How To Effectively Change the NBA All-Star Game: Take Out the Fans

The way the NBA has their all-stars chosen is a complete joke and there's a simple solution on how to solve it. Take out the fan voting because it doesn't work. If the NBA continues to have the All-Star games like it is now, the name should be changed to the NBA Popularity game. 

It's frustrating to see when there are deserving players who actually should be getting votes. I just saw the fan voting for the first time well at least the second tally that the NBA has put out. 

Most fans have it right when they vote, but when Yi Jianlian is third in the voting for forwards over players like Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Danny Granger, and Josh Smith—there's something very wrong with that picture. 

I also for the life of me can't figure out how Gilbert Arenas got any votes considering he hasn't played a game this year yet. Arenas is ahead of players like Joe Johnson, Jameer Nelson, Jose Calderon, and Derrick Rose. 

Even in the Western Conference it's even more messed up though. How is it that Rafer Alston has more votes than Brandon Roy and Chauncey Billups? With Jason Terry the same thing how does he have more votes than Roy and Billups? 

By far the most disturbing thing is at the center position for the Western Conference. How is it that Greg Oden has more votes than Al Jefferson, Andris Biedrins, and Marcus Camby. The same thing can be said about Andrew Bynum how does he have more votes than Jefferson, Biedrins, and Camby. 

To give you some perspective on it. Oden is averaging eight points, 7.2 rebounds per game, and 1.2 blocks.

Andrew Bynum is averaging 11.9 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. 

So, let's compare these stats to the more deserving Jefferson, Biedrins, and Camby. 

Al Jefferson is averaging 22.8 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game. 

Andris Biedrins is averaging 14.2 points per game, 12.1 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game. 

Marcus Camby is averaging 12 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, and 2.8 blocks per game. 

It's time for the NBA to take the voting from the fans. It's gotten so ridiculous and no one in their right mind would actually believe that Oden is an all-star right now when Oden has a hard enough time staying on the court because of foul trouble. 

The NBA doesn't have to go to the policy where each team should have an all-star because for one that would mean having to expand the roster. Secondly, not every year a team has a player that is an all-star, so that doesn't make sense. 

I believe that in order to have a true all-star game coaches should be the one's who make the decision on who should be there and who should not be there. Meaning that players like Joe Johnson, Andris Biedrins, Danny Granger, etc...Do not get overlooked and as well players that aren't deserving like Oden, Jianlian, and Bynum don't get in. 

Yes, the All-Star game is fun to watch players goof around and have a good time while going up against the conference foes. Yet, it's almost got to the point where the All-Star game is completely pointless and instead the NBA should just put a mandated break in the middle of the season where every team is off for a four to five days. 

For one it would get rid of the ridiculous all-star voting and strange as it sounds, but I believe most players would rather just have the break without an all-star game. It would help them recover a little bit from any nagging injuries. 

Of course taking the All-Star game completely out isn't really realistic. The game is going to stay, but the game needs huge changes and it starts with getting rid of the fans from voting for all-stars.