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The big three will all be reserves.
To paraphrase Ron White: "That's a good piece of information to have".
The big three will all be reserves.
You people are on crack if you think all three Big Three are getting voted in as reserves. Best case is probably two of them, and likeliest scenario is Manu alone.
I'm in the camp that doesn't want any of our stars to play in the ASG. It's a meaningless game and just another unnecessary chance for them to get injured.
Duncan is as much a lock as Ginobili is. There's only two center options for the West, Gasol and Duncan. Yao will win the fan vote, but won't be able to play due to injury. That shifts Gasol to center and Nowitzki into the starting lineup and gives way for the coaches to select Duncan as a center (they can pick a player based on the position they primarily play, even if they're not listed at that position) and pick a more deserving forward or guard over a true or listed center.
When you consider the team he's on, the minutes he's playing and what everyone knows he's capable of statistically (even at this point in his career), he's still a clear cut All-Star. Garnett has been as his numbers have slipped, for basically the same reasons. No one questioned his recent selections (even though he's not as good as Duncan), yet for some reason there's some big fuss about Duncan and a lot of it is coming from Spurs fans.
Some good points here; I'd almost forgotten about Yao's injury. Duncan probably has a chance if the coaches decide to include him as a center; otherwise I still think he gets pushed out by all of the talented forwards in the West (Gasol, Griffin, Al Jefferson, Melo, Durant, etc) simply because of his "slip in production".
However, you and I both know that Duncan is capable of playing like an All-Star, and the coaches probably do as well, so we'll see if they live up to it.
I think the actual answer to the question is that it hasn't happened. I did look through the old ASG boxscores from the merger forward; every All-Star game coach in that time has had at least one player from his regular season team on his All-Star squad. Frequently, it's been a 1:1 sort of thing; and often that 1 player has been a reserve. But it does appear that there has always been one.
I don't know whether it happened before the merger or not -- given the relatively small number of teams in that era, I'd be very surprised if it had occurred.
Duncan is going to be there. Manu/Parker possibly too. It will come from the coaches if it doesn't come from the fans.
KG isnt having an all star year either if we were to look at stats but he's still voted as a starter so far. Timmy will most likely get in due to past success and he's actually been very good defensively this year. He's just not the number one option anymore on offense. Manu, despite his recent struggles, is still a lock to make the All-Star Team. Tony is playing well too and is making a case to make the team but Manu is getting more of the hype.
Yao being the West center leading vote getter helps Timmy, imo. It will give Duncan an automatic spot in case he doesnt make the 12 man team, which is very unlikely.
This is probably how things will play out:
Starters: Gasol - Durant - Melo - Kobe - Paul
Bench: Manu, Dirk, Westbrook, Deron Williams, Love, Timmy.
I'm still undecided on the last spot. Griffin? Parker? Scola?
I'm guessing that Duncan will be selected as a reserve and Tony/Manu will be invited to play in those extra little games on All Star weekend.
Neil in the 3PC would be nice
Spurs will be busy.
Neal and Blair for rookie/sop re game
Bonner for 3 pt shootout (Or Manu)
Parker for skills challenge
Duncan/Manu and/maybe Tony
Pop as West coach
Sounds about right. Nothing at all like the 4 Pistons that made it that one year.
Oh well.
I doubt Manu makes the 3pt shootout. Even though he's taken the most 3s in the league, his percentage is only like 37%. Adjusted though it's like 53%.
It's an older recipe from Betty Crocker, but definitely remains one of my favorite, most reliable peanut butter cookie recipes. My own tip: It works better if you cream the sugars, then add the peanut butter and eggs. Peanut butter chips are a nice additions, as are simply regular chocolate chips.
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Mix sugars, peanut butter, shortening, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm.
2. Heat oven to 375ºF.
3. Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with fork dipped into sugar.
4. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.
Beyond that, I believe the answer to the original has been found, but yeah, there's always been at least 1 reserve player chosen by coaches. It would be insulting, and distinctly odd, not to select at least one
Has a coach ever declined the opportunity?
I knew someone would offer up that recipe. It's a given.
I copied though...
If the Spurs continue at a winning percentage that exceeds that of the 1996 Bulls, the Spurs are guaranteed a player in the All-Star game. David Stern and the league aren't stupid enough to allow that not to happen.
The much more likely scenario is that the Spurs don't continue at this pace but still have the WC lead. Even then, with two easily justifiable candidates in Manu and Tony, and one Lifetime Achievement guy in TD, one of them almost certainly gets picked.
Why would they decline ? Its not like they are going to get injuried coaching.
Actually I will love Pop to coach the ASG. Maybe he can do a Hack-A-Dwight on the first minute of the ASG and that will be funny.
Well, if you're going to throw it out there like a challenge. . .I knew someone would offer up that recipe. It's a given.
I copied though...
Do you think David Stern would himself if the Spurs won the West and faced the Heat? He wants a Kobe/Lebron matchup in the Finals, and the cards were shuffled to get that to happen because Cleveland sure as wasn't going to make it happen.
Some Nike exec would commit suicide.
Duncan will get Yao's spot. I expect Ginobili to get in as a reserve. Not sure about Parker.
That's okay with me.Some Nike exec would commit suicide.
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