Le Basketbawl

The “New York Post” reported Thursday that New York Knicks center David Lee and Dallas Mavericks veteran point guard Jason Kidd have been named as replacement players for this Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game. The two players were selected by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace Philadelphia  guard Allen Iverson on the Eastern Conference squad and Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference team. Iverson will not be able to attend due to one of his children being ill; the veteran guard has missed the Sixers last five games due to the family situation.

Bryant has not played in the last three games with the Lakers due to a sore left ankle but will make the trip to Dallas for the game.  It will be the tenth time that Kidd has been an NBA All-Star who is now playing his sixteenth season in the NBA. The veteran is averaging 9.3 points and 9.3 assists per game this season. He will join teammate Dirk Nowitzki on the squad.

As much as New York Vinnie hates to see any player miss an honor due to a family crisis; it would be misleading to say that I am not excited for Lee. The Knicks center is the first of “MY BOYS” to be named to an All-Star Team since the 2001 contest which featured Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston. Lee’s numbers had earned him a spot on the team but was not named by the coaches. The center is averaging 20 points and 11.4 rebounds per game this  season.

Unfortunately one of the “True Good Guys” in the NBA Brandon Roy will not play this Sunday in Arlington, Texas when the NBA All-Star Game takes place. Roy announced last Saturday that his sore hamstring would keep him out of action until the All-Star break and rather than risking missing more time with the Portland Trail Blazers he will sit the game out. However as bad as New York Vinnie feels about the Portland star missing the contest a deserving player will be taking his place. The “Los Angeles Times” reported Monday that NBA Commissioner David Stern named Los Angeles Clippers Chris Kaman to take his spot on the roster.

Back in December New York Vinnie was pushing pretty hard for Kaman to be named to the NBA Western Conference All-Star Team. New York Vinnie is a guy who likes to see people rewarded for dedication and hard work and Kaman’s numbers are certainly a reflection of that. Kaman did not allow himself to stagnate and just get by. He dedicated himself to being a better player and eventually that will pay off either with the Clippers or as a Free Agent for another team. So New York Vinnie is very pleased that Kaman was given his propers by the Commissioner and will get to shine in the spotlight!

The National Basketball Association announced Thursday the starters for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game which will be played February 14, in Arlington,Texas. The fans make the selections of the starting teams for the Eastern and Western Conference. There is one controversial selection made by the fans as Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson has been named to the Eastern Conference team. Iverson has played in just 19 games this season but the fans still voted him to play in his tenth All-Star Game. Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGradywho is currently inactive was leading for one of the guard positions in the Western Conference but was over taken by Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash. Here are the starting rosters for both teams.

NBA All Star Game:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Guard – Steve Nash, Phoenix

Guard – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Forward – Tim Duncan, San Antonio

Forward – Carmelo Anthony, Denver

Center – Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Guard – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia

Guard – Dwyane Wade, Miami

Forward – LeBron James, Cleveland

Forward – Kevin Garnett, Boston

Center- Dwight Howard, Orlando

There has been a whole lot of discussion over the past couple of weeks about whether Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady and Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson will “Do The Right Thing.”  It appears that Iverson and McGrady may both have been voted by NBA fans as starters for next month’s NBA All-Star game which will be held in Arlington, Texas. The sentiment from the people who are being vocal is that T-Mac and A.I. should  turn down the honors because they do not deserve them. New York Vinnie on the other hand thinks that is just pure Frickin Crapolla and I am now going to tell you  why I feel this way!

New York Vinnie absolutely agrees that neither McGrady or Iverson has had the type of numbers this season that warrants them being on the teams. But that really has no Frickin bearing on them being starters;  you see once you put the vote in the hands of the fans then you have to Frickin live with the results. That is it; discussion is over, Finito over and Frickin out!

The All-Star games are popularity contests; that is the way that the NBA has set them up. They have decided that getting the fans involved is more important than having a team that actually represents the top five players in each Conference at each position. That is fine but then do not start complaining when the fans pick who they want rather than who you want.

The “Philadelphia Daily News” asked Iverson his reaction to his apparent starting nod. The veteran said “That’s an honor and a reward because without the fans there wouldn’t be us. think my situation is unique being that I haven’t played as much as a lot of the other guys, but the fans want to see me play. That is a good feeling just to know that the people who support us . . . want to see me play. That’s a great feeling, but it’s also a tribute to the teammates I’ve had and the coaches I have to help me get here.”

Orlando Magic Senior Vice President Pat Williams has always been a class act. He has been in the NBA as far back as New York Vinnie can remember first with the Sixers in Philadelphia and then went to Orlando when they started that team. However New York Vinnie can not disagree more with Pat who thinks that T-Mac should step aside. Williams told reporters “I think McGrady would take it upon himself (to turn down the honor.) I think he would find it extraordinarily uncomfortable.”

Pat;  New York Vinnie has lots of respect for you My Man but I believe you are way off on this issue. Why should he feel uncomfortable? Did he do anything wrong? Did he rig the Frickin computers? If that is the case absolutely he should not play; however Pat we both know that is not the case.

New York Vinnie does not watch “Reality TV” unless you wan6t to count Sports. New York Vinnie has never seen one second of “American Idol” however I do read a lot. So New York Vinnie is aware of the race between the clean-cut guy and the guy who wore mascara last year. Now everybody says the guy who wore the Frickin mascara should have won but the clean-cut guy won the vote. This is what happens when you throw things open to the public, the best person does not always win.

So New York Vinnie wants the Frickin belly-aching to stop; shut your Frickin Yaps and live with the Frickin results. You want to change the system in the future; New York Vinnie would be totally Frickin receptive to that. But this year is in the books, the NBA got what they wanted and this is the result.