F Shareef Abdur-Rahim. "The Erica Kane of the All-Star Team." Maybe the comment after the Van-LAL game hurt his chances. As long as he's a Grizzly he will probably won't make the team. It is the sad truth.
Jevada Wright
New York City
Francis is Rocketing, man
The numerous deserving forwards who were left off the Western Conference All-Star team have been discussed to death, so I'll go with a guard: Steve Francis.
He's utterly unguardable, puts up eye-popping statistics (19.1 points, 6.5 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 1.86 steals, .401 3P%, .876 FT%), and is single-handedly keeping the Rockets in playoff contention.
Tony Minkoff
Scottsdale, Ariz.
No tears here for good players on bad teams
It's a shame to see Dirk Nowitzki left off the squad, but who is he going to replace? David Robinson possibly, if you move Sheed or Duncan to center. And I don't want to hear any crying about Jamison or Abdur-Rahim. When your teams start winning, then we'll listen.
Rian Kirkman
San Francisco
Kiki: Nowitzki reminds me of me
All stats aside, I thought it was common practice in All-Star selection to reward players that helped their teams win (Remember: Vin Baker for three years). With that in mind, there's no reason Nowitzki should have been left off the roster. Many will point to Theo Ratliff as a suspect selection, but look at how well his team has done! All the glaring omissions (Marion, Abdur-Rahim, Jamison, and Brand specifically) play for teams with obviously no interest in winning. By utilizing the All-Star voting process, the league is assured to have the poster-boys in place, but the rest of the selections are just what they should be: based on the expert eye of coaches. They know it takes more than stats and popularity to put your team in the playoffs and they're trying to educate the fans to this. So, again, Dirk should be there and Anthony Mason should have been afforded the time to work on his hair designs.
Kiki Vanderweghe (If that is his real name)
San Francisco
Please deliver us from the Mailman
Dirk Nowitzki should have got the nod instead of Malone. Malone's numbers are way down from last year's. I would have also chosen Jamison ahead of Malone. To say Latrell Sprewell should have made the all-star team is a joke. He is only averaging 17 ppg and is shooting a mediocre 43% from the field. Give me Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen or Stephon Marbury instead of him anyday.
Jeff Kosco
Pineville, La.
Garnett shouldn't be lone Wolf
I think that Terrell Brandon should have made this year's all star game. TB has meant more to the Wolves' recent success than anyone, including KG. He is the consummate point guard, fulfilling every need that his team has each night. He finds the hot shooter, and isn't hesitant about shooting himself if he knows that he is the hot shooter. His defense has improved this year, and his steals over the last 10 games or so have been key to the Wolves record over that span, including the Wolves fourth ever win in Seattle.
Tony Minnich
St. Joseph, Minn.
Riverside man goes to bat for Jamison
How's it possible to leave off Jamison? He's the league's eighth leading scorer, not to mention that he is out-rebounding the likes of Malone, Wallace, and Robinson. He has managed to play every game for the Warriors, who this year have been possibly the most injury-plagued team in the history of the NBA. And how could the voters overlook his back-to-back 50-point games, including his amazing duel with Kobe (a game which Golden State won). Well, I guarantee he won't be overlooked in the future, and people will consider the Warriors brilliant for getting him in the draft day deal for Carter.
Matthew Insco
Riverside, Calif.
Mail fraud is a crime
Karl Malone over Jamison and Dirk? That's robbery. Both Jamison and Nowitzki have better stats than Malone. Maybe he'll complain like last year and not want to show up and a more deserving player can take his place and be excited to be there. A crime.
Mke Euglow
Clayton, Calif.
Yeah, I'm talkin' about Dirk
Those coaches can't even pronounce his last name, let alone stop him from pouring in 25 a night. The guy's unstoppable, and he was flat out robbed.
Scott Reister
Dallas
