NBA All Star Game 2000
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 Friday, February 11
Comments about the All-Star selections
 
ESPN.com

 
Clifford Robinson
Should Clifford Robinson have been an All-Star? Our users have chimed in with thoughts.
Well, call us crazy, but we gave you the opportunity to air your grievances about who was and was not selected to the All-Star classic in Oakland. After sifting through hundreds of responses, we came up with a few of the better ones.

Obviously, a lot of you had a problem with Indiana's Dale Davis making the team. Some of you thought that Clifford Robinson deserved it over David Robinson, some didn't. And up in Vancouver, you had some gripes. Now we didn't run more than a few e-mails that said the same thing, but trust us, many of you felt Shareef Abdur-Rahim was robbed.

Anyway, thanks for the responses and enjoy reading some of the better ones.


What a shame! Uncle Cliffy, the best and most consistent player on a very talented Phoenix Suns team, misses the big show. Stockton? Malone? David Robinson? Let's reward players who are at the top of their game now.

Chris Michaelis
Stanford, Calif.


Why isn't Stephon Marbury on the All-Star team? His stats are better than those of the guards who were selected to the Eastern team. He can score and pass better than Reggie Miller, Allan Houston, and Ray Allen (just look at the stats). Only Jerry Stackhouse is scoring more than Marbury, but he (Stackhouse) is turning the ball over more often.

Joe
Oakland, Calif.


I think omitting Sam Cassell from the All-Star team is a very bad decision. Not only is he leading the East in assists, he's averaging over 18 points per game. In my opinion, Cassell was more deserving than either Allen or Miller.

Mike Brouette
Montello, Wisc.


When's Shareef Abdur-Rahim going to get his due? If he were playing in New York or L.A., he'd be making his third or fourth All-Star appearance. And when is Reggie Miller going to get exposed for the weak all-around player he is? Oh wait, that happens every time he plays Allan Houston!

Div Bhansali
Charlottesville, Va.


How could they select Jerry Stackhouse over Paul Pierce? Pierce averages roughly the same amount of points and assists per game, plus he averages two more rebounds per game and is one of the top defensive guards in the league with 82 steals. Also, Pierce is far more valuable to the Boston Celtics than Stack is to the Pistons (look at the Celts record without Pierce). Plus, the Pistons already have an All-Star representing them (Grant Hill). Can you explain this decision?

Rocco DiRico
Boston, Mass.


I think Latrell Sprewell should have made the All-Star team as a reserve. His well-balanced stats make him an easy pick for the game. Hopefully the fact that the game is Oakland didn't affect the decision and the coaches just actually thought he wasn't the best player for the job.

Greg Mescall
Leonardo, N.J.


Elton Brand is the best power forward in the East right now. Look at the overall numbers -- no one else compares. Just because Dale Davis is on a winning team, he should not be given the All-Star spot. He's only a 10-10 guy anyway. Elton got dissed.

Brad Ruey
Winnetka, Ill.


Give me a break! Where is Paul Pierce? How can anyone say Dale Davis is having a better year than Pierce? Yeah, I know Davis averages around 10 rebounds per game, but he doesn't score! Pierce is averaging close to 20 points a game and ranks second in the league in steals. I'd put him on that list before even Eddie Jones. These coaches need their heads checked.

Tim Burke
Middleboro, Mass.


I know, I know: All-Stars play for winning teams. But Shareef Abdur-Rahim is a special player. Not only is he a gifted scorer, he's become a ferocious rebounder this year as well. It's a shame that he's been passed over again and an even bigger shame that so few people state-side know what this guy is capable of. I'm glad we have him, but I wish he received the respect he deserves throughout the league.

Jamie Elmhirst
Vancouver, British Columbia


Latrell Sprewell is just the type of exciting player that people want to see in an All-Star game, yet due to league politics, the third-leading vote getter among East forwards has been left off the roster. Why? So Glenn Robinson and his exciting jump shot could be in the game? What a joke.

Seth
Astoria, N.Y.


