NBA All-Star 2008 (My Selections) Part 4

Second returns are in and Baron Davis is moving up with 93,626 votes since the last returns, putting Jerry Stackhouse in last place in the West guard standings. Melo's still on top of the west forwards. Looks like the Yardbarker campaign is paying off. It's starting to narrow down a little. So here's who I've got. WEST FORWARD: CARMELO ANTHONY. No surprise here, he's still the leading forward in the West and has the numbers to prove it with 25.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, and 1.4 spg. In the last 4 games, the 5th year forward has averaged 32.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg, all double doubles. What has sparked his best performance of the year is the 2OT win against the Rockets where he scored a season high 37 points and a career high 16 rebounds. http://yardbarker.com/nba/articles/15_10_Nuggets_beat_12_14_Rockets_in_2OT_After_Midnight_Mountain_Time_You_Did_Good_Melo/50688 An example of a true all-star and a definite starter. (Ahead of) Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki FORWARD: CARLOS BOOZER. No doubt about it, this is the best year of his career. Staying healthy, he's competing against the best with a talented team. He was always hurt so he could never show how good of a player he could really be. His injury plagued days seem to be over and his all-star days have just begun. Side by side comparisons with him and Tim Duncan. Carlos Boozer: 24.6 ppg. 11.6 rpg. 3.2 apg. 1.5 spg. 0.6 bpg. Tim Duncan:18.2 ppg. 9.8 rpg. 2.9 apg 0.8 spg. 1.7 bpg. (Behind) Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki (Ahead of) Josh Howard, Shawn Marion GUARD: BARON DAVIS. He's moved up 3 spots in the guard rankings, but he's still #16 in the West. All he needs to do is move up 4 spots by next month and he'll be in the Big Easy, somewhere he's familiar playing at. Averaging 21.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 8 apg, and 2.5 spg. he's had 20 games with 20+ points. #2 in steals and the #1 scoring point guard. Keep voting Yardbarkers and BD can get in the game. (Behind) Manu Ginobili, Jason Terry (Ahead of) Chris Paul, Tony Parker GUARD: CHRIS PAUL. Once in front of former Hornet Baron Davis in the standings, now behind him. Still Chris Paul has been impressive with his team. 21.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 10 apg, and 2.9 spg. The steals leader of the NBA has helped lead this team. His last game was a 40 point performance, has 2nd 40+ point performance of the year. He's had 12 double doubles with his scoring and assists and is still trying to get in the game especially with it being held where he plays 41 games at. With the way his team playing, the Hornets might see 2 or 3 playoff games this year. (Behind) Jason Terry, Baron Davis (Ahead of) Tony Parker, Jerry Stackhouse CENTER: MARCUS CAMBY. Camby doesn't look like he has a legitimate shot at making his first all-star game but right now he has a better shot than Chris Kaman. He's less than 10,000 votes away from overtaking Erick Dampier. Camby has averaged 8.8 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.1 spg and 3.6 bpg. He might get his 2nd straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. Hopefully before his career is over, he does make an all-star game. He's 1of 5 players to have 0 points and 20+ rebounds in a game. Dennis Rodman did it 7 times. (Last Pick) Chris Kaman (Behind) Amare Stodemire, Erick Dampier (Ahead of) Pau Gasol, Mehmet Okur EAST FORWARD: CARON BUTLER. For a team that was supposed to revolve Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and the Wizards have something else to say. Butler's averaged 22.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 4.3 apg, and 2.3 spg. and has already grabbed 2 triple doubles this season against Golden State and Chicago. If this team stays the course after Arenas comes back, this team could be dangerous. (Last Pick) Richard Jefferson (Behind) Paul Pierce, Yi Jianlian (Ahead of) Hedo Turkoglu, Tayshaun Prince FORWARD: HEDO TURKOGLU. One of my favorite players in the NBA since he used to be a Sacramento Kings fan favorite, Hedo has resurfaced in the NBA ever since he made a run for the 6th Man Award 6 years ago. He's playing in his prime averaging 19.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, and 1 spg. Along with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, Turkoglu has helped the Orlando Magic to where they're at today. Not to mention, he's getting more votes than teammate Lewis. Maybe there's voters in Turkey pulling in for him too. (Last Pick) Josh Smith (Behind) Yi Jianlian, Caron Butler (Ahead of) Tayshaun Prince, Rashard Lewis GUARD: VINCE CARTER. He's may not have the starpower that he's had in the past, but he's still a threat in the game. Averaging 21.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, and 1 spg he's still contributing to the Nets despite their 12-16 starts. VC is the 2nd leading scorer on the team behind Ricard Jefferson who has really taken over the team. For 9 years VC has averaged over 20 ppg. with the only year averaging under 20 ppg. being his rookie year with 18.3 ppg. (Last Pick) Dwyane Wade (Behind) Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd (Ahead of) Ray Allen, Gilbert Arenas GUARD: MICHAEL REDD. One of the leagues most danggerous shooters Redd is one guy teams don't want to catch fire. Averaging 23.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 3.9 apg, and 1.1 spg. Redd is one of the best if not the best left handers in the NBA. He's on a team with great talented that doesn't seem to be meshing well. Surrounded by Andrew Bogut, Yi Jianlian, Charlie Villanueva and Mo Williams, Redd's been on a team that definitely has the potential to make it to the playoffs but is coming up short being 11th place in the east. (Behind) Gilbert, Arenas, Chauncey Billups (Ahead of) Richard Hamilton, Joe Johnson CENTER: DWIGHT HOWARD. Orlando's magic may have died down a little, but Howard's team is still en route for a high playoff seed. Howard and the Magic surprised eveyone by being the #3 team in the East, beating the Celtics, and Howard being the leading MVP canidate early in the season. Averging 23.1 ppg, 14.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, and 2.7 bpg. there's nothing really else to be said about the phenom. (Ahead of) Shaquille O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace WRITE-IN: YI JIANLIAN. Yi's really come into the NBA ready to to play at the level. If he's not contributing in offense he is on defense and vice versa. He got his first double double with a career high 29 points and 10 rebounds. With 10.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1 apg, and 1 bpg. he's off to a good start. The most rebounds he's grabbed in his rookie season is 13 rebounds and has had 5 games with 10+ rebounds. He's no Al Horford but in the future, Yi should one of the good forwards in the league. (Last Pick) John Salmons FINAL THOUGHTS It's too bad that Richard Jefferson and Josh Smith won't be getting to the all-star game this year. Jefferson is having the best year of his career and leading the Nets this year and Smith is leading a young Hawks team who is the #4 seed in the east, the highest they've been in a long time. I hope they can keep up the good work and get into the playoffs. And if you vote for Melo, go ahead and vote for Marcus Camby tooHere's the starters if the these were the last votes. WEST: Starters C- Yao Ming, F- Carmelo Anthony, F- Tim Duncan, G- Kobe Bryant, G- Tracy McGrady. Bench: Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion. EAST: Starters C-Dwight Howard, F-Kevin Garnett, F-LeBron James, G-Dwyane Wade, G- Jason Kidd. Bench: Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Chauncey Billups, Yi Jianlian, Michael Redd. *If Gilbert Arenas were to play, Redd would be pushed out. Past Selections: Part 1: http://yardbarker.com/nba/articles/NBA_All_Star_2008_Ballots_Open_My_Selections/36257 Part 2: http://yardbarker.com/nba/articles/NBA_All_Star_2008_My_Selections_Part_2/38790 Part 3: http://yardbarker.com/nba/articles/NBA_All_Star_2008_My_Selections_Part_3/44032 See you when the 3rd returns are in.