KG may not start All-Star game

[Big Ticket]

I don't really understand all the fuss being made over this recently.  The latest returns are as of 1/8/09... 11 days ago.  Anything could happen with the voting in that time frame.

[xmuscularghandix]

The question, I guess, is does the NBA want to appeal to Chinese fans at the expense of American ones?  And does allowing a player to start for no other reason than race / nationality send the right message?

I know the NBA wants to market globally, but I wonder if they want Yi making a mockery of the game.  If all-star votes were restricted to North America only, or if overseas votes were weighted to count less, would that offend anybody so much?

When Kobe was voted for the 1st time, was he a better player than Yi is now? A better prospect, surely; but a better player, was he?

According to your reasoning, if Yi was American, what would be the problem?

if yi was american he wouldn't be going, period.

[Roy Hobbs]

The question, I guess, is does the NBA want to appeal to Chinese fans at the expense of American ones?  And does allowing a player to start for no other reason than race / nationality send the right message?

I know the NBA wants to market globally, but I wonder if they want Yi making a mockery of the game.  If all-star votes were restricted to North America only, or if overseas votes were weighted to count less, would that offend anybody so much?

When Kobe was voted for the 1st time, was he a better player than Yi is now? A better prospect, surely; but a better player, was he?

According to your reasoning, if Yi was American, what would be the problem?

Kobe was voted in for reasons other than his nationality, which is the distinction.

Also, yes, Kobe was a substantially better player as a sophomore than Yi is now.  Link.

[fairweatherfan]

If AC Green over Karl Malone didn't kill fan voting, nothing will.  And isn't Yi hurt and therefore wouldn't start anyway (meaning KG would almost certainly be given his spot)?  Anyway, I doubt KG puts too much stock in his place in the All-Star pecking order these days, and I don't either. 

[celticinorlando]

i prefer that all the celtics don't attend the all star break...

[RockinRyA]

its hard to compete against a nation that comprises a large part of the population.. with that said no i dont think yi deserves to start.. much less play in the ASG. he's my fellow asian but if i could play 2 yao's instead of starting yi, i would very much agree with the tradeoff

[RebusRankin]

I'd rather see KG get the rest myself. Besides I want to see the media furor if it happens. Plus next year, we can start a campaign to get a player in. Tony Allen anyone?

[houlana]

the problem i have here is not KG starting or not.

its Yi being an all star, period.
he can barely be a starter on his own team. VC and Harris deserve to be there over Yi. as well as another player worthy of playoff selection on any eastern conference team that will be screwed cuz of yi

[Change]

KG will start. I doubt the nba will let Yi overtake KG on the all-star voting. With china voting, Yi is probably already ahead of KG, but the NBA won't let it happen. I'm pretty sure the early returns are already skewed.

[Edgar]

KG will start. I doubt the nba will let Yi overtake KG on the all-star voting. With china voting, Yi is probably already ahead of KG, but the NBA won't let it happen. I'm pretty sure the early returns are already skewed.

but keeping it close for statistical and to create interest...i agree with u
ohh dear politics...

[guava_wrench]

KG will start. I doubt the nba will let Yi overtake KG on the all-star voting. With china voting, Yi is probably already ahead of KG, but the NBA won't let it happen. I'm pretty sure the early returns are already skewed.

How will they not let it happen? That's not how it works. People need to vote for KG if they want him to start.

[Edgar]

KG will start. I doubt the nba will let Yi overtake KG on the all-star voting. With china voting, Yi is probably already ahead of KG, but the NBA won't let it happen. I'm pretty sure the early returns are already skewed.

How will they not let it happen? That's not how it works. People need to vote for KG if they want him to start.

electoral fraud 

[wdleehi]

If BJ Armstrong being the starting PG for the East is not going to change the voting, then nothing will.

[cordobes]

Kobe was voted in for reasons other than his nationality, that's the distinction

And why is that distinction important, to begin with? Do you know why Kobe was voted in? Because he was being anointed and promoted, by the league and by commercial companies, as Jordan's successor - therefore, he was hugely popular. And do you think he'd have such a strong PR campaign - and therefore the ASG votes - if he wasn't an American kid with a game so similar to Jordan's? No way. Kobe being an American - and easy to sell to Americans - was a big reason why he was voted into the ASG in his 2nd season.

Also, yes, Kobe was a substantially better player as a sophomore than Yi is now.

Substantially? I don't even think he was better, but anyway, that's beyond the point, as long as you agree Kobe was very far from being All-Star material, from that meritocratic perspective.

[dark_lord]

part of me wants yi to be voted in.  it will show what a farce the voting is.  if they want to have a "popularity game", then keep it the way it is.  if they want to call it the all star game, then the nba can change its selection process.