Yi Jianlian may start instead of LeBron in the All-Star game

[Allanon]

The Force is strong in that one.

Yi Jianlian may be the starting All-Star instead of LeBron or KG (http://http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/If-China-has-its-way-Yi-Jianlian-could-be-an-Al;_ylt=AmQEngxXBzrPL880nwk4QwW8vLYF?urn=nba,12292 9)

While the NHL figures out how to deal with artificial All-Star votes, the NBA seems to have run into its own little "All-Star dilemma" — China. Via Nets Daily, Marc Spears of the Boston Globe reports the league fears that Nets second-year forward Yi Jianlian could not only cut into vote totals for LeBron James and Kevin Garnett but also challenge them for a starting forward spot on the Eastern Conference team. Last season, Yi received an incredible 450,000 ballots ... as a write-in! "If he is voted in as a starter, it could rekindle the debate over the fairness of the system." Yeah, that'll be fun.

[Tully365]

The fairness of the system should have been re-evaluated a long time ago.

[z0sa]

What fairness do you speak of?

[TDMVPDPOY]

vote a scrub in...when u see it, you shit bricks, this dude aint worth a spot on the ASteam yet....

[KidCongo]

If that happened I think Cleveland riots.

P.S Lebron would prolly average a triple double out of anger.

[Kai]

If that happened I think Cleveland riots.

P.S Lebron would prolly average a triple double out of anger.

LeBron is going to be voted in. KG would be the odd man out.

[KidCongo]

LeBron is going to be voted in. KG would be the odd man out.

True, hasn't LeBron led the East votes for the past 2 years?

[timvp]

LeBron is going to be voted in. KG would be the odd man out.Exactly.

Let's go China. Use your massive populations and get'er done.

[JamStone]

All Star game.

Who really cares?

[MrChug]

If this indeed does happen, a re-evaluation of switching the roles of the NBA front office and fan role should be considered.

There have been many injustices in All-Star voting, but none would be that much of a travesty. Fans should vote players on to a team, coaches should vote in the starters. I know I'm in the minority, but this is how I've always felt.

[Armando]

I blame the people who made up the ballot. They should have known that putting Yi on the ballot will vut into LeBron and KG's votes. Yi does not even deserve to be on the ballot. What will happen is LeBron and Yi will get voted in while KG gets in as a reserve voted on by the coaches. Incredible no matter how you feel about KG is ludicrous that a Defensive player of the Year and an NBA champion is possibly not going to be an All Star starter. All I am all for fan voting is the ballot that was put out thats awful.

[JamStone]

There have been many injustices in All-Star voting, but none would be that much of a travesty. Fans should vote players on to a team, coaches should vote in the starters. I know I'm in the minority, but this is how I've always felt.

Problem with this is that most of the starters the coaches select would have started by fan vote anyway. And, then you get popular players like the Vince Carters and Dirks and Amares voted in by fans, but you lose more of the deserving players that don't aren't as well known, especially on teams that are in less profiled cities. In this season, for example, fans outside the southeast might not vote in Joe Johnson. Rudy Gay would probably have no shot. Al Jefferson would more likely get overlooked.

Mistakes happen the way it is now, but the coaches selecting reserves make more sense because they round out rosters with more deserving players that might not get the recognition otherwise. And, generally, fans vote starters that deserve to be all stars. It's not 100% correct all the time, but I think it's better than if it were reversed.

Again, it's the all star game. It's not that deep.

[Armando]

Problem with this is that most of the starters the coaches select would have started by fan vote anyway. And, then you get popular players like the Vince Carters and Dirks and Amares voted in by fans, but you lose more of the deserving players that don't aren't as well known, especially on teams that are in less profiled cities. In this season, for example, fans outside the southeast might not vote in Joe Johnson. Rudy Gay would probably have no shot. Al Jefferson would more likely get overlooked.

Mistakes happen the way it is now, but the coaches selecting reserves make more sense because they round out rosters with more deserving players that might not get the recognition otherwise. And, generally, fans vote starters that deserve to be all stars. It's not 100% correct all the time, but I think it's better than if it were reversed.

