More photos » MOTI MILROD - AP

Can you imagine his guy being a Knick?

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Well, it could be I guess.  It's sort of a joke.  I'm home with some sort of mutant galactic super-flu.  I've done both shots this year, and as usual, nothing helps.

I honestly enjoy the Rookie-Sophomore game about as much, if not more, than the actual all-star game.  NBA league pass has changed things, but its still a nice chance to see the younger players, to put their skills in context with their peers.

And I have to say, for a year that was widely, viciously, almost universally derided as weak, 2009 has produced just a slew of guys who look to have long careers.  Budinger could have been in this game, but the field was so deep there was no room for a guy who's in the top 8 of rookies by advanced stats.  Also present is cultural phenomenon Omri Casspi (no really - we already have the first of several babies to be named Omri.)   I hope that he will truly embody the sabra spirit, because the NBA needs caustic funny guys.

Also present is my personal cause, Dejuan Blair.  ---> Rant Begins <---  Score another one for college translations.  And if Blair does get hurt, so what, really.  It was a second round pick.  Those are worth $2 million each, as established by the Rockets last year.  $2 million?  That's just not that much risk for a player who was anointed by every statistical measure. And if you hit, those guys are super cheap.  If he can't play more than a year or two with no ACL, so what?  ---> Rant Ends <---

More photos » Matt Slocum - AP

8 months ago: FILE -- Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd is shown during Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference semifinal against the Denver Nuggets, in Dallas. NBA free agency opens with the Mavericks expected to try to re-sign Jason Kidd, one of the hottest free-agents on the market when it comes to point guards. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

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Jason Kidd is an All-Star in 2010. Does he still start for the Mavericks?

Apparently, the NBA loves assists. Just loves 'em. This comes as a bit of a surprise to me, since Brevin Knight averaged 10 points and 9 assists in 2005, and wasn't even considered as a possible alternate.

So, with that said, the NBA  suddenly going to deem Jason Kidd to be an All-Star this season. Because he does so many other things, of course. Like shoot open threes when his two All-Star caliber teammates get doubled. That must be it. Brevin Knight couldn't shoot threes. I get it now.

To be clear, my complaints come free of a personal agenda. I'm not here to support Aaron Brooks' case. It would make my day, absolutely, to see ABZ become an All-Star this year. That is, as long as Tyreke Evans was already on the team first.

Does 20/4/5 as a rookie not outshine 9/5/9? If not, then surely the way Evans' adjusted APER (20.6) trumps Kidd's (16.6) makes an impression. Or the fact that when the Kings need someone to turn to, they go to Evans and ask him to produce miracles. When Dallas needs a clutch basket, they call on Kidd to make a good inbounds pass to Dirk, and then get the hell out of the way.

When Sacramento needs a key defensive stop, they'll likely match Tyreke up against opposing team's primary ballhandler. If Dallas needs a key stop, they make sure to put Jason Kidd on the bench.

What an embarrassing decision by the NBA. I know this is the league where stars are preserved and protected, but this is ridiculous.

More photos » Bob Levey - AP

4 months ago: Houston Rockets' Joey Dorsey, left, and Tracy McGrady sits on the bench during a NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Houston. (AP Photo/Bob Levey)

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So, uh, the NBA released the first round of vote totals for the All-Star Game.

You have your usual suspects... including Tracy McGrady.  WHA?!?!?

Just to be clear, here are T-Mac's stats for 2009/10:

0 games played
0 games started (ask Allen Iverson, this one is important)
0.0 ppg
0.0 rpg
0.0 apg
1 times put on uniform

Look, I know there is a long history of players being voted into the All-Star Game who haven't even played that particular season.  Hell, Magic Johnson had HIV (past tense), and had already retired - yet he was voted into the game - and he even won the MVP award.  On multiple occasions, Yao Ming has been voted into the game when he was injured.  So, I'm not necessarily surprised that McGrady has received a few token votes this year.

But, come on, it's Tracy McGrady.  Are you seriously telling me there are fans/people that look at the ballot... see the names "Bryant, Kobe", "Paul, Chris", "Roy, Brandon", "Nash, Steve" and "Williams, Deron" at the guard position... and then somehow decide that McGrady deserves to receive their vote instead???  Really!?!?!?!

To make it even crazier, this might  have made more sense if Yao were once again the leading vote-getter at center.  But he's not even on the ballot.  Yet McGrady is?

The only conclusion I can draw?  T-Mac's family is very, very dedicated.

For pride's sake, I celebrate when Yao Ming makes the All-Star team.  On all other fronts, however, I am a nervous wreck.  There is no doubt that Les Alexander, Daryl Morey, Sam Hinkie, Rick Adelman, and others in the Rockets front office are as well.  While Laker fans or Cavalier fans are treated to a dunkfest from their respective stars, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Rockets fans take a deep breath at tip-off and hold it in until Yao comes out of the game for the final time.  And even then, he could still trip on a chair or something.

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Let us hope Nate Robinson keeps his dunk attempts in single digits this go-around.