Tracy McGrady has played in a total of six NBA games this season while averaging 3.2 points and 0.8 rebounds, yet he ranks second among Western Conference guards in All-Star votes.
He’s actually ahead of Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd.
What’s more, McGrady could well be a member of the Knicks or another franchise by the time the NBA All-Star Game takes place Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium.
Consider that Knicks forward David Lee is averaging a double-double of 18.9 points and 11.0 boards (ninth-best in the NBA), yet isn’t even among the top 12 centers in the Eastern Conference in terms of votes.
“I think I have a shot (at the All-Star Game), but it’s not something I’ll worry about,” Lee told New York Post scribe Marc Berman. “The most important thing is our team is playing better and that makes a huge difference in that category. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully we’ll get more victories before that time comes and we’ll see what happens.”
“It would mean a lot because we haven’t had an All-Star in New York in a while. I think it would symbolize how things are turning around here, how the franchise is heading in the right direction. It would be positive for the city and the Knicks.”
Or how about Warriors guard Monta Ellis? He’s averaging 25.5 points a game, good for seventh-best in the NBA, and isn’t even among the top 12 guards in the West.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets top the Western Conference, while LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat lead the Eastern Conference after the third returns of 2010 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile. Bryant, a three-time All-Star MVP, is the overall leader with 1,606,032 votes, while James, a two-time All-Star MVP, is second overall with 1,579,530.
Kobe, Carmelo, LeBron and Wade all make sense. But McGrady, Lee and Ellis?
Of course, it doesn’t.
But that’s what fan balloting is all about. They go with the familiar names, not necessarily the guys putting up the best numbers.
(Photo courtesy NBA.com)
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