Not All of Them Are Stars This Year

So we are on our way towards the 2010 NBA All Star game in Dallas. With just three and a half weeks remaining before the game takes place, the starting lineups were announced. To be honest with you, the same All Stars that make it every year are the starters: every starter will have played in three All Star games or more after this one. Two of the starters, however, should not be starting in this game, and those players are longtime NBA greats, Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett.

Allen Iverson, as I have said in previous blog posts, has had one of the most unique and historic careers in the game. No guard in my lifetime has had a better career than he has (other than Michael Jordan). But this is 2010, not the first decade of the 21st century. It seems like it is not a big deal for many people, but you have to think about that one player who is going to be left off the All Star team. Who knows, maybe a player like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose or fellow Sixers guard Andre Iguodala will fall short of their first career All Star appearance because of Iverson. All three of those players I mentioned average more points, rebounds and assists per game than Iverson has this year. I would put Hawks guard Joe Johnson as a starter instead of Iverson. Johnson is putting up great numbers once again, with 21.2 points per game and 4.9 rebounds and assists per game. Johnson has made the All Star team the last three years while averaging over 20 points per game for the last five. He does it all, but he has also lead the Hawks to the the best record in the Southeastern division of the Eastern Conference. I think it's time Joe Johnson starts in the All Star game, especially because the Eastern Conference guards have not put up very strong numbers like they have in the past.

Then there is Kevin Garnett. Like Iverson, Garnett is one of all-time the greats at his position, but not this year. The Celtics power forward has not averaged less points and rebounds per game since his rookie season (1995-1996). Even though I am a Celtics fan, I feel that Garnett should not start the All Star game, and maybe not be in it at all (according to his stats this year). Instead, Raptors power forward Chris Bosh should be on the floor for the tip-off. Bosh has averaged over 22 points per game for the last five seasons and, like Johnson, has proved he can play in this league. Bosh has averaged 20 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game during his seven-year career. This year, he is averaging a career high in points (24.2), rebounds (11.2) and field goal % (52.5). Now those are the numbers of a true All Star starter.