With the NBA All Star week less than a month away (Feb. 16) the NBA released the starting lineups for the Eastern and Western Conference teams. Starting for the east will be:
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
And starting for the western conference will be:
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Now NBA fans may argue that they vote for the All-Star game based on players statistics and who has the biggest impact on their team but I think this list proves that at the very least this year's All-Star voting was based on big names, and it is nothing more than a popularity contest. The main issue is with the All-Star starting lineup is that Kobe Bryant is starting for the West.
Kobe has only played in SIX games this season but received close to one million votes (988,) for the All- Star game; which was the third most votes in the west behind Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). While Kobe secured a starting spot as one of the western conferences backcourt players, other west coast players got snubbed because they just weren’t popular enough to beat out Kobe Bryant. It’s unclear how someone who hasn't suited up for a game since December 17, can be voted to the All-Star game over players who have played all or most games thus far in the 2013-14 season.
Kobe suggests that another, younger, player should take his place in the All-Star game because he doesn’t think he deserves the spot. The fact is that due to two separate injures Kobe Bryant hasn’t even played in a fourth of the games the Lakers have played this season, so no he does not deserve to play in the All-Star game. In the six games he has played, Kobe averaged just 13.8 ppg and 6.3 apg and the Lakers went a dismal 2-4.
With fans picking the starters, issues like these will continue to arise; the biggest names will continue to be the starters some of the most deserving players will be reserves. The NBA should revamp the voting process and take on an approach that resembles the NFL’s new approach where fans are allowed to vote on players who they want to see in the game and two Hall-Of Famers then pick from the players who the fans voted in, like in a pick-up game. NBA fans should still be allowed to vote on players but the coaches should decide who will start for their respective teams and who will be the reserves.
The current way, fans do get to see a show of their favorite players playing against the biggest names in the game; but that also means that some players might never receive the recognition they actually deserve.
-Lauren
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Paul George, Indiana Pacers
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James, Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
And starting for the western conference will be:
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Now NBA fans may argue that they vote for the All-Star game based on players statistics and who has the biggest impact on their team but I think this list proves that at the very least this year's All-Star voting was based on big names, and it is nothing more than a popularity contest. The main issue is with the All-Star starting lineup is that Kobe Bryant is starting for the West.
Kobe has only played in SIX games this season but received close to one million votes (988,) for the All- Star game; which was the third most votes in the west behind Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors). While Kobe secured a starting spot as one of the western conferences backcourt players, other west coast players got snubbed because they just weren’t popular enough to beat out Kobe Bryant. It’s unclear how someone who hasn't suited up for a game since December 17, can be voted to the All-Star game over players who have played all or most games thus far in the 2013-14 season.
Kobe suggests that another, younger, player should take his place in the All-Star game because he doesn’t think he deserves the spot. The fact is that due to two separate injures Kobe Bryant hasn’t even played in a fourth of the games the Lakers have played this season, so no he does not deserve to play in the All-Star game. In the six games he has played, Kobe averaged just 13.8 ppg and 6.3 apg and the Lakers went a dismal 2-4.
With fans picking the starters, issues like these will continue to arise; the biggest names will continue to be the starters some of the most deserving players will be reserves. The NBA should revamp the voting process and take on an approach that resembles the NFL’s new approach where fans are allowed to vote on players who they want to see in the game and two Hall-Of Famers then pick from the players who the fans voted in, like in a pick-up game. NBA fans should still be allowed to vote on players but the coaches should decide who will start for their respective teams and who will be the reserves.
The current way, fans do get to see a show of their favorite players playing against the biggest names in the game; but that also means that some players might never receive the recognition they actually deserve.
-Lauren