| NEW YORK (AP) -- Tim Duncan is in an ideal position to earn his ninth consecutive All-Star start. The San Antonio Spurs
star was leading all Western Conference forwards when the fourth and
final voting update for the NBA All-Star game was released Thursday.
Voting will continue through Jan. 20 and the starters will be announced
Jan. 24. The NBA shifted Duncan from center to forward on its
ballot in November after the seven-member media panel that selected the
players for the original list had Duncan as a center. Duncan, who has
always been listed as a forward, was voted to start for the West each
of the last eight seasons, but that streak would have been in jeopardy
if he was a center. Houston center Yao Ming gets overwhelming support from China and has been elected to start every year of his career. Duncan (1,246,125 votes) and Denver's Carmelo Anthony (1,218,106) lead the West forwards this season, with Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki in third at 946,421 votes. Yao (1,255,263), Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (1,441,333) and Houston's Tracy McGrady (907,639) are on pace to join Duncan and Anthony in the West lineup. Eastern Conference forwards Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers
remain the top two vote-getters for the Feb. 17 game in New Orleans.
Garnett has 1,756,251 votes and James, last year's leader, is next with
1,564,974. Miami's Dwyane Wade (1,179,889) and New Jersey's Jason Kidd (868,069) are on track to start at guard, and Orlando's Dwight Howard (1,456,898) at center for the East. Eastern Conference Forwards Kevin Garnett, Boston, 1,756,251; LeBron James, Cleveland, 1,564,974; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 516,669; Paul Pierce, Boston, 411,231; Yi Jianlian, Milwaukee, 342,669; Caron Butler, Washington, 213,924; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 196,362; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 178,122; Andrea Bargnani, Toronto, 168,287; Josh Smith, Atlanta, 163,384. Guards Dwyane Wade, Miami, 1,756,251; Jason Kidd, New Jersey, 868,069; Ray Allen, Boston, 733,440; Vince Carter, New Jersey, 708,409; Gilbert Arenas, Washington, 585,345; Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 402,787; Michael Redd, Milwaukee, 247,384; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 1936180; Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 171,500; T.J. Ford, Toronto, 164,342. Centers Dwight Howard, Orlando, 1,456,898; Shaquille O'Neal, Miami, 701,253; Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 190,684; Ben Wallace, Chicago, 172,147; Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland, 163,518; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 156,012; Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana, 143,026; Emeka Okafor, Charlotte, 85,340; Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta, 66,705; Eddy Curry, New York, 64,896. Western Conference Forwards Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 1,246,125; Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 1,218,106; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas, 946,421; Carlos Boozer, Utah, 402,917; Shawn Marion, Phoenix, 345,400; Shane Battier, Houston, 341,621; Josh Howard, Dallas, 324,267; Luis Scola, Houston, 309,994; Kevin Durant, Seattle, 299,481; Grant Hill, Phoenix, 248,273. Guards Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, 1,441,333; Tracy McGrady, Houston, 907,639; Allen Iverson, Denver, 827,273; Steve Nash, Phoenix, 808,995; Manu Ginobili, San Antonio, 418,442; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 374,340; Chris Paul, New Orleans, 330,902; Baron Davis, Golden State, 298,827; Jason Terry, Dallas, 241,839; Jerry Stackhouse, Dallas, 212,320. Centers Yao Ming, Houston, 1,255,263; AmarÄe Stoudemire, Phoenix, 685,772; Marcus Camby, Denver, 265,741; Erick Dampier, Dallas, 207,354; Pau Gasol, Memphis, 154,741; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 135,388; Mehmet Okur, Utah, 132,310; LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland, 117,508; Andris Biedrins, Golden State, 98,460; Chris Kaman, L.A. Clippers, 97,569. |
