Interbasket

For the first time in a loooooong time the fans’ choices for the NBA All-Star starters did not include 2-3 undeserving players. By and large, all the players were probable all-stars, made possible by Allen Iverson surpassing Tracy McGrady in the final weeks of voting. Sure, I don’t think Dwyane Wade is having the best of seasons and he is currently playing on the worst team in the NBA, but in the East… you’re really reaching to fill twelve spots.

On the other hand, in the West, the fact that McGrady lost out in the vote allows a more-deserving player to be injected into the mid-season showcase. With Iverson, Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Yao Ming, and Kobe Bryant as starters, and Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Chris Paul, and Amare Stoudemire as certainties. We have three spots remaining for Manu Ginobili, Carlos Boozer, Shawn Marion, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams, Marcus Camby, Baron Davis, Josh Howard, and Tony Parker. Yikes man.

With all due respect to Marcus Camby, whom has had a fantastic season defensively and on the boards, the real contenders for the final three spots are Boozer, Baron, Manu, and Roy.  Denver already has two representatives and it’s unlikely the coaches will give them a third, especially with so many other teams without representation.

The roster needs another forward and Utah will need a representative, Carlos Boozer will be that guy. So really, it’s three guys for two spots. Everyone loves the Portland Trailblazers and their team-oriented unexpected play, Golden State is back to their exciting form with Baron leading the team. And Manu has been the man for San Antonio. Some games you can actually see Ginobili willing the Spurs to wins. My bet is that Brandon Roy will undeservedly be sitting home this season…. because from my experience, voters/ coaches tend to go with the veterans.

When the bench players are announced next week, one of these guys will have a legitimate gripe, but I want to thank the NBA fans this year for making the right decision. Their decision to include the more-deserving Iverson instead of McGrady made things a lot easier because I wouldn’t have wanted to make the above decision with Iverson added to the mix.

It must be a gloomy atmosphere in the Portland Trailblazers’ offices this week.

It was announced today that Greg Oden, the first overall draft pick in this year’s NBA draft, may miss the entire 2007-08 season. The former Ohio State Buckeye had exploratory surgery done and it was determined that Oden’s knee had serious damage that needed to be repaired.

A lot of knee-jerk reactions (no pun intended) in-and-around the league are bringing up the name Sam Bowie, the infamous center Portland snapped up before Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

To those, I say “relax.” It’s definitely too soon for that kind of talk - for that scenario to be comparable, Oden would have to play a few years and completely bust, while Kevin Durant would be an offensive juggernaut that ends up wearing several championship rings. Get back to me in 2012.

The Blazers, who have gone through some tulmult over the last several seasons, had vowed to not only re-establish their franchise’s winning ways, but doing it with character players. They rid themselves of players such as Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, Qytel Woods, Sebastian Telfair, Shawn Kemp, Reuben Patterson, Zach Randolph, and Isiah Rider. There has been reason to be optimistic in the city of Portland as of late. Last year’s draft picks included the ever-improving LaMarcus Aldridge, flashy point guard Sergio Rodriguez from Spain, and 2006-07 Rookie of the year Brandon Roy.

The Blazers were hoping to add the personable and soft-spoken Greg Oden to the mix this year, as well as rookies Josh McRoberts (Duke) and Taurean Green from Florida. It looks as the Blazers may have to wait another year to add the 19 year-old, 7-foot, defensive presence.

Despite the bad news, Blazer GM Kevin Pritchard is trying to remain upbeat “We picked the right player,” Pritchard said. “Greg is a world-class human being. He is going to be a great basketball player.” Only time will tell.

[related thread: Greg Oden likely to miss entire season]