HoopWatch

So far, as far as the votes are concerned, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Houston’s Tracy McGrady are set to start for this year’s All-Star game to be held in Las Vegas! I have no problem with Bryant. He is popular and he is leading his team to a surprising and rousing start. He scored 58 points once already, even with do-it-all Lamar Odom suiting up. He has learned to step aside when his teammates are doing well. And he certainly knows now when to take over. That’s the ultimate Phil Jackson effect, similar to the one he had on Michael Jordan. And he deserves, yet again, to start in an All-Star game.

But McGrady?!? Yes, he’s good! But he isn’t getting any better. He has been sagged down by injuries, missed seven of Houston’s 31 games. He is having his worst scoring year at just merely 20.4 points per game even in sensational Yao Ming’s absence. And he’ll be starting!?!

Come on people! Are you forgetting Steve Nash?!? He is having a career-year, leads the league in assists (again!) for the third straight year, has his best scoring year ever averaging 20.6 points an outing, scored his career-high 42 points twice in two victories, and he led the Phoenix Suns to a league-best 15-game winning streak! Plus, he missed only two games, and is leading the Suns at a Pacific Division best 21-8, third best in the West. And, he is only the NBA’s two-time (back-to-back) reigning MVP for crying out loud! And he ain’t starting!?!

Well, let’s have a look at the numbers:

Nash                               McGrady

20.6         Points             20.4
11.3         Assists            5.9
3.5          Rebounds        5.3
53%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â FG %Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 42.6%
52%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 PT FG %Â Â Â Â Â Â 34.3%
89.6%Â Â Â Â Â Â FT %Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 69.8%
21-8Â Â Â Â Â Â Record (Team)Â Â 19-12

There is a big difference in the numbers alone! Wake up people! Next time, when you turn on the PC and go to NBA.com, don’t think twice when you vote the starting PG for the West. No other name rhymes with that – it’s Steve Nash!

Happy New Year everyone!

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