2010 NBA Eastern Conference All-Stars As of December

Every year in the NBA fans get to choose their favorite players to represent them at the All-Star game.  And every year the NBA picks the reserves.

The process does end up picking two very good teams, but some deserving player always gets snubbed.  And choices are often based as much on prior year’s statistics and how the player’s team is performing as on how well the “all-star” is playing this season.

So when fans are going to submit their choices for their favorite players, it might be prudent to have a look at how well they are doing right now! And the NBA does make comparing the player stats readily available.

And with the NBA’s new on-line voting process, your vote might actually count for something.  At least it’s harder this year to vote hundreds of times per day.

And don’t forget to vote for your team’s own guys.  There is no reason to care how they are doing! (Is there?)

Eastern Conference Guards

The NBA doesn’t officially distinguish between point guards and shooting guards in the selection process. (But perhaps they should?)  So fans get to choose two guards and the league adds at least two more.

By a measure of points, rebounds, and assists; the early December results would indicate the Top Four eastern conference guards are:

Dwayne Wade: 27.0/5.2/6.0

Andre Iguodala: 19.5/6.8/5.8

Joe Johnson: 21.4/5.4/4.8

Brandon Jennings: 21.4/3.9/5.8

Wade and Johnson should be the easy picks.

Iguodala, unfortunately, is on a struggling team.  Vince Carter: 19.7/4.8/2.8; has a good chance at taking the all-star spot based on name recognition and team success. (And Iggy was included as a forward on the all-star ballot—who made that call?)

And it’s unlikely the rookie Jennings will keep this up and rookies rarely make the cut.  The veteran Gilbert Arenas has numbers that are almost as good at: 20.4/3.7/6.5; but on an under-performing team.

Last year’s all-star snub, Rajon Rondo is putting up: 11.0/3.9/9.0; which is 2.5 assists per game better than the next best point guard in the east.  The all-star team should have a passing point guard and Rondo is deserving.

Other players who will get consideration (depending on injury) include: Jameer Nelson: 13.7/3.1/5.5; and Mo Williams: 17.1/3.0/4.6.

This columnist’s early picks are: Wade, Johnson, Carter, and Rondo.

Eastern Conference Forwards

The NBA doesn’t officially distinguish between small forwards and power forwards in the selection process. (But again, perhaps they should?)  So fans get to choose two forwards and the league adds at least two more.

By a measure of points, rebounds, and assists the early December results would indicate the Top Four eastern conference forwards are:

LeBron James: 27.2/6.6/8.4

Chris Bosh : 24.4/12.1/1.7

Danny Granger: 24.4/6.1/2.6

Antawn Jamison: 20.1/8.7/1.3

LeBron James is the sure thing here.

Chris Bosh should be expected to return again as a league favorite.  Even if his team isn’t consider elite.

Danny Granger and Antawn Jamison are the most likely to be overlooked because of their team’s poor performances to-date and the “star” status of several players on elite teams.

Josh Smith: 15.5/8.6/3.6; is developing into the next star player on an elite team and can’t be overlooked for all-star consideration.

Paul Pierce: 18.6/4.6/3.8; is “the man” on one of the east’s elite teams and it is nearly impossible to see him being left off the all-star team.

Other players that will be getting consideration because of their team’s status include: Kevin Garnett: 15.0/7.4/2.7; and, Rashard Lewis: 15.7/6.8/2.5.  But Lewis has earned a snub this season.

This columnist’s early picks are: James, Bosh, Smith, and Pierce.

Eastern Conference Centers

Dwight Howard: 18.1/12.1/1.5; should be the run away selection as starting center for the eastern conference all-star team.

Shaquille O’Neal: 10.9/6.6/1.6; has great name recognition, but isn’t deserving.  It’s time to let the big diesel watch the all-star game!

It is likely only one true center will be on the East. The other available all-star spots being filled by deserving guards and forwards.

The Three More

It would be exciting to see Danny Granger make it back and Andre Iguodala get his chance. 

It would not be a surprise to see Kevin Garnett back at the all-star game.

This is one debate where fans actually do get a real say.  You can do more than just disagree, you can vote for your choices!

And it is still early.  Some players will get injured and some players will start break out seasons late.  Even some teams that are playing poorly now could look good over the next two months to give their guys a better shot.

So let me know who you believe the early all-star selections should be.

(Who is going to be brave enough to say Allen Iverson?)