Again, it's the all star game. It's not that deep.


I agree more often then not the fans get it right. Besides at the end of the day is for the fans anyways. At least let the fans have a say in the game with all the money we spend going to an NBA game. I had no problem with last years starting unit.

[DaDakota]

I love stuff like this...go CHINA go !!

DD

[ambchang]

All-Star game is a fans' game. If people want to see Yi, let them vote Yi. Afterall, they voted BJ Armstrong and AC Green back in the day and there wasn't any problem.

[Dre_7]

How long before ducks says that Yi is better then LeBron?

[Thunder Dan]

Lebron is pretty big over in China because of the Olympics and a couple games the Cavs played there last year. I think he will get the votes over KG from the Chinese

[Armando]

All-Star game is a fans' game. If people want to see Yi, let them vote Yi. Afterall, they voted BJ Armstrong and AC Green back in the day and there wasn't any problem.


My problem is not with fans voting is with the fact the Yi is on the ballot. He is a high draft pick that the Bucks gave up on after 1 season. Now there is a great chance that he will steal a spot from either LeBron or KG in the starting lineup. My money is he will take KG's starting spot. I can't fathom that KG coming off a championship season and winning defensive player of the year will be coming off the bench behind Yi.

[slowchild25]

It's going to be funny when Yi and Marbury comprise 2/5ths of the Eastern Conference Starters.

[Matchman]

theres a great chance that Yi will replace KG as a starter given that there are so many KG haters in the basketball world (im one of them:toast). if u are not a celtics fan, u prolly hate him when the celtics plays your team and he pounds his chest and scream like an asshole.

[Armando]

theres a great chance that Yi will replace KG as a starter given that there are so many KG haters in the basketball world (im one of them:toast). if u are not a celtics fan, u prolly hate him when the celtics plays your team and he pounds his chest and scream like an asshole.



That does not bother me at all. LeBron James making that ugly face annoys me more. KG is a hell of player.

[baseline bum]

LMAO @ the thought of Yao/McGrady/Artest vs Yi/Harris starting the All-Star game.

[MrChug]

Yes, but if I'm coaching a game I work with the talent I'm given. If the fans didn't vote him in he wouldn't be on my team. For instance, if there's such a travesty as to have Yi Jianlian on my team rather than rather than Danny Granger, for instance then I'm starting the 5 that I want to start. Fk the fans for doing that in the first place. I'll play Yi eventually, just not start him.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

It's going to be funny when Yi and Marbury comprise 2/5ths of the Eastern Conference Starters.

That would be the NBA's silver lining if they somehow the world can make that Marbury thing happen. They'd have a leg to stand on for eliminating the internet voting at least without completely shitting on a market they are trying to expand into.

[bdubya]

By definition, the ASG isn't about the best players; it's about the most popular ones. I'd love to see the conspiracy-theory threads if the starters were selected by a shadowy committee meeting in Stern's office...

Or, if we want a more "objective" criterion, how 'bout we pick them by total endorsement dollars earned this year? :spin

[DPG21920]

The coaches would surely vote in KG

[LEONARD]

There are a lot of Chinese people in China that will vote for Yi...

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Is FAN VOTE all you people complain about China vote for their player is bunch of damn racists. GROW UP

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

theres a great chance that Yi will replace KG as a starter given that there are so many KG haters in the basketball world (im one of them:toast). if u are not a celtics fan, u prolly hate him when the celtics plays your team and he pounds his chest and scream like an asshole.

I agree with this. KG seem like stupid jackass.

[Kobe24Forever]

if my memory served me right, i sort of remember KG getting the most votes last year, Lebron James never get voted first since he's generally uncharismatic, and makes tons of corny cormecials. Haters really do have short term memories.

[stretch]

That does not bother me at all. LeBron James making that ugly face annoys me more. KG is a hell of player.

Lebron >>>>>>>>>>X547890257834750237053275790323790747023 KG

[stretch]

Is FAN VOTE all you people complain about China vote for their player is bunch of damn racists. GROW UP

lol, why isnt v-span on the list?

