All-Star Voting Fourth Returns Released

[duncan228]

James narrows Howard's lead in All-Star voting returns (http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/08/010809allstarreturns/index.html)

NEW YORK -- Orlando's Dwight Howard, the defending Sprite Slam Dunk champion, is still Superman at the ballot box with 2,102,368 votes following the fourth returns of 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Cleveland's LeBron James (1,940,162) is tugging at his cape in the Eastern Conference, while Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets are dueling it out for the top spot in the West.

Phoenix will host the NBA All-Star Game for the third time when the midseason classic is played for the 58th time on Sunday, Feb. 15. The game will air live (8pm ET) on TNT, ESPN Radio and in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The NBA All-Star Game was played in Phoenix in both 1975 and 1995.

James, the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 2006 and 2008, is followed at the forward position in the East by Boston's Kevin Garnett (1,375,814), the leading vote-recipient in 2008. Miami's Dwyane Wade, the NBA's leading scorer, leads all Eastern Conference guards with 1,818,717 votes, followed by Detroit's Allen Iverson (1,278,600). Philadelphia's Samuel Dalembert (257,527) is running second to Howard at the center position.

Bryant tops the Western Conference with 1,903,798 votes, followed by Yao (1,758,499). The Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady follows Bryant at the guard position with 1,216,224 votes. San Antonio's Tim Duncan (1,454,918) and Denver's Carmelo Anthony (905,121) pace all Western Conference forwards, with Shaquille O'Neal (1,006,383) of the Phoenix Suns trailing Yao at the center position.

The 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, which also includes partner 2K Sports, allows fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the All-Star Game in a variety of ways, including: at each NBA arena; in 20 languages on NBA.com; and through mobile phones at t-zones® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. A T-Mobile-branded All-Star Balloting widget is available on NBA.com so that fans can "grab" the widget and place it on their blogs, social network pages, or personal websites allowing others to vote directly from the widget. Voting will continue through Jan. 11, for paper balloting and Jan. 19, for NBA.com and wireless balloting.

NBA All-Star 2009 is a week-long celebration that enables fans to experience the thrill of the world's greatest athletes playing the game they love and features a full slate of community-enhancing activities including the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service and fan festivals such as NBA All-Star Jam Session.

One hundred twenty players -- 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences -- are listed on the NBA All-Star ballot. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media experts who regularly cover the NBA. This year's panel included Paul Coro (Arizona Republic), Ernie Johnson (TNT), Jack McCallum (Sports Illustrated), David Moore (Dallas Morning News), Marc Spears (Boston Globe) and Marc Stein (ESPN.com).

This is the final balloting update. The announcement of the All-Star starters will take place on Thursday Jan. 22, prior to a TNT doubleheader. Following the completion of fan voting and the starting lineup announcement, the head coaches in each conference will vote to determine the remaining All-Stars in their respective conference, which will be announced Thursday, Jan. 29 prior to a TNT doubleheader.

As the presenting partner of the 2009 NBA All-Star Balloting program, and in support of the NBA's season-long effort to better the various communities in Phoenix, T-Mobile will donate $1 for every ballot cast on t-zones, T-Mobile's wireless Web portal, to help the youth of Phoenix. The week leading up to the 58th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, such as NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, Feb. 13.

2009 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
Leaders of the Eastern Conference in the fourth returns of NBA All-Star balloting for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Forwards

LeBron James (Clev) 1,940,162
Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,375,814
Yi Jianlian (NJ) 1,216,348
Chris Bosh (Tor) 751,927
Paul Pierce (Bos) 486,656
Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 366,174
Shawn Marion (Mia) 264,888
Danny Granger (Ind) 199,200
Josh Smith (Atl) 163,145
Michael Beasley (Mia) 157,286
Tayshaun Prince (Det) 144,337

Guards

Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,818,717
Allen Iverson (Det) 1,278,600
Vince Carter (NJ) 856,498
Ray Allen (Bos) 552,094
Devin Harris (NJ) 474,637
Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 403,577
Luke Ridnour (Mil) 379,806
Derrick Rose (Chi) 293,483
Jose Calderon (Tor) 274,509
Joe Johnson (Atl) 236,993
Jameer Nelson (Orl) 227,226

Centers

Dwight Howard (Orl) 2,102,368
Samuel Dalembert (Phi) 257,527
Rasheed Wallace (Det) 255,950
Jermaine ONeal (Tor) 224,583
Andrew Bogut (Mil) 198,811
Al Horford (Atl) 191,105
Brendan Haywood (Wash) 178,868
Ben Wallace (Clev) 159,132
Emeka Okafor (Char) 133,501
Zyrdrunas Ilgauskas (Cle) 122,607
Kendrick Perkins (Bos) 85,855

2009 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING
Leaders of the Western Conference in the fourth returns of NBA All-Star balloting for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

Forwards

Tim Duncan (SA) 1,454,918
Carmelo Anthony (Den) 905,121
Amare Stoudemire (Pho) 894,690
Ron Artest (Hou) 890,992
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 837,482
Pau Gasol (LAL) 618,943
Bruce Bowen (SA) 509,593
Shane Battier (Hou) 482,724
Luis Scola (Hou) 281,372
Josh Howard (Dal) 255,698
LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 212,651

