All-Star Voting for the Starters ended on Sunday, with the final ballot numbers to be released on Thursday in TNT at Madison Square Garden (Friday for those in the Motherland). Heat vs Knicks being the reason why Ernie and his crew will be in Broadway instead of their cushy Atlanta studios. A week after that, the All-Star Reserves are to be named.
Now, if the Central Division were to set up an All-Star team of their own, this would be their logical pool of candidates:
Chicago Bulls -Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah,
Cleveland Cavaliers -Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams, Anderson Varejao
Detroit Pistons - Tayshaun Prince, Rodney Stuckey
Indiana Pacers - Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert
Milwaukee Bucks - Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings, John Salmons
Based from this, I believe this would be their roster composition.
Coach: Tom Thibodeaux - He's the only choice.
Starters:
Guard: Derrick Rose - MVP Candidate. Really elevated his game to top tier status among the best in the league.
Guard: Darren Collison - Really sound acquisition by the Pacers during the offseason. He was handed the keys to the offense and is running rings around like he was last year when CP3 was unavailable.
Forward: Danny Granger - He's Mr. Do It All for Indiana.
Forward: Carlos Boozer - Has been a nice complement alongside Derrick Rose that the top brass of Chicago needed. That is, when he is healthy
Center: Andrew Bogut - the Innovator of Squad 6 and the linchpin down low for the Bucks.
Reserves:
Guard: Brandon Jennings - If he was healthier, he would be starting alongside Rose. (4-6 weeks from his injury would be around early February, so he's on the reserves instead of the inactive roster).
Forward: Luol Deng - Just like Elton Brand, a nice bounce back year, but still a disappointment due to the amount he is getting paid.
Forward: Tayshaun Prince -He's the most consistent Piston around. He and Rip are the most valuable asset they have that is available for trade.
Guard: Rodney Stuckey - If there is a future for Detroit Basketball, he'll probably be in it (or maybe not).
Forward: Antawn Jamison - The only bright spot offensively for Cleveland, and it's a very dim one.
Guard: John Salmons - He's here because of a need to fill out the roster.
Center: Roy Hibbert - See John Salmons.
Inactive Roster:
Center: Anderson Varejao - Once he was sidelined for the season, whatever positive hope that still remained, left Cleveland.
Center: Joakim Noah - If he was healthy, I'd be having a hard time choosing either he or Bogut to start.
Guard: Mo Williams - He's only here because of a need to fill the roster and because he is out indefinitely.
Post-script reflection:
Admittedly, there is only one certifiable All-Star from this division (Rose). There are two who deserve consideration for inclusion (Granger and Bogut). Another three had injury issues (Noah, Boozer, Jennings) that prevented consideration for inclusion. Richard Hamilton would have been considered if not for the pouting that eventually resulted in the current stretch of DNP's he is on.
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