The 2008 NBA All-Star game is less than a month away (February 17th), which means it's time to vote for who you want to send to New Orleans in February. Here is who I am voting for, and why.
Eastern Conference:
Center
- Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)- Howard is by far, the best Center in the NBA, averaging 22.1 PPG, (13th in NBA), 15.0 RPG (1st in NBA), and 2.56 Blocks per game (4th in NBA). Howard can actually be considered one of the best all-around players in the NBA.
Forward
- Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)- KG and his Celtics have rolled to a 33-6 record. That astounding record is mainly because KG has averaged 19.3 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.44 BPG, and had 18 double-doubles so far this season.
- LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)- LeBron leads the NBA in scoring (29.7 PPG), and is 8th in APG with 7.4, 8th in Steals per game with 1.97. He has added 7.6 RPG on to that.
Guard
- Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)- Redd is one of the NBA's best shooters, averaging 24.0 PPG, and shooting .374 from the 3-point line. Redd is also on pace to set career-highs in rebounding, and assists.
- Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets)- Kidd may only be averaging 11.3 PPG, but his 10.4 assists a game has helped his NJ Nets to a 93.4 PPG, though the Nets are three games under .500. Kidd is also averaging 8.7 RPG, which puts him on pace to set a career-high in rebounds.
Bench
C- Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers
F- Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
F- Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
G- Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference:
Center
- Yao Ming (Houston Rockets)- The 7 foot 6 Ming averages 22.3 PPG, which is tenth in the entire NBA, along with 10.7 RPG (8th in NBA), and is 6th in blocks per game with 2.34. Mong is without a doubt, going to be the starting center out West.
Forward
- Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)- 'Melo is the 4th leading scorer (25.5 PPG), with 6.5 RPG. Carmelo is currently second in voting, and if he gets to New Orleans, it would be well-deserving.
- Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)- Boozer, the leading vote-getter, averages 24.6 PPG, and an amazing 11.6 RPG, topping Dirk, Duncan, and 'Melo. Therefore, Boozer gets my vote as the Western Conference Forward.
Guard
- Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)- Kobe is working on his tenth All-Star appearance, and it is well-deserved. Kobe continues to impress, averaging 27.4 PPG, second only to LeBron. The key thing here is LA's 27-12, just 1 game behind the Phoenix Suns.
- Allen Iverson (Denver Nuggets)- AI is the third leading scorer in the NBA, with 27.0 PPG, and has helped lead Denver to a 24-16 record, just 1/2 game behind the Portland Trail Blazers.
Bench
C- Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets
F- Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
F- Josh Howard, Dallas Mavericks
G- Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets
G- Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
NEWS: Yesterday, the NBA announced that Gerald Green (last year's winner) of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies, Jamario Moon of the Toronto Raptors, and the Orlando Magic's Center, Dwight Howard, will be the four participants in this year's Sprite Slam Dunk Competition. The competition will be held on February 16th in New Orleans.
Jason Richardson was the last player to win back-to-back titles (back in '02, and '03). Green will be looking to match that this year.