Posted by Solace:

The point is that the fans have made some really silly decisions in the past. So if we're talking about the general principle behind this, the fans occasionally making sensible decisions doesn't counteract the number of times they haven't. How many times have they elected players who were injured for half a season to the all-star team? Ridiculous.

As for the actual selections, how is Steve Nash, the two-time MVP, not a starter? That's absurd! How about Marcus Camby? The reining defensive player of the year. He's got almost 15 rebounds per game (awesome), over 3 blocks and over 3 assists. He's also got a slightly higher efficiency rating. That one is close enough that I won't kill the fans for choosing Yao, but Camby would be my choice. The fact that Camby is never close when it comes to the all-star game just shows how stupid the voting system is.

Posted by eViL:

Posted by Solace:

The point is that the fans have made some really silly decisions in the past. So if we're talking about the general principle behind this, the fans occasionally making sensible decisions doesn't counteract the number of times they haven't. How many times have they elected players who were injured for half a season to the all-star team? Ridiculous.

As for the actual selections, how is Steve Nash, the two-time MVP, not a starter? That's absurd! How about Marcus Camby? The reining defensive player of the year. He's got almost 15 rebounds per game (awesome), over 3 blocks and over 3 assists. He's also got a slightly higher efficiency rating. That one is close enough that I won't kill the fans for choosing Yao, but Camby would be my choice. The fact that Camby is never close when it comes to the all-star game just shows how stupid the voting system is.

Yeah, but you and I both know that Camby and Nash will both be selected. We also know that they might even receive more playing time than the starters. So yeah, the fans make mistakes -- of course. But so do the coaches. I mean, how often do you see articles second guessing the coaches choices?

Posted by Solace:

Posted by VDesai:

So what they should do is limit it to one vote. There is software out there that can do that. Taking the voting away from fans would not seem to be a viable option to the NBA.

Erm, how do you propose to handle people with multiple IPs or rotating IPs? Social security number? Nobody will vote.

The internet has made the voting process absurd.

For example, let's take a kid in a dorm on campus. You can easily write a script that loads itself onto every computer in the computer lab and most computers in the dorm (I could write one if I cared) and supplies a single vote per computer every day. That adds up to a lot of votes. Those type of things happen, which is why there's talk of ballot stuffing.

Posted by eViL:

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by Solace:

Posted by VDesai:

So what they should do is limit it to one vote. There is software out there that can do that. Taking the voting away from fans would not seem to be a viable option to the NBA.

Erm, how do you propose to handle people with multiple IPs or rotating IPs? Social security number? Nobody will vote.

The internet has made the voting process absurd.

For example, let's take a kid in a dorm on campus. You can easily write a script that loads itself onto every computer in the computer lab and most computers in the dorm (I could write one if I cared) and supplies a single vote per computer every day. That adds up to a lot of votes. Those type of things happen, which is why there's talk of ballot stuffing.

Yep great example Solace here's another one, not to say that every fan is doing this but there is this kind of stuff going on because I did it as a test a couple seasons ago. You can use a program such as Remote Desktop for Macs that will write new images to computers daily/nightly/hourly. To a whole lab mind you(I'm in front a 30pc eMac lab with OS 10.4 on them as I'm typing this) So in essence you're blowing all information away on a computer with a fresh load. Come back after the image process is complete and cast votes all over again.

ROTFLOL @ David Stern

I don't think anyone is saying that you can't rig the results. But since it appears that more often then not the guys that start would have made the team anyway -- what is the problem?

Last year's starters:

Dwyane Wade
Gilbert Arenas
LeBron James
Chris Bosh
Shaquille O'Neal

Kobe Bryant
Tracy McGrady
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Yao Ming

Who wouldn't have made the all-star team out of that list?

The year before:

Eastern Conference
F – LeBron James, Cleveland
F – Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana
C – Shaquille O’Neal, Miami
G – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia
G – Dwyane Wade, Miami


Western Conference
F – Tracy McGrady, Houston
F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio
C – Yao Ming, Houston
G – Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G – Steve Nash, Phoenix

Who wouldn't have made the all-star team out of that list?

The year before that:

James (Cle.)
McGrady (Hou.)
Iverson (Phi.)
Bryant (LAL)
Carter (N.J.)
Garnett (Min.)
Hill (Orl.)
Duncan (S.A.)
O'Neal (Mia.)
Yao (Hou.)

Who wouldn't have made the all-star team out of that list?

And then think about it. Even if you can pick one guy out of ten each year -- is it worth making a big deal out of?

Posted by Solace:

Quite frankly I'm not sure why I'm bothering to respond to such a lame request. Um because I'm not about to be an ******* and write a trojan to hack a bunch of computers just to rig the All-Star game. Is there any need to run through the many reasons why this is a bad idea? I mentioned a college dorm because it's easier to do in such a place.

Better question is why you're egging us on. If you disagree, fine, YOU move on. Nobody said this the biggest issue in the world. It's an issue and I thought it was interesting that True brought it up because I've felt the same over the years. Although I find it much more offensive in MLB than the NBA.

Posted by VDesai:

Stop acting like the all-star game is a matter of life and death. ITS AN EXHBITION for people who are playing well at the halfway point.

Posted by Solace:

Also, had kind of a blah week. Think I'm a little burnt out from work.

Sorry for the outburst, eViL.