Yao Ming Or Tim Duncan: Who Starts At Center For Western Conference At All-Star Game?
November 17 07
Picking between Yao Ming and Tim Duncan is like splitting hairs. You can’t go wrong with either player because they’re both brilliant.
After all, Yao excels in the low block and as a global ambassador for the NBA. And Duncan is the game’s greatest power forward, sporting more championship ice than a rapper fresh off a trip to Jacob the Jeweler.
But fans will soon have to pick between these players because Duncan is listed as a center on the NBA’s 2007-08 All-Star ballot. Fans, of course, vote for the All-Star game’s starting line-ups. The coaches vote for the reserves.
This means Timmy D, who started the past nine midseason classics at forward, will go head-to-head with Yao’s international fan club. The Rockets’ center typically receives millions of Chinese votes, so Duncan will likely come off the bench.
Fans can’t go wrong with who they vote-in as the starter, but their choice will inflame old complaints about the selection process.
On the one hand, Duncan is coming off his fourth NBA Title in nine years and dominates both ends of the floor. On the other hand, the All-Star game is for the fans and they want Yao.
So who should start? Well, you to decide. Below is the case for Yao and Duncan to suit up as the west’s starting center at the All-Star game. Read the post, make a decision, and hit us up with your vote in the comment box below.
The Case For Yao To Start
- Plain and simple, the All-Star game is about pleasing fans. And the fans want Yao.
- Yao is posting massive numbers and his Rockets are contenders. It’s not like Adonal Foyle, Scott Pollard, or Jerome James is getting voted in ahead of Duncan.
- The NBA is a global entity. And the league sees Asia as a lucrative, untapped market. The suits at head office want Yao to start, so millions of Chinese viewers will watch on television.
The Case For Duncan To Start:
- Duncan is probably the NBA’s best player. Kobe is the most individually talented, LeBron James is the future, but Duncan is a straight-up, team-first winner. He should be recognized for his accomplishments by starting at the All-Star game.
- Duncan is also posting massive numbers and his Spurs sit near the top of the Western Conference, too. Remember, ‘The Big Fundamental’ is also an elite defensive player, anchoring San Antonio’s trademark defense.
- We get the point. The NBA is focused on leveraging its brand overseas. Well, when the world focuses on New Orleans in February, why not showcase a humble superstar like Duncan?
Who stars at center for the west at the All-Star game: Yao or Duncan? Vote in the comment box below.
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