Arizona Allstars

The ballots are cast and the votes in for the 2009 NBA All-star game in Phoenix Arizona. The game is set for February 15th, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Love is being shown for the following starters:
Eastern Conference- Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Lebron James, Allen Iverson
Western Conference- Kobe Bryant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming

The U.S. Airways Center plays host to the annual allstar game. The week-long festivities are always fame-filled frenzies. This year is sure to be another memorable one. Eastern guards, Allen Iverson and Dwyane Wade are all-around fearless shooters. The Detroit star Iverson is playing in his 10th Allstar game in hist 13th year in the NBA. AI has led the league in scoring four times. His explosive and scorching ball handling will be on display next month for sure. Wade has a less flamboyant and less cocky approach, but is still an aggressive player than Iverson. He is without a doubt the leader for Miami’s potent offense. He is also a better defensive player than AI. Wade, in his 5th Allstar appearance, will be an asset in assists and rebounds for the East. Center, Dwight Howard, received the most Allstar votes this year. The Magic Olympic medal winner is a very physical post player. He brings a winning attitude and formula every game in Orlando and is well deserving as an Allstar leader. Forwards Lebron James and Kevin Garnett round out the conference starting five. James needs no introduction. He is the front runner for this year’s MVP and has developed into one of the greatest to play the game. Lebron’s versatility combined with Garnett’s experience and selfless style will be worth watching. KG is in his 14th year and consistently leads the league in field goal percentage and rebounding. He was the best player on the championship Celtics last year and was MVP during the 2003 Allstar game.
The Western conference perennially boasts as better all around but I am sure the East will not rollover. Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul are arguably the two best guards in the NBA. Wade and Iverson are great but Kobe and Chris have the raw talent to be considered the better duo. Bryant and AI both have at least 20,000 career points, joining Shaquille O’Neal as the only active players with that amount. Kobe is a two-time MVP in Allstar games and brings his complete game to this year’s match. Paul is notably one of the best young players today and definitely the best to come out of Wake Forest. Number three is exciting and excels in steals and assists. Paul challenged Kobe for the league MVP last season, and his Hornets will be playoff contenders as long as he carries the ball there. Tim Duncan court presence and leadership represent the best forward in the league. He is a hard to defend, great at protecting the ball and a big man on the court whenever he appears. Duncan has four NBA titles with the Spurs and all the fundamental skills to produce another one in San Antonio with a little help from his teammates and great coaching. Amar’e Stoudemire joins Duncan at forward for the Western team. In his third Allstar selection Stoudemire’s power and strength are hard to counter. The former rookie of the year is often overlooked but his statistics don’t lie. He knows how to bring it. Center, Yao Ming, rounds out the West with his massive 6 ft 7 frame. The popular Houston Rocket is often injured but when he is healthy, can shoot free throws with the best of them. A true blocking center, Ming is a number one draft pick and future Hall of Fame candidate.
The outcome of the game really does not matter. I like seeing the stars come out to play. The game is more about showing off than actual basketball usually. Unlike other Allstar games, the NBA’s version of the best is more about the players and celebrities s than the fans.

Parting points: I am still reading “The Beautiful and the Damned” by F.Scott Fitzgerald. I am glued to it now that I am almost done. The book took a strange turn late.