There is no way that Dale Davis deserves to go to the All-Star game over Shawn Kemp. Kemp may be carrying the extra baggage, but he is still tons (pun intended) better than Davis. Van Gundy must be hoping that fattening up Davis' head (with the All-Star nod) will make it easier to beat the Pacers during the playoffs, if the two teams meet.

Michael Francis
Cleveland, Ohio


I question two of the selections. The first is the taking of Jerry Stackhouse. Don't get me wrong, I think he is having a great season, but he turns the ball over way too often to be considered an All-Star. I think he's over four a game. I think the spot would have been better filled by either Sam Cassell or Stephon Marbury. I can see why Sam didn't get the nod because the Bucks' record isn't good enough to warrant three All-Stars, but that still leaves Steph.

In the West, they should have left off Stockton and taken another forward, ideally Antonio McDyess. Cliff Robinson could make a solid case as well. Anyway it is great that the Big Dog is finally getting to show his bite at the event and not just bark that he should have been there!

Anthony Ziino
Mequon, Wisc.


David Robinson? Rasheed Wallace? Come on give me a break. Clifford Robinson is better than both of them put together -- what a joke. Everyone knows he should have made it. David is old and losing his game and Rasheed is too cocky and arrogant. Personally, I would have chosen Cliff over both those two overrated and overpaid players.

Chris
Ontario, Calif.


In the East, there are three players more deserving than Reggie Miller; 1) Sam Cassell, 2) Stephon Marbury, and 3) Paul Pierce.

In the West, there are three players more deserving than Rasheed Wallace; 1) Shareef Abdur-Rahim, 2) Scottie Pippen, and 3) Lamar Odom. Perhaps Steve Francis should be in there instead of John Stockton, as well.

Kevin Frace
Alpharetta, Ga.


I feel all the All-Star choices were deserving and correct except one. I don't believe Rasheed Wallace should have made it over the Warriors' Antawn Jamison. Jamison has been putting up great numbers for the last two months, but few have noticed. Far better than those of Rasheed Wallace. I think Jamison should have been a choice for the Oakland All-Star game.

I.K.
Olney, Md.


The Suns' Clifford Robinson should have made the All-Star team. He has had an outstanding year -- probably his best season ever (topped off by the league-high 50 point game against the Nuggets) and I shudder to think where the Suns would be in the standings without him. I guess a lot of it has to do with national exposure; if more people saw the way he was playing, they'd understand why he deserves to be an All-Star. Even if I weren't a Suns fan, I would definitely want to see Cliff in the game.

Tanim
Phoenix, Ariz.


I am just asking one question when I look at the All-Star rosters. Why Dikembe Mutombo? Yes, Mr. Mutumbo has had a great career. Yet, the selections should be based on a season-by-season basis, not on reputation. Who would replace him at center for the Eastern All-Stars? Maybe a no-name workhorse named Jamie Feick.

Michael Rosenfeld
Manalapan, N.J.


Elton Brand leads Dale Davis in almost every statistical category. He trails him in field goal and free throw percentage but not enough to have Davis listed ahead of him. He also trails Davis by 22 total rebounds, but Brand has played in three fewer games. Everyone will point to total wins, and I will defer their attention to the Bulls roster. Khalid Reeves was an anticipated addition at one point in the season, need I say more? Elton has one player with him -- Kukoc -- who could log serious minutes on another team. The rest are years away from success, or headed to Europe, retirement or the CBA. The Bulls will barely exceed 10 wins. Give at least one of them proper recognition and admit Elton belongs on the East All-Star team.

Pete Lynch
Chicago, Ill.


John Stockton over Terrell Brandon? Are they serious? Their numbers are nearly identical, except that Brandon averages 4 or 5 more points a night. Plus, Brandon and the Wolves won three of four against the Jazz on their way to the best record in the NBA over the last month and a half. Get rid of Stockton and his illegal screens and get some new blood in the game! Speaking of new blood, is the East really that bad that Dale Davis is on an All-Star team?

Matt Ricker
Roseville, Minn.


 


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