2008 Woodie Awards
The Fitzsimmons Files: Pistons set the
Steve Conoscenti
Issue date: 1/26/06 Section: Sports
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It is inevitable that the annual NBA All Star game will be filled with the same features year after year. But fans still watch it because of the high-flying slam dunks, combined with more fast break points then the Nets or Suns could ever fathom, plus the lack of defense that even the Toronto Raptors (who allowed Kobe Bryant to score 81 points in a loss to the Lakers last week) would be proud of. This year may be slightly different though. I could think of five reasons why this game will really take off into full blast once the jump ball approaches in Houston. Those reasons are the players who should start for the Eastern Conference.
Allen Iverson is leading the vote getter for guards as of last week, and rightfully so. He is averaging an unreal 33.2 points per game, and is my pick to beat out Kobe and LeBron James for the scoring title come the start of June. He hasn't had much support this season because Chris Webber is showing the best of his years are behind him, and Kyle Korver is playing more like his look-like Ashton Kutcher, than himself. Still, his assist numbers remain in the top five in the league. If reality was a video game, people would definitely accuse Iverson of playing with beneficial cheat codes on.
I would really love to see if NBA commissioner David Stern would create a rule that LeBron James has to play with his right hand behind his back during all games. I'd bet he would still dominate at some levels, and to think he is only twenty years old makes the Magic Johnson comparisons seem feasible. When the most athletic player in the game is averaging roughly 31 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals per night, how could he not start the game which showcases the greatest players in the world? He is also an MVP candidate since the Cavaliers would be pondering who they should take with the number one pick in the lottery draft if King James wasn't there.
Passing to those two swingmen will be fun to Chauncy Billups, the player who should run the point guard position for the East. This starting spot could have easily gone to Vince Carter, who is having a sensational year, but how could a guard who is leading his team to so many wins that they are being compared to the 1997 Chicago Bulls be left off? And it's not like he's lacking eye popping statistics anyway, since Billups is tallying nearly 19 points and nine assists per game. If the Pistons actually win 70 games like the Bulls did, or win the NBA championship, it's likely that this guard is a huge reason why.
Allen Iverson is leading the vote getter for guards as of last week, and rightfully so. He is averaging an unreal 33.2 points per game, and is my pick to beat out Kobe and LeBron James for the scoring title come the start of June. He hasn't had much support this season because Chris Webber is showing the best of his years are behind him, and Kyle Korver is playing more like his look-like Ashton Kutcher, than himself. Still, his assist numbers remain in the top five in the league. If reality was a video game, people would definitely accuse Iverson of playing with beneficial cheat codes on.
I would really love to see if NBA commissioner David Stern would create a rule that LeBron James has to play with his right hand behind his back during all games. I'd bet he would still dominate at some levels, and to think he is only twenty years old makes the Magic Johnson comparisons seem feasible. When the most athletic player in the game is averaging roughly 31 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals per night, how could he not start the game which showcases the greatest players in the world? He is also an MVP candidate since the Cavaliers would be pondering who they should take with the number one pick in the lottery draft if King James wasn't there.
Passing to those two swingmen will be fun to Chauncy Billups, the player who should run the point guard position for the East. This starting spot could have easily gone to Vince Carter, who is having a sensational year, but how could a guard who is leading his team to so many wins that they are being compared to the 1997 Chicago Bulls be left off? And it's not like he's lacking eye popping statistics anyway, since Billups is tallying nearly 19 points and nine assists per game. If the Pistons actually win 70 games like the Bulls did, or win the NBA championship, it's likely that this guard is a huge reason why.