guidelines officials follow when creating the NBA All-Star ballot:
*1. Every team must have a minimum of three players on the ballot which is made up of the top 12 centers, 24 forwards, and 24 guards in each conference.
- All of the voting is completed during the first week of October for printing reasons. The league needs that much time to get the ballots ready for public consumption.*
Here are ten observations I’ve made after reviewing the ballot and also a few from other sources:
- Paul Millsap is not listed. That alone is a minor travesty. Not only because he is averaging a healthy 21.5 points and 9.5 boards for the division-leading Jazz, but they should’ve known this was possible after watching him tear it up while Carlos Boozer recovered from injuries back in the day. Andrei Kirilenko, guys?
- There was no need to include Mario Chalmers on the ballot. None. I just don’t get it. You could have listed ME on the ballot and it would’ve made the same amount of sense.
- Jason Terry, a perennial NBA Sixth-Man Award candidate, was left off the ballot in favor of Derek Fisher. Did they take 0.4 seconds to think this one over?
- Rookies John Wall and Demarcus Cousins made the list – both are actually deserving in relation to other players on their squads.
- Trevor Ariza is on this ballot. Yes, I said it. They’d have been better off putting Marco Belinelli at a guard spot and putting Millsap in at forward. Speaking of the Hornets, what has happened to Peja? Just saying.
- Shaquille O’Neal is listed and even though I’m a Celtics fan, I sure hope he doesn’t garner too many “casual” fans’ votes that prevent players like Noah, Hibbert, and Bogut from getting the attention they deserve. Dwight Howard will win this one in a landslide but hey, integrity counts!
- Does anyone realize how All-Star game selections affect a player’s chances, good or bad, for induction into the Hall of Fame? I wish fans would take this into account when voting (example: Allen Iverson had no business being selected last year) as it isn’t just an entertainment piece but a real, tangible honor.
- Wow… the glut of talent at the forward position in the West will be a challenging vote for most. Nowitzki, Anthony, Duncan, Love, Randolph, Beasley – the list goes on and on. Nowitzki or Anthony will no doubt garner a starting spot but the coaches will have tough decisions to make when selecting reserves.
- I think, with all the media attention being paid to Kevin Love these days, that he might not get a starting nod but he’ll take away votes from either Nowtizki or Anthony that will impact the forward race.
- In closing, I can’t understand why in the 21st Century we continue to submit paper ballots. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could just go online and vote for whoever your little heart desires? I mean, you can write it on the ballot (I wrote Rick Fox in during the 1996 season – laugh away!) but I suppose the NBA figures its vote tallies would suffer greatly so they just stick to this system. They say convenient, I say ARCHAIC.
Yes, I’m an NBA All-Star Game ballot hater. I’ll vote just like everyone else though because I love this game and know that Roy Hibbert needs my support.
THROW IT DOWN, ROY!!!
I guess I need to be thankful that the All-Star game itself doesn’t impact the NBA Finals like the MLB contest does.
Until next time…