Guards

Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,903,798
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,216,224
Chris Paul (NO) 1,059,161
Manu Ginobili (SA) 669,837
Tony Parker (SA) 614,939
Jamal Crawford (GS) 462,039
Steve Nash (Pho) 441,746
Jason Kidd (Dal) 381,906
Rafer Alston (Hou) 372,130
Jason Terry (Dal) 323,279
Brandon Roy (Por) 267,053

Centers

Yao Ming (Hou) 1,758,499
Shaquille ONeal (Pho) 1,006,383
Andrew Bynum (LAL) 356,280
Mehmet Okur (Utah) 292,845
Greg Oden (Por) 195,552
Andris Biedrins (GS) 170,732
Tyson Chandler (NO) 128,086
Al Jefferson (Minn) 121,944
Nick Collison (OKC) 105,534
Marcus Camby (LAC) 74,638
Chris Kaman (LAC) 27,112.


In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the opportunity to experience Phoenix and the best of basketball by entering the NBA 2K9 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2009 and to have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year's game, NBA 2K10.

[benefactor]

What a joke.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Granger being a distant eighth among forwards in the East is just nutz. He needs a new PR guy.

[baseline bum]

This sucks. I really want Yi to get the nod for the East if the West has to take scrub-ass McGrady.

[Crookshanks]

Tracy McGrady has almost as many votes as Manu and Tony TOGETHER! What a complete joke - damn those Houston Rockets fans!!!!!!!!!!

[Cane]

I'm surprised that Yi is trailing although he's within striking distance (damn I'm starting to sound like a 2k9 announcer).

Also surprised that China isn't blindly backing up Sun Yue.

[phyzik]

I still find it interesting that Bowen of all people is getting votes, relatively speaking he is not that far away from Pau Gasol!

Not too shabby for one of the most hated players to currently play the game!

[MoSpur]

Al Jefferson should be further up. Too bad he plays for the T-Wolves

[Brutalis]

Why do people care? Fan voting for the NBA AS game is a joke. ASW has been a joke for years now. The whole fact that people decide who All Stars are is ridiculous, because the REAL All Stars tend to get snubbed.

All this is, is a popularity contest. That's why when I vote, it's only for the west, and it's Spurs across the board. *No point in voting for real since the league doesn't even take it seriously. It's only about money as usual.

[BruceBowenFan]

I still find it interesting that Bowen of all people is getting votes, relatively speaking he is not that far away from Pau Gasol!

Not too shabby for one of the most hated players to currently play the game!

i think i have voted fo him about 300 times

[Spurs Brazil]

T-Mac starting is a joke

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

T-Mac starting is a joke

They really should start holding the game in Bejing.

[mrspurs]

Dalembert the 2nd best of centers after Superman? Suddenly Matt dont look so bad.

[dknights411]

Tracy McGrady has almost as many votes as Manu and Tony TOGETHER! What a complete joke - damn those Houston Rockets fans!!!!!!!!!!

I blame China.

[it's me]

Guards

Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,903,798
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,216,224
Chris Paul (NO) 1,059,161
Manu Ginobili (SA) 669,837
Tony Parker (SA) 614,939
Jamal Crawford (GS) 462,039
Steve Nash (Pho) 441,746
Jason Kidd (Dal) 381,906
Rafer Alston (Hou) 372,130
Jason Terry (Dal) 323,279
Brandon Roy (Por) 267,053








:lmao:lmao:lmao

[hater]

Yi Jianlian (NJ) 1,216,348 :lmao
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,216,224 :lmao



Pathetic

[EricB]

I want to know why the HELL Luke Ridenour has more all star votes than Joe Johnson...

[baseline bum]

Yi Jianlian (NJ) 1,216,348 :lmao
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,216,224 :lmao



Pathetic

:lmao

LMAO @ a 0.1% difference in their totals. Yeah, the Chinese aren't fucking our ASG.

[nkdlunch]

Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 403,577

:lmao :lmao

[Red Hawk #21]

Who are the fools that keep voting for Gilbert Freaking Arenas??!

[Behrooz24]

I will get CP3 and Yi to start, just wait and see >:]

[duncan228]

Duncan still leads All-Star voting for West forward (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/spursworld/2009/01/duncan-still-leads-allstar-vot.html)
By Joe Alexander

The Spurs' Tim Duncan remains the leader in balloting at forward for the NBA Western Conference All-Star Team.

Duncan has 1,454,918 votes in the fourth returns, which were released Friday. Teammate Bruce Bowen is seventh in the voting at forward.

The Spurs' Manu Ginobili is fourth and Tony Parker is fifth in voting at the Western Conference guard spot. The Lakers' Koby Bryant leads the balloting at guard with 1,903,798 votes.

The Rockets' Yao Ming leads the voting for center in the Western Conference with 1,758,499 votes.

Leading the East are the Cavaliers' LeBron James at forward (1,940,162 votes), the Heat's Dwyane Wade at guard (1,818,717) and the Magic's Dwight Howard at center (2,102,368).

