Did Carmelo get screwed?...

by Andrew Feinstein on Jan 22, 2009 9:38 PM MST

As I'm sure all Nuggets fans know by now, Amare Stoudemire beat out Carmelo Anthony in fan voting to be the second starting forward in February 15th's NBA All-Star Game, alongside the always deserving Tim Duncan. When I first heard this, I found it awfully convenient that Stoudemire got the start given that the game happens to be played in Phoenix this year. But according to the final voting results, Melo finished fifth in fan voting behind Duncan, Stoudemire, Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest.

Huh? Who the @#$%& are these voters?

Had Bowen actually made it - and he almost did! - this would have been the biggest All-Star voting travesty since All Christian (A.C.) Green was voted into the starting lineup in 1990. If memory serves, A.C. not only played the fewest minutes of all the All-Stars in the game, but he was also the only player who didn't score. A similar travesty occurred in 1994 when B.J. Armstrong and his 14.8 ppg ended up getting a starting nod.

And yes, I'm an NBA All-Star Game historian in my spare time.

We almost had two All-Star starter controversies this year, and I must admit I was rooting for the second one to actually happen. The Nets' Yi Jianlian (and his 10.5 ppg and 40% field goal shooting) came within 253,000 votes of unseating Kevin Garnett and being one of the Eastern Conference's two starting forwards. They may ban a lot of websites in China, but NBA.com clearly isn't one of them. I was hoping Yi would get the start because I wanted to see how the NBA would spin it to the press and how the players would react to him on the floor. I don't even think Yi qualifies for the rookies/sophomore game on Friday night, much less the main event on Sunday!

Getting back to Stoudemire versus Melo, while I'm disappointed as a Nuggets fan, it's not like Stoudemire isn't an All-Star (even though Melo is having a better all around season in my opinion and has to shoulder more of the load on his team than Stoudemire does, ever has and ever will have to). Moreover, its arguable that Dirk Nowitzki is having a better season than either Stoudemire or Melo, but he never comes close to being a starter in the annual voting.

The big question now, of course, is will Melo crack the squad as a reserve when the coaches get together and vote? For the first backup forward position, I think Dirk is a lock. For the second, it will be a tight vote between Melo, Pau Gasol, David West and possibly LaMarcus Aldridge. If Melo doesn't get hurt, he's a shoo-in, but that's not the reality of the situation. But fortunately for Melo's chances, Carlos Boozer is out of the running due to injury, Paul Millsap hasn't played enough minutes to qualify and Josh Howard is having another down year. So I like Melo's chances.

If it was up to me, these would be my reserves in each conference...

Denver Stiffs Western Conference All-Star Reserves

F-Dirk Nowitzki
F-Carmelo Anthony
C-Shaquille O'Neal (how can Shaq not be in the All-Star game in Phoenix?!)
G-Chauncey Billups
G-Brandon Roy
Wildcard #1-Tony Parker
Wildcard #2-Steve Nash (for the same reasons as why Shaq should be in the All-Star Game)
The "Andrew, how could you not include these guys on the team. You're an idiot!!" List: Pau Gasol, Al Jefferson and David West.

Denver Stiffs Eastern Conference All-Star Reserves

F-Paul Pierce
F-Chris Bosh
C-Do we really need a backup center in the East? Can't we just give this spot to a forward like Antawn Jamison or Caron Butler. Please?
G-Devin Harris
G-Joe Johnson
Wildcard #1-Danny Granger
Wildcard #2-Ray Allen
The "Andrew, how could you not include these guys on the team. You're an idiot!!" List: Either Jamison or Butler, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.

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No voting should be left to the fans to decide because most fans are morons. They don't vote with their brains but instead vote for who they have the biggets man-crush on, or who is from the closest place to where they are from and stupid stuff like that. I have to say though, that out of all of this huge mess by far, the biggest suprise to me was seeing Bruce friggin' Bowen of all people getting more votes than Melo. How retarted is the general pubilc? This took it to new heights for me. What, did a bunch of people down around San Antonio (Doobie Brothers reference) get together and think it would be hysterical if they all voted for Bruce Bowen? What idiots. I thought everone on planet Earth hated this guy. Three 7 ftrs starting in the All Star game I have never heard of before, but I can get over it (it is funny though because in reality all 3 are centers). The one thing that will tear me up though is if Melo doesn't even make it, which from what I have heard tonight on TNT, looks like he has a chance of. Anyways, here are my reserves...

by Goldennugget on Jan 22, 2009 11:45 PM MST reply actions

West Reserves:
G Chauncy Billups
G Brandon Roy
F Carmelo Anthony
F Dirk Nowitzki
C Shaquille O'Neal
UTIL Kevin Durant
UTIL Tracy McGrady

Why? Obviously there is no need to explain the first 5. Durant is deserving of an All Star appearance no doubt. His numbers are better than fellow G/F Roy's and Melo's and he has proven that he can play with anybody in the league. T-Mac was kind of a toss up with Al Jefferson, Steve Nash and Tony Parker. I just couldn't put yet another big man in there with Jefferson and Nash the thought of 3 All Stars on the Suns just didn't make sense at all. I think very highly of Parker but when it all comes down to it T-Mac, when healthy is just flat out better than all the guys mentioned.

