Somewhat Reserved

Tonight's NBA All-Star Reserve selections come as a bit of a surprise. Every year, players are left off. There are only 12 spots on the team (there should be 15, not sure why there isn't, its a friggin all star game) and that means a player who is worthy of the position won't be going. This years ASG is in New Orleans, which will answer some questions down the road as to why certain people are on it. Who deserves it, and who doesn't? Lets have a look...

Eastern Conference:
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Caron Butler
Richard Hamilton
Antawn Jamison
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce

- Not too many complaints here. I thought Josh Smith deserved the position over teammate Joe Johnson, but thats neither here nor there. The problem I have is with Paul Pierce. Yes, Pierce is a great player, but the team's record is not directly correlated to his performance. It's because of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen this time. I would rather have seen Allen or Jose Calderon as the reserve in place of Pierce. Yes the Celtics have the best record in the land, but Paul Pierce has reaped the benefits of having two other superstars on the C's. Also, Richard Hamilton makes it because of Detroit's record, he too could be replaced. Overall, most of this team was selected with care.


Western Conference:
Carlos Boozer
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Paul
Brandon Roy
Amare Stoudemire
David West

- David West and Brandon Roy are the two names that stand out here. The two youngsters have worked hard and put up great numbers this year, helping lead their teams to outstanding first halves. I have to say it comes as a bit of a surprise. Baron Davis probably could have made the squad over David West, but the game is in NOLA, so looking at it from that perspective, West becomes a great pick. Playing in front of the hometown crowd is an amazing accomplishment. Shawn Marion was also snubbed here. The guy is down a little bit this year in the numbers game, but he is the absolute glue of the best team in the West. He plays great D and does it all. Does everything. He will see more, no doubt, in the future.


So stepping back and looking at the big picture, there are of course some shockers, but all-in-all, the players chosen aren't bad. I do like that David West made it, the Hornets deserve two players in this game. Hopefully, in the near future, we see 15 players on each squad. Brandon Roy making it to the squad is also a sign that the young players are growing fast in this league. The Blazers have come out of nowhere as well, and Brandon Roy will be a star in the association for a long, long time. The coaches too absolutely deserve to be there. Congrats to Byron Scott for leading a team of youngsters to the best second record in the West. NOBODY saw this coming. Doc Rivers has done his job in Boston, and will be there too. Hopefully the game is a blast and brings a little bit of brightness to a city that has seen it's share of gloom in the past few years. New Orleans deserves a great game, and these guys should give them one.

Conspiracy, anyone?

The starting five for the NBA All Star teams from each conference are now set. In the Western Conference, something strikes me as odd. Just two weeks prior, guard Tracy McGrady was holding on to a decent lead of around 80,000 votes over Denver's Allen Iverson, who was stuck in 3rd place. Fast forward to yesterday when the starters were announced on TNT before the Spurs/Heat game, and look who passed McGrady. Iverson jumped ahead of McGrady by more than 10,000 votes in just two weeks time. That's a 90,000 vote swing in under 14 days.

Sounds like something shady going on, no? What I believe happened, and don't yet call me a conspiracy theorist, is that the NBA did not want a starting spot wasted on a player who was not deserving. In the past few days, Tracy McGrady talked about sitting the ASG out if the rules would allow, because he realized others were having superior seasons. Now, granted, McGrady has been battling injuries, but is still a fan favorite. However, it is true that he should be left off the roster, and now, by this stroke of luck, we won't have to worry about it. Does anyone else believe that the NBA set this up? David Stern and the other suits at the top saw this as a possibly terrible scenario. How can the NBA leave off someone who is rightfully deserved of the roster spot when McGrady clearly is not? How can Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, or Baron Davis sit home? And how would the public know what goes on behind closed doors anyway? Should we have a recount? I think Stern sat at his desk for about 4 days, clicking on Allen Iverson as many times as possible so that McGrady would be left off. Over 90,000 more voted in 14 days for AI than T-Mac.

For some reason, I just don't believe it.

