Bay Area Sports Blogging

We're only three weeks into the NBA season and the All-Star voting has already begun. Why do they start the voting so early? Because the Association knows the voting is worthless anyway, so they pimp the hell out of it. Not like there is much to go on, but here are my early All-Star picks for the East.

Starting with the Eastern conference guard position, there is no question that Jason Kidd is a perennial All-Star. The guy misses averaging a triple-double by 1.7 rebounds. Kidd's current stat line is 11.3 points, 10.0 assists, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.

The second guard for the Eastern conference was a little tricky; there were a few players that could easily be on the All-Star team. Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, and Josh Smith are all having a good year. But I simply could not snub Josh Smith. Here's why.

The dude is a blocking machine. Josh Smith is leading the league in blocks per game, averaging 3.7 blocks a game. J-Smooth is averaging 16.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.4 steals, and 3.7 blocks. He's doing all this from the swing-man Guard/Forward position. How great would it be to see this guy swatting Kobe or Yao?

At forward, we have King James. LeBron has been excellent this year, averaging 28.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.6 blocks. He does it all. He also has some expensive sneakers.

The other forward representing the East is the Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett. KG is averaging 21.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.9 steals, and 1.4 blocks. Garnett is undoubtedly the leader of the Big Three in Boston and has led the team to an 8-0 start. I don't see anyway he doesn't make it to the All-Star team.

Anchoring the center position for the East is none other than Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard's stat line includes 21.9 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Dwight has a double-double in every game this year except one; he only had 9 rebounds in that game.

No doubt this is a formidable line-up. Jason Kidd will have ballers that can finish at the rim. The West better not get in the paint, because they will be denied. Hell, the West better not miss their shots either, because these five will rebound the hell out of you.