How do YOU pick All Stars?

[papa shuttlesworth]

How do YOU pick All Stars?  Do you pick all Celtics (or former Celtics) or do you pick the most deserving players based on an objective analysis of the NBA, even if it means picking a hated rival like LeBron?

I do a little of both and because you are allowed to vote every day, I change up my strategy.  As a UConn fan, I tend to pick players from that school.  I also tend to pick players that won't guaranteed voted in as starters.

For example, I think that KG is totally deserving of starting, but recognize that so does half the world.  So instead, I vote for Caron Butler, who won't get nearly as many votes.  For some picks I am a blind Celtics supporter, like for Rondo at PG even though others may be more deserving (although he should be an all-star).  On the other hand, I don't usually vote for Perkins because I don't think he is there yet.  But I also won't vote for Dwight Howard because he is a shoo-in.

Out West it is a little different because I have less history with those players.  There my rule is "don't pick players you hate" as much as it is picking players that deserve it.  So my West picks fluctuate.

I just did today's voting and this is how it looks:
East: Rondo, Ray Allen, Pierce, Caron Butler, Okafor
West: Tony Parker, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Duncan, Andris Biedrins

Who knows how it will look tomorrow.

[Celtic]

I vote once a day, and always pick the same ten players. I always pick the five Celtics in the East, not much explanation needed there. In the west I always pick, Baron Davis, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, David West, and Al Jefferson. For the west my reasons are that I try to pick guys that deserve consideration (except maybe Baron, I just like him), but have no chance of getting in. Big Al gets picked obviously for his Celtics ties, but there is no excuse for him to not be on the All Star team this year.

[Redz]

I try to do one subjective and one prejudiced vote.  Thankfully the talent level of the Celts these days has blurred the line between the two.

[celticmaestro]

East - Celtics
West - Paul/Roy, Nash, Dirk, Amare, Shaq

[papa shuttlesworth]

So everyone just votes the same every time?

I think I probably rotate 12-14 players, with maybe 5 constants.

[GroverTheClover]

For the East, I voted all Celtics. For the West, I voted, CP3, B-Diddy, Melo, Duncan, and Al Jefferson.

[dark_lord]

personally, i dont vote.  i hate that the format is basically a popularity contest and not always given to the deserving players.  i know i sound like a debbie downer, but its how i feel

[xmuscularghandix]

Celtics for the East, West i put Baron, Dirk, Duncan, Al Jef, Baron Davis, Chauncey.

[Redz]

personally, i dont vote.  i hate that the format is basically a popularity contest and not always given to the deserving players.  i know i sound like a debbie downer, but its how i feel

No one ever said being the Dark Lord was a cheerful job, but someone's gotta do it.  You're entitled be debbie downer.

[Cman]

I'm a homer.
I pick Celtics for the East and ex-Celtics for the West (for the most part).

[EatSleepBreatheGreen]

I made a thread with the 1st results...
http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=24116.0

[Roy Hobbs]

I pick all-star caliber players, and then give extra credit to players I like (while refusing to vote for players I despise).  Thus, I'll vote for KG and Paul Pierce, because they're both all-star caliber forwards, but I won't vote for Perk, simply because he's not having an all-star season.  Under no circumstances will I vote for a Laker or a player I hold in contempt (Kobe on both counts.)

[papa shuttlesworth]

It is interesting how switching a conference or team can change my view of a player.  Under no circumstances would I vote for Chauncey while in Detroit, but I did vote for him (once) this year because of how he has helped Denver.

[action781]

I rotate, sometimes I'll do Celtics East and most deserving players West.  Then other times I do the funnest players to watch, because the game ends up being a globetrotter game eventually anyways.  ai, wade, lebron, kg, dwight howard in the east; nash, kobe, melo, amare, shaq.  ive been voting for memo okur a lot lately because he's so underrated!

[Schupac]

Papa Shuttlesworth... great name.

I vote overall for talent, with a slight bias and all tie breakers going green.

As Darklord said, the current format is just awful.  Not to mention that the Chinese voters could actually put Yi Jianling in as a starter based off of sheer volume and participation.  It's crazy.  So to combat... I try to vote like I imagine coaches would.