East Reserves:
G Devin Harris
G Joe Johnson
F Danny Granger
F Paul Pierce
C Chris Bosh
UTIL Vince Carter
UTIL Rashard Lewis

Why? The only pick I think that is iffy is Rashard Lewis but when you look at the Magic's record it isn't just all Howard. He leads the league in 3s and in watching him play I am convinced he is worthy of this selection.

And one last thing, I just heard an idea from Chris Webber that maybe Dwight Howard will dunk over Nene and his wife getting married during All Star weekend. That would be the sweetest dunk of all time!!!

by Goldennugget on Jan 23, 2009 12:08 AM MST reply actions

Melo was left out in the 2006 All-Star Game in spite of having a better year than Durant (26.5 ppg vs 24.2 ppg AND a winnig record. Either All Jefferson or Kevin Durant will make it, but both can't. And if Melo is left out this year, it will be another travesty. Just another one.

by Catalan on Jan 23, 2009 3:46 AM MST reply actions

I'm a big fan of Melo, but I don't think he's deserving this season of being an all-star, especially not a starter. Andrew, you are right that Dirk should be the other starting forward, but apparently the Chinese aren't big fans of the Germans and its not real surprise he didn't get voted in. As far as reserves go, especially for the Nuggets, I think both Chauncey and Nene have a better claim than Melo. He's been shooting poorly, not scoring as much and has missed the last couple weeks with his broken finger. In a way, it's probably better for the Nuggets if he doesn't get selected, both for the chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong and to keep letting him rest. Nuggets play 8 in a row on the road around the game, and a healthy and well rested Melo is going to be the key to that stretch and the rest of the season.
I'd pick these guys as reserves:
West
G's - Chauncey and Tony Parker
F's - Dirk and Pau
C - Shaq
WC1 - Brandon Roy
That leaves one of the following to get in:
Deron Williams, Melo, Nene, Durant, Al Jefferson, Nash, David West, all of whom I'm okay with getting in, although I think Nash or Deron is probably the best choice there

East:
Gs - Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson
Fs - Granger, Pierce
C - Bosh
WC1 - Joe Johnson
WC2 - One of the following: Derrick Rose, Vince, Ray Allen, Turk, Lewis, Okafor, Caron Butler, Jamison - in the East, I'm not sure any of those guys are deserving but if forced to choose I think you have to take Rose, Okafor or Butler just to avoid having 3 starters from any one team.

by Eric B on Jan 23, 2009 5:54 AM MST reply actions

"because most fans are morons."

Glass houses, glass houses...

"How retarted is the general pubilc?"

Wow, just wow.

by Anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 8:14 AM MST reply actions

imagine if Yi had been voted a starter... eek

by Anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 8:26 AM MST reply actions

Carmelo doesn't deserve to be there. But Chauncey and Nene do.

by My name is Luke. on Jan 23, 2009 8:45 AM MST reply actions

Not this year Melo. Chauncey deserves it though. Wouldn't it be ironic if last year's team had 2 all-stars and this years had none?

by Anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 9:01 AM MST reply actions

Amare getting voted in is a joke. There was no doubt he'd make it, but he's been getting outplayed by the likes of Brian Scalabrine and David Lee. Nowitzki should be the other starter.

But there's an easy explanation why Melo didn't get that many votes in the past week (when votes were coming in fast and furious)--he was injured. The people that actually vote (multiple times) for the All-Stars aren't really the most intelligent of basketball fans. They vote for the NAME, not the skill. That has been the deal for years. Amare is an easy name to remember, so those people in China that voted for Yao recognize the name and put their vote in.

As for Shaq, he absolutely belongs on the All-Star team, but unfortunately, nobody else on the Suns does, including Nash. Amare is a shell of his former self--Grant Hill would be a better choice for the All-Stars then him right now. But I'll still root for him since he's from my team.

by SunsRule on Jan 23, 2009 9:22 AM MST reply actions

1) I love the Nugs but I think the only one on the team right now that should be a lock to play in the All Star game is Billups. Everyone else, not so much. There are simply better players at his position than Melo.

2) Who cares if Melo gets in or not? Or Billups, or Nene for that matter? If Melo ever finally gets hungry enough to play hard every night then he should get in. If they actually win some playoff games this year, then maybe next year he'll deserve more of a consideration.

