Johnny's NBA All Star Selections

For the 2011 NBA All Star Game happening in Los Angeles Feb. 20th, my starting 5 as voted on NBA.com.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Eastern Conference Starting Forward's:

Lebron James - Because in spite of his reluctance to grow up, he is simply an amazing ball player. Lebron would be in my all time starting 5. Team Captain.

Amare Stoudemire - Because he has single handedly turned the knicks around and into an eastern playoff team. Remember back in the summer after Lebron joined Miami, everybody was saying New York was screwed with just 1 All Star and no Steve Nash to throw him assists. Amare has put this team on his back and willed them to their current position in the NBA Standings

--> These two picks are in line with the top vote getters for these positions. Lebron (1,518,807) and Amare (1,143,391)

Eastern Conference Starting Guard's:

Derrick Rose - D. Rose is simply a talent to behold. I'd love to see him win MVP and as such he's a natural All Star selection for me.

Ray Allen - Because he has the best shot in the NBA, and is one of the games most clutch players ever.

--> D. Rose (1,225,575) is the runner up to D. Wade (1,499,768) in current voting and ahead of Ray Allen (630,588) is Rajon Rondo (1,171,311).
I already picked who I think is the best player on the Heat to be an all star. & I picked whom I consider to be the superior Point Guard in D. Rose. Ray Allen might not have the legs he used to and you could argue Rondo is more important to the Celtics, but in my all star starting 5 as constructed Ray Allen is the better pick. Rondo can come off the bench (only I can't vote for bench players; only NBA coaches). Ray also gets the edge as Jesus Shuttlesworth is one of my favorite players of all time.

Eastern Conference Starting Center:

D. Howard - Because he's the best playing Center in the league!
--> Top Vote getter at this position with 1,537,619



WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Western Conference Starting Forward's:

Kevin Durant - KD's lighting up the scoreboard again! A very long, agile player. Great game and overall team attitude. Thunder up!

Blake Griffin - Based on sheer entertainment value alone Blake gets my pick. Griffin has breathed new life into the league and has been featured in every NBA highlight reel since the season began. Rarely are rookies immediate all stars, but Blake is certainly an exceptional NBA player and more than worth the vote.

--> KD is top vote getter at this position (1,270,729). Blake follows Carmelo Anthony (945, 720) and Pau Gasol (851,456) with 702,784 votes. While it might be a stretch to argue that Blake is more deserving of an all star vote than Melo or Pau. With Melo leaving Denver things are sour in Colorado and things are not just right yet in LA with the Lakers and their team game. I think Blake is doing more for his team right now, and he's leading a clipper turnaround that might take them out of the NBA basement and into the Western Conference playoffs. Blake's my all star wildcard.

Western Conference Starting Guard's:

Kobe - Still the best player in the game in spite of increasing physical limitations. & he's getting Ring #6 this year. Team Captain.

Monta Ellis - 3rd leading scorer behind KD and Amare, 2nd in steals; Ellis is logging the most minutes in the NBA and has worked harder than any other NBA player has had to all year.

--> KOBE is the leading all star vote getter (1,757,216), and Ellis isn't even inthe top 10 for western guards. I took him over CP3 (949,049), Ginobli (593,718), Nash (522,215), and D. Williams (487,887) who was my runner up for Ellis's spot. The 2nd guard position is the hardest to vote for as there are so many great players at these positions in the west.

Western Conference Starting Center:

Emeka Okafor (317, 677) - Long overdue, and the fact that when asked about finally being selected as an all star, he said he'd take the playoffs instead makes him my frontrunner for starting western center.

--> Yao Ming is leading vote getter (928, 928) at this position, but he's injured and second leading vote getter Andrew Bynum (660,576) has hardly played this year and is not an all star.

Make sure you cast your ballot. Voting is a responsibility that has been entrusted to all of us. =)