NBA All Star Game Snubs and Plubs

I have no idea what a plub is, but I needed something that rhymed with snub, and figured it was weird enough to maybe reel in some more readers. 

The NBA All Star game is by far my favorite of the 4 major sports (3 for me, since I don't like hockey).  Actually, I just like the Saturday night events, not the game itself.  However, if the dunk contest keeps getting worse, my interest will be even more limited.  But for now, I want to get a couple of things off my chest as far as the rosters go.

Like any All Star game, there are always going to be snubs, and apparently plubs.  Hey wait, maybe a plub can be guys who aren't deserving, yet still got voted in.  Boom, just made up a word.  So here's a couple of snubs and plubs that stood out to me this year.

Why in the hell did Kobe Bryant still get voted in?  Well, America?  Why?  After all it's your fault!  The guy has played in 8 games since December 21st.  That's it.  Listen, I'll give him credit.  He was playing well this season, especially considering his age, averaging 22-5-5.  Very good numbers.  If this were some other year, then yeah, I'd obviously buy into him being selected as a starter.  But what's really making me crazy, is that he got voted in this year over James Harden!  Harden has only played in every single game, leads the NBA in scoring (27-6-5 is his stat line), and with Dwight Howard missing so much time, has solely carried his team to the 3rd seed in the West (currently) with a 35-16 record.  The guy will probably win the MVP award this year, but don't vote him as a starter for the All Star game.  Ridiculous.

Two other snubs to me were Damian Lillard and Zach Randolph.  Lillard has gotten in as a reserve (due to Blake Griffin's injury), but Randolph is still out.  I don't think either should be starting, but both belong on the team, more so than Kobe, Tim Duncan, or even, wait for it, Kevin Durant.  Dun, dun, DUNNNN!  Before any of you start berating me, hear me out.  Yes, he's having another great year.  But my beef is in the fact that he's played in less than half of his team's games so far.  In addition to that, the Thunder are currently out of the playoffs.  Memphis and Portland (Randolph and Lillard's teams) are very much in the playoffs, sitting as the 2nd and 4th seeds, respectively. 

This is why I always say to keep the fan vote out.  I don't care that the NBA, or any other league for that matter, wants to keep the fans interactive by allowing them to pick the starters.  Like many things in life, it merely turns into a popularity contest.  Kobe Bryant is the perfect example.  He's still a popular name, especially overseas.  That's why he was selected over James Harden, because people like or know certain players, and that's it.  They don't care to look at who's actually doing well, or is deserving to play in the game.  It's a joke.  Let people (coaches, league officials, whomever) who actually know the players and the league vote.  Although even they screwed Damian Lillard this year.  Hmm.  Ok, scratch all of that.  Just let me vote!

I'll be back soon to give my predictions for the Saturday night events and I suppose the game on Sunday, too.  Oh, and congratulations to Kobe Bryant for being my first ever plub.