3) I can tell you that Melo is not the talk of the league anymore if you listen to national radio. His first couple years, it was all LeBron, Melo and D-Wade as the future face of the NBA. He is not even mentioned anymore -- I was looking at a recent article on espn listing potential MVP candidates. Billups was in the top 10 I think. Melo, not to be found in the top 20 or even "also rans". So, the perception that he should be voted in as an all-star is, to me, very homer-ish. I think Melo has played much better this year, maybe signifying a change in attitude, but it is all about being consistant, and over the course of his career, that is one thing that he has not displayed. It is biting him in the butt as far as fan respect, but hey, that's the price you pay when you take half the games off every year.

by grantarchy on Jan 23, 2009 11:05 AM MST reply actions

Anthony should be in as a SF. Look at the list of other SF's in the western conference. Kevin Durant, Ron Artest, Battier, Josh Howard, Bowen. Durant is the only one in the same category as Anthony currently. All the other names at forward people are putting in over Anthony are either power forwards, or centers listed as forwards. Comparing Anthony to Stoudemire and Duncan is no different than comparing him to steve nash and Billups. Let's see Duncan or Novitzki try to guard Anthony, or vice versa. Different positions, different skills. Try playing Novitski as your small forward and see how many games you win.

by KarlSucks on Jan 23, 2009 11:18 AM MST reply actions

Try looking at this from an NBA marketing point of view. Theoretically; the players who get the most votes are the players the most people want to see in an All Star game and so that translates into higher ratings, better commercial revenue, etc. The flaw in that reasoning is that people are allowed to vote more than once. So the players that get in are the ones that have the most dedicated fans who are willing to vote hundreds of times by themselves. I believe that there are probably 20 guys who voted for Amare over 250 times. Some of them probably work for the Suns even though that isn't supposed to happen. If you had some system where you could limit people to only one vote, then the fan voting makes sense. Otherwise they need to put a system in place that chooses the All Stars based on their performance and their teams performance operated by an unbiased entity, like a computer.
Nobody will ever be completely happy with the selection process.

by Anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 11:23 AM MST reply actions

Kobe is going to have to guard Dwade and lebron is gonna school amare, east is gonna blow the west out this year watch. Atleast melo could attempt to keep up with lebron, or durant even.
Thats what you get when their is no small forward category on the ballots.
-CCH

by Anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 12:42 PM MST reply actions

"because most fans are morons."

Glass houses, glass houses...

"How retarted is the general pubilc?"

Wow, just wow.

_______________________

Wow, just wow? You must be one of the morons I was talking about then if you take offense to what I said. What honsestly do you think you are contributing to on this blog when you come here and say nothing but criticize the people who actually come here to discuss important issues about our team and the league? The thing that is funny to me is that it's not like you even made a point about what you dissagreed with me about. So if you want to come to this blog and contribute that is fine with me, but if you are going to just be an anonymous d-bag and try and sound like you're hot *ish then you can leave and I'm sure nobody would be devistated.

The reason I primarily suggested that Melo deserved a starting spot on the West All-Star team is because of the lack of great SF's in the Western Conference, and I guess I thought the All Star team should include at least one true SF, but from what I am hearing people really wouldn't mind if it was all PFs and Cs. But the bottom line for me is that both Melo and Durant are more deserving than guys like Pau and others. But as far as numbers go I really don't see how he couldn't get in and with our team doing as well as we have been that is an even bigger argument to be made. He is 18th in scoring and that number has been climbing all season, 3rd in rebounding amongst SFs ahead of guys like Lebron, Pierce, Durant, Granger, Carter, T-Mac, ect., he is almost averaging 4 assists per game and people always talk about his poor FG% but that has also been climbing all year and he already has better FG % than Johsnon and T-Mac and he is only about a tenth of a percent behing guys like Carter, Pierce, Granger, ect. Plus he tied the record this year for most points scored in a quarter! I wish he wouldn't have gotten injure because his scoring would probably be up to about 23 or 24 ppg and his fg% up to about .49% and he probably would have been a lock. Oh well!

by Goldennugget on Jan 23, 2009 12:56 PM MST reply actions

I think he was pointing out the fact you misspelled retarded. It was a little funny.

I've always liked your insights Goldennugget.

Everybody knows the All-Star game lets the same superstars in every year, whether they are having a down year or not. Denver for years didn't have a superstar, and suffered when we had a deserving player lose out to Old Clyde Drexler or Old (no defense) John Stockton.

Carmelo is a superstar. He starts on the National Gold Medal winning team. He SHOULD be in this game!

by John on Jan 23, 2009 4:31 PM MST reply actions

I'm just sad birdman doesn't get another shot at the dunk contest, i could use a laugh

by Zachm219 on Jan 23, 2009 6:55 PM MST reply actions

Also funny that A.C. didn't score... was it against his religeon too?

by John on Jan 23, 2009 7:44 PM MST reply actions

I admit, sometimes I can be a little rutarded.

by Goldinnugit on Jan 23, 2009 8:07 PM MST reply actions

No Carmelo does not deserve to be in the all star game

by Anonymous on Jan 24, 2009 7:44 PM MST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

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2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

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3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
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4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.