NBA All-Stars '08

We are rapidly approaching the NBA All-Star break, which takes place the weekend of February 15. As with every all star game, there will be people who probably should not be on the team, and with that comes with snubs. We try not to snub anyone here at Daily Dose (Sorry Erick). But it will happen. So here is one man's look at the upcoming All-Star madness.


EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Starters:
F- LeBron James: A no-brainer as you all know. LeBron is having a great season with 29+, 7+, 7+, and is a world renouned dancer, plus he can fly planes. I just made those up. But he is good.
F- Kevin Garnett: Brought the Celtics back from obscurity, and every old, irish 1980's, Celtic lover out of the bars and into the Fleet. Good for him, he earns an All-Star bid.
C- Dwight Howard: A bigger boy amongst smaller boys, Dwight is 22 years old and is dunking on everyone. That must feel good. When I was 22 I didn't have a job, or money. And I could not dunk.
G- Chauncey Billups: Did you see the other night when he hit that 35 foot three-ball with under 5 seconds left? Granted he walked, but still. He shoots the big shots and makes them. And is keeping Detroit going.
G- Caron Butler: That's right I did it. Butler has put together his best season because Gilbert isn't around. He has the Wizards in the playoffs (unlike Wade) and is shooting 50% from the field (unlike Kidd). He gets the last spot.

Benchers:
Jason Kidd (he's Jason Kidd)
Dwyane Wade (even though the Heat stink, I guess he's still one of the best)
Ray Allen (because of him and Garnett, Pierce is reaping the benefits of a great team, which is why Pierce stays home here).
Jose Calderon: (Filled in admirably for the fallen TJ Ford. Is a spectacular passer, just ask Bosh).
Chris Bosh (Just asked him and he said that Calderon is a very good passer).
Antawn Jamison (Screw Arenas, who needs him anyway).
Josh Smith (One man wrecking crew deserves this spot for his awesome D and jump out of the gym leaping ability).
SNUBS ALERT!!- No Paul Pierce for reasons above. Michael Redd's team sucks, though I do like him. Can't have two Hawks so Joe Johnson stays home. Shaq is washed up and crusty. Hedo Trukoglu has been surprising, but can't take anyone off this list. Andre Miller has played well, but the Sixers are too young. Brian Scalabrine has not yet earned being there.


WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Starters:
F- Tim Duncan: He does it all so he deserves this spot until he retires.
F- Dirk Nowitzki: Still the best shooting big man alive. Dallas still one of the best teams in the league. He deserves this spot as well.
C- Amare Stoudemire: Microfracture, Shmicrofracture. He is dominating the paint. Only thing is, he needs to plays some god damn defense.
G- Kobe Bryant: Probably the MVP right now. The Lakers are winning. He's in.
G- Steve Nash: I might be slightly biased, but he is having statistically his best year. He deserves it because he is an MVP and Chris Paul is still young. Paul's time will come soon.

Benchers:
Chris Paul (MVP Candidate, just ask David West and Tyson Chandler. He's helping make them stars).
Shawn Marion (Guy doesn't get enough credit for his D and his ability to do it all, except shoot decent looking jumpers).
Yao Ming (numbers are awesome and hes learning better English so he can curse out the refs. Any guy who does that makes my team).
Baron Davis (Fun to watch, likes movies alot, and hangs out with Jessica Alba. Winner.
Carlos Boozer (He has done nothing wrong, but the Jazz around him have. Still deserves this spot).
Allen Iverson (Due to Carmelo's lack of defense and sprained ankle, Iverson gets the nod.)
Manu Ginobili (He is borderline, neck and neck with Brandon Roy for this spot. For now it's Ginobili)
SNUBS!!!!: Brandon Roy and Deron Williams will see plenty in the future. Carmelo sits it out because he stinks at D and he's hurt. Tracy McGrady is too hurt, doesnt deserve it. David West may see one soon playing with Chris Paul. Chris Kaman is ugly, but his game is not. Unfortunately hes snubbed.