Kobe Bryant at one guard spot for the Western Conference. Who at the other?
Here’s the way things stand in the All-Star balloting after Bryant at that position: Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Chris Paul and Baron Davis. Not bad, eh?The point here is that there’s good reason why Bryant lags behind Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Dwight Howard in total votes. It’s pretty tough to get a monopoly on the votes at the West guard spot when there are so many deserving candidates.
My personal choice? Paul is starting to garner some notice, but he’s crazily underrated for how great he is right now — regardless of his age or inexperience. Obviously there’s no way that Paul will beat out all those guys to get a starting spot with Bryant — even though that would be great for New Orleans, which is hosting the game — but as far as the most deserving, I’ll go with him.
In fact, when Phil Jackson was giving an explanation just now for NBA MVP candidates from non-elite teams in discussing Bryant’s chances for that award, Jackson thought enough of Paul to name him as the other example of a truly great player who is so critical to a team that isn’t one of the best in the league.
Anyway, Nash is impossible to argue with at the other West guard, too, as the only real winner on that Phoenix team. Ginobili would be my next-best pick based on how great he has played so far on an injury-plagued Spurs team.