[JamStone]

If it is such a problem, how come Mengke Bateer and Wang Zhizhi never made all star teams? I don't think some of you are giving fans in China enough credit.

[dirk4mvp]

if my memory served me right, i sort of remember KG getting the most votes last year, Lebron James never get voted first since he's generally uncharismatic, and makes tons of corny cormecials. Haters really do have short term memories.


LOL at LeBron being uncharismatic.

[ambchang]

My problem is not with fans voting is with the fact the Yi is on the ballot. He is a high draft pick that the Bucks gave up on after 1 season. Now there is a great chance that he will steal a spot from either LeBron or KG in the starting lineup. My money is he will take KG's starting spot. I can't fathom that KG coming off a championship season and winning defensive player of the year will be coming off the bench behind Yi.

Basically, if you are a starter, you are on the ballot, it's not really that big of a deal.

AC Green started in front of Karl Malone, one of the greatest PF the game has seen because of fan voting. Malone didn't play in that game because he was "injured" a week before the game and was replaced by Rolando Blackman, but fact remains that fans voted in AC Green, a role player in the strictest sense, over Malone.

[DPG21920]

Basically, if you are a starter, you are on the ballot, it's not really that big of a deal.

AC Green started in front of Karl Malone, one of the greatest PF the game has seen because of fan voting. Malone didn't play in that game because he was "injured" a week before the game and was replaced by Rolando Blackman, but fact remains that fans voted in AC Green, a role player in the strictest sense, over Malone.

Well Kobe would be voted in over Jordan

[resistanze]

if my memory served me right, i sort of remember KG getting the most votes last year, Lebron James never get voted first since he's generally uncharismatic, and makes tons of corny cormecials. Haters really do have short term memories.

Actually, LeBron was the top vote getter in 2007, with the second most votes in All-Star history (behind Yao).

Fail.

[Anti.Hero]

let him start, then bench him the entire game.

[timvp]

If it is such a problem, how come Mengke Bateer and Wang Zhizhi never made all star teams? I don't think some of you are giving fans in China enough credit.They were never on the ballot.

[JamStone]

Fair point. But, I still don't think it's that big of an issue. Even when China wasn't a factor, there have been years that fans voted in Alonzo Mourning and Grant Hill as starters and they hadn't played one game in the regular season.

I personally don't think it will happen. If it does, then I'll say it's messed up. I just can't imagine Yi getting more votes than LeBron and KG.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

They were never on the ballot.

How come Chinese not vote T-Mac in last year? Are Chinese haters of T-Mac?

[v2freak]

Isn't Bateer Mongolian, and wasn't Zhizhi blacklisted?

In any event, these new Chinese players (Yao and Yi) represent the new, "hopeful" generation. They have been far more prominent.

And KBP, not voting for someone doesn't mean you hate him.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Isn't Bateer Mongolian, and wasn't Zhizhi blacklisted?

In any event, these new Chinese players (Yao and Yi) represent the new, "hopeful" generation. They have been far more prominent.

And KBP, not voting for someone doesn't mean you hate him.

But Timvp is make like Chinese just control all all star vote. That does not make sense because T-Mac was not voted in.

[SpursDynasty]

Who cares? League fears? The ASG is pretty much meaningless. LeBron is USELESS.

And Garnett doesn't deserve the championship he got in Boston, much less being an All-Star. I have officially lost all respect for KG after seeing that dirty punch he threw at Bogut over a tangle. Garnett continuously acts like a little bitch on the court. It's a physical game. Maybe a scrawny noodle like Garnett doesn't belong in the NBA.

[angelbelow]

itd be hilarious if yi ends his career as a 15 time allstar and is a bench warmer for his own team.

[Allanon]

itd be hilarious if yi ends his career as a 15 time allstar and is a bench warmer for his own team.

Haha, I was thinking the same thing. The comedy would be worth it just to see him as an All-Star ahead of LeBron and KG.

