HoopWatch

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Since I can’t do anything for the Eastern All-Stars starting five, I’ll leave it as it should be. Although, I honestly think Miami’s Shaquille O’Neal does not deserve to be in this year’s All Star game, let alone start. He has missed the whole season for Pete’s sake. But the Las Vegas event is a popularity contest.

So I have decided to choose the reserves for O’Neal, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Cleveland’s Lebron James, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Washington’s Gilbert Arenas, who will start for the East as voted by fans all around the world. And I should add Bosh, James, Wade and Arenas are excellent choices as starters.

Usually, I formulate my team with five guards, four forwards and three centers. The five guards are Wade, Arenas, Detroit’s Chauncey Billups, New Jersey’s Vince Carter and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson.

Billups is at it again leading the Pistons to a Central Division title. He is averaging 18.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, team-leading 7.7 assists and 1.3 steals. He is also shooting 39.8% from the three-point line and 87.6 from the foul stripe.

Need I introduce Carter. Vinsanity is trying his best to keep his Nets afloat and in a hunt for a play-off spot in the East. The Atlantic Division is truly a joke. And the Nets and Raptors are throwing ping-pong balls to each other exchanging posts at that elusive top spot. Weeks ago, the Raptors are on top, but currently, it’s the Nets. And who knows the Raptors will lead this division in two weeks. But Carter has other plans. His game-winning three against the Utah Jazz is more than an indication. Carter is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 46% from the field.

Then there’s all-around Joe Johnson, who at one time, led the Hawks to a top spot in the East at 3-0. Atlanta is currently the 12th team in the East. Kinda far, but a definite improvement from last year’s second-to-the-last finish. Johnson is averaging 25.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals. He also shoots 48.2% from the field.

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My centers are O’Neal, Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal.

Howard is definitely a rising star. He was awesome last summer for Team USA. And he is even more amazing for the Magic this season. He averages 17 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 blocks, 0.7 steals and 56% from the field. And he has brought Orlando to a current seventh place standing in the East.

Jermaine O’Neal is still Indiana’s main man. He norms 19.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, a league-leading 3 blocks and 0.7 steals an outing.

Then I would choose Washington’s Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison to complement James and Bosh at the forward slots. Milwaukee’s Michael Redd should have been my choice for the other slot, but he is currently injured, so I had to pick Jamison. It cannot be ignored that Redd is norming 27.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and two made threes per game. But like I said, the guy’s injured and it isn’t sure if he’ll be back on time for the Vegas tip-off. If he could suit up, it’s definitely him over Jamison.

Anyway, Washington is leading the East and it is just right that the All-Star game features the deadly trio of Arenas, Butler and Jamison. Butler is averaging 20.6 points, 8 rebounds, 3.8 dimes, 2.1 steals, 88% from the free-throw line and 47.6% from the floor. And Jamison was chosen over Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor, as he has averages of 19.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks.

There you have it: my Eastern All-Star team of Shaq, Jermaine, Dwight Howard, Bosh, Jamison, Butler, Lebron, “Agent-0” Arenas, D-Wade, Joe-cool Johnson, Vinsanity Carter and Chauncey.