The All-Star Game is Feb. 15 in Phoenix.

[Spurs#1]

Wouldn't it be great thou if Yi Jianlian passed Garnett.

[2Cleva]

Everybody needs to go vote for Chris Paul. Hate him or love him T-Mac shouldn't be starting.

[exstatic]

Everybody needs to go vote for Chris Paul. Hate him or love him T-Mac shouldn't be starting.

I can't believe I'm agreeing with Lakerfan on anything, but this is spot on. TMac is a disgrace to the Rockets uniform, and frankly, I think he may be passed over by the coaches and replacement picks if he doesn't get stupidly voted in by the fans.

Do your part folks. Torpedo TMac.

[Yorae]

Who the hell placed arenas in the voting line up in the first place?

[AceProfits]

I bet Yi is leading in votes but it would be so sad for the NBA that they are not reporting the numbers as they come. I'm sure they are taking away as many votes as needed to keep Yi always about 200,000 votes behind the rest..

[himat]

Rip Hamilton is not even on the radar:wow

I know he has struggled this season because of the trade of Billups and adjusting to AI, and then you add the injuries, but I thought he had enough of a reputation to be ahead of guys like Luke Ridnour, an injured Gilbert Arenas, Jameer Nelson, and young players like Rose and Calderon who are not as good as him.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

They really should start holding the game in Bejing.

The West would never win, did you see Kobe's epic brick laying performance the last time he played in Bejing?

[peskypesky]

I think the NBA should put a cap on the number of votes from China. One vote per family.

[loveforthegame]

That's just sad that Artest has more votes than Dirk.

[Rogue]

I think the NBA should put a cap on the number of votes from China. One vote per family.
it doesn't work. the problem with the exploding votes from china is not their population. china has the world's largest population but most of them don't have the access to the Internet. in fact the number of chinese guys who can vote is not a lot more than those of any other nations. One IP is allowed to vote only once per day, but these chinese guys can vote 30 or more, by deleting the cookies they can vote as many times as they want. One vote per family every minute is still very enough for them to spill trillions of votes for their Yao and Yi and those rockets.
I bet Yi is gonna be traded to houston sooner or later, as soon as the rockets get the bait the nets want. Yi is absolutely overrated since he was drafted at 6th, he could never be drafted at that position if he hadn't changed his age. The nets expect yi to help them explore their market in china, but the market there has already been fully occupied by the rockets. I bet yi will get more votes than KG in total and start in the all-star game. What a joke.

[xellos88330]

How do the injuries work in the all star roster again. If you cannot play does the player beneath you in the voting get the start? If that is the case, we might see two more Spurs in the all star game.

China loves their players. I think Yi has done a decent job (picked him up on one of my fantasy teams early in the year), however, I do not think he is all-star material.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Melo into 2nd! :smokin

So he should be..... Nuggets > Suns

[barbacoataco]

How about Bowen with 509,593 votes? He's got more votes than a lot of better known players. Of course I think he deserves it, but I'm surprised to see that much support for him.

[BlackBellamy]

How about Bowen with 509,593 votes? He's got more votes than a lot of better known players. Of course I think he deserves it, but I'm surprised to see that much support for him.

And it's an All-Star game so they will not tolerate defense being played, outside of blocks. I just can't believe he keeps missing DPOY.

[timtonymanu]

let's just hope T-Mac cant play at the ASG due to healing or he tells everyone not to vote for him like last year. Remember the whole T-Mac/AI issue last year.

[naico]

Yao Ming (Hou) 1,758,499
Tracy McGrady (Hou) 1,216,224
Ron Artest (Hou) 890,992
Shane Battier (Hou) 482,724
Rafer Alston (Hou) 372,130
Luis Scola (Hou) 281,372
I
I
I
I
V

Brandon Roy (Por) 267,053
Jose Calderon (Tor) 274,509
Josh Howard (Dal) 255,698
Joe Johnson (Atl) 236,993
Jameer Nelson (Orl) 227,226
LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 212,651
Danny Granger (Ind) 199,200
Al Jefferson (Minn) 121,944


Nough' said! The people have spoken, Houston champs!

[mudyez]

I think, the trick with the cookies also works for me (at least it did some years ago...but I havendt voted this year)

...so give me some days off and I will get u a nice 5 into the game (combined W/E) without using write in votes


Marbury
Ridnour
Dunleavy
Yi
Curry

who would have thought you could create a team out of ballot-guys without having a chance to win a single game in the BIG10!?

[bigfish22]

Popularity contest = Gilbert Arenas (Wash) 403,577

[Allanon]

Manu and Tony Parker at 600,000+ votes is pretty impressive.

Luke Ridnour with more votes than Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon is hilarious...does anybody even know who Luke Ridnour is?

[xellos88330]

Manu and Tony Parker at 600,000+ votes is pretty impressive.

Luke Ridnour with more votes than Derrick Rose and Jose Calderon is hilarious...does anybody even know who Luke Ridnour is?

I used to call Ridnour "Permy". His head of curly hair made it pretty distracting.