[IronMexican]

Actually, LeBron was the top vote getter in 2007, with the second most votes in All-Star history (behind Yao).

Fail.

KG had the most votes last year.


Oh, I thought you meant 2008. My bad.

[cze1860]

Lmao，Yi is a 2nd year rookie，LeBron >YI

[Obstructed_View]

Fair point. But, I still don't think it's that big of an issue. Even when China wasn't a factor, there have been years that fans voted in Alonzo Mourning and Grant Hill as starters and they hadn't played one game in the regular season.

The year that 'zo got voted in it was because all the other centers in the East sucked fucking ass and didn't deserve to make the team. I don't think I've ever liked 'zo and he's the only east center I voted for that year, and that's why.


By the way, for those of you that wanted to vote Marbury in, this would serve the same purpose and would be much easier to achieve.

Vote Yi!

[JamStone]

I remember the East in the early 2000s.

Does that still mean you vote for a guy who hasn't even played in the regular season at all?

[Obstructed_View]

I remember the East in the early 2000s.

Does that still mean you vote for a guy who hasn't even played in the regular season at all?

I could not, in good conscience, vote for a guy who had no business playing in the all-star game just because we were required to put a guy in because of the position he was listed at. Moreover, I decided that I was willing to put a guy who hadn't played into the spot to protest the fact that I couldn't put someone who was having a good year at another position on the team instead. I obviously was not the only one to think that was a good idea.

[kcplayboi_26]

wow

[himat]

The coaches would surely vote in KG

But KG should be the starter and guys like Caron Butler, Luol Deng, Tayshaun Prince, Hedo, Bosh, Oneal, VC, etc. should be the ones fighting for the reserve spots. Not Yi

[Indazone]

Yi shouldn't even be on the ballot. Did anyone see that brick-a-thon he put out vs team USA in the Olympics? He'd get the ball, jack it up and miss. over and over and over again.

[ShoogarBear]

You've got to cut the Chinese some slack. It's the only fair ballot they get to cast all year.

[TDMVPDPOY]

chinese should have fuckn proxy votes where 1m chinese votes = 1 global vote :D...start clickin

[Bob Lanier]

But KG should be the starter and guys like Caron Butler, Luol Deng, Tayshaun Prince, Hedo, Bosh, Oneal, VC, etc. should be the ones fighting for the reserve spots. Not Yi
Why?

[Phenomanul]

You've got to cut the Chinese some slack. It's the only fair ballot they get to cast all year.

zing!!!

[Indazone]

Yeah, you know their country is so much like ours with Starbucks, KFC, Coca Cola, Piaza Hut and zillions of cars that I forget they can't vote at all.

[MrChug]

"Your stupid racist all you"

-KillBillsPanocha

[Indazone]

Yeah, you know their country is so much like ours with Starbucks, KFC, Coca Cola, Piaza Hut and zillions of cars that I forget they can't vote at all.


Either that or we are turning into them with our Gov't buying out factories, banks, etc. Ahh yes Socialism at it's best.

[Obstructed_View]

Keep voting for Yi!

[cze1860]

chinese should have fuckn proxy votes where 1m chinese votes = 1 global vote :D...start clickin

1 chinese vote = 1 global vote ，that's fair

[cze1860]

Keep voting for Yi!

i will vote for Yi

[Thunder Dan]

I voted for Yi because Lebron is a has-been and Yi is the future

[Bandwagon Fan]

Exactly.

Let's go China. Use your massive populations and get'er done.

Shoot, Ill support that. I hate KG. Yi for 2009 all-star game, he's now on my ballot.

[Indazone]

IF Marbury and Yi get voted in, this will prove once and for all what that the All-Star voting is a total farce.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

You've got to cut the Chinese some slack. It's the only fair ballot they get to cast all year.
:lmao

[mVp]

Yi who??

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

You've got to cut the Chinese some slack. It's the only fair ballot they get to cast all year.

Ba-zing.

[cze1860]

Yi who??

2008－2009 All－star game player.........

[Bandwagon Fan]

Yi who??

Yi haw