Steve Nash isn't an All-Star starter?!?!?!

[mark414]

Who the hell voted???

[Osamasux]

1. He was on my ballot.

Who took the West Coast PG spot?

[mark414]

2. here's the whole list

EASTERN CONFERENCE
F - Vince Carter, New Jersey
F - Grant Hill, Orlando
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Miami
G - Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
G - LeBron James, Cleveland
Coach: Stan Van Gundy, Miami
WESTERN CONFERENCE
F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio
F - Kevin Garnett, Minnesota
C - Yao Ming, Houston
G - Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G - Tracy McGrady, Houston
Coach: TBD

http://www.nba.com/allstar2005/allstar_game/starters_050203.html

[Osamasux]

3. Based on this year alone, he deserved it over both of them.

Big time. McGrady is having a good year, but Nash made that team a winner. Kobe's averaging over 20 shots a game, of course he's scoring.

The Western front court was almost a no-brainer.

Vince Carter? They've got to be kidding.
Over Rasheed Wallace?
I also thought Kurt Thomas is having a good year and deserved consideration for the spot.

Talk is Iverson is having a better year than his MVP, but I would have gone with Marbury or Dwayne Wade.

Grant Hill, LeBron and Shaq were givens.

[HuckleB]

4. Indeed. It makes no sense at all.

[aaronbees]

5. he'll be there..

as a reserve, I'm sure. I'd say he's the MVP so far ... he's totally transformed the Suns.

[lazarus]

6. Eh, sort of

The Suns are destined to flame out in the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised to see them go out in the first round.

I also have trouble thinking of a player as MVP when he can't play defense or take over a game.

[aaronbees]

11. good points

But the lack of bench depth is no fault of Steve Nash; hopefully for Suns fans, the bench will develop in time. I can see them flaming in the playoffs, too, but their starting five seems to carry the load pretty well.

Agree on defense.

[akwapez]

9. Nash is definitely high on the MVP list, but.....

I'd have to go with L. James at this point. Without him the Cavs wouldn't be close to the Playoff race.
The Suns would certainly struggle w/o Nash, but they would still hover around the 6-10th spots in the West.

[aaronbees]

12. LeBron

deserves to be considered. But when Nash went out recently, the Suns stank; I think that's why I'd lean more toward him for MVP. It's a pretty wide open race this year -- cool to see and good for hoops.

[lazarus]

13. The problem is

What is the MVP, exactly?

Best player? That's Duncan. Most important to his team?

That's any one of a dozen or more players.

Having the best season? That's several players.

The fact that two players on the Suns (Nash and Amare) are both in the running for MVP means, to me, that neither of them deserves it.

[mark414]

14. you must not be a suns fan

[lazarus]

15. I'm a basketball fan

I've seen run and gun before. They're playing like the old Spurs and Nuggets from the 80's: Just score as many points as possible, in the hopes your opponent can't keep up.

I'm not impressed. It's a great way to win regular season games, but a recipe for playoff disaster. If all you care about is the playoffs, go ahead.

Some of us like championships. Name the last championship team that didn't play defense.

[mark414]

16. though nash is my favorite player

you have a very good point

[lazarus]

17. Thanks

FWIW, though, I thought that last Spurs/Suns game was one of the most exciting I've ever seen. Once the Suns get some bench and realise you can play defense and score a bunch of points, they'll be doing great.

I like Nash, too. Wish he'd do something about that hair, though. :D

[ThorsHammer]

7. Same reason that Vince Carter always makes it - popularity, not ability

[akwapez]

8. He was on my ballot too.

Popularity of course plays a role (even on my ballot)
I had:
West -
T-Mac
Nash
Garnett
Stoudamire (can't believe he didn't make it either, yes Duncan is agreat player, but Amare has been outstanding)
Yao (mediocore season, but still the best choice)

East -
LeBron
Wade
G. Hill
J. O'Neal
S. Oneal

[lazarus]

10. you picked Amare over Duncan?

I guess the two times they matched up didn't make an impression on you?

The Suns are weak. They're going to run up a gaudy regular season record, then get slaughtered in the playoffs.

[akwapez]

18. This is one of those judgement calls.

I believe that Duncan is a better player, but Amare is having a great season. I also think that Amare style of play will make the all-star game a better game to watch. But, hey Duncan got the starting job. I'm sure Stoudamire will be chosen as a reserve.
Another problem with all-star voting are the positions. These players don't play only one position. Duncan, Stoudamire, Garnett, etc are listed as forwards but could easily play center, especially in an all star game. A better ballot would have 2 Guards and 3 Forwards, then I could have voted for both.
And, I do agree the Suns will fall probably in the first round of the playoffs depending on the exact matchup.

[lazarus]

19. Yeah

I think it should simply be split, front court and back court. A starting lineup of any three of: Amare, KG, TD, and Nowitski would need a center? Please.

They don't distinguish between point and shooting guards, after all.