VOTE NASH INTO NBA ALL-STAR GAME - By Cameron Mitchell, basketball.ca staff
Last Updated: February 04, 2010
TORONTO - Steve Nash is mere votes away from being named a starter for the 2010 NBA All-Star game, but he needs Canada’s help to vote him in before the deadline on Jan. 18.
The Victoria native currently sits in third place in fan voting among Western Conference guards, trailing Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Only the top two vote-getting guards will start in the All-Star game, but Nash is within striking distance of McGrady for the final guard spot.
The NBA’s latest official tally was released on Jan. 7 and Nash had 744,250 votes and McGrady 746,625. McGrady's lead over Nash (2,375 votes) is the smallest of any position. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers leads the Western guards with 1,793,782.
Statistically Speaking
Steve Nash is having a banner year and is posting some of the best numbers of his career. Averaging 18.2 points-per-game (ppg) and 11.2 assists-per-game (apg), the 35 year old is on pace statistically to topple his two MVP seasons. Nash averaged 15.5 ppg and 11.5 apg when he won the award in 2004-2005, and 18.8 ppg along with 10.5 apg when he won it in 2005-2006.
Nash’s totals tower over second place vote getter Tracy McGrady who is averaging 3.2 ppg and 1.0 apg. Moreover, McGrady has played in only six games this season.
Canada’s Athlete of the Decade
Nash was recently named Canada’s "Athlete of the Decade” by cbcsports.ca. Journalist Paul Jay wrote that Nash “has become one of the best floor generals the game of basketball has ever seen … We celebrate grace. And we celebrate success, for sport is competition. Steve Nash has given us all of these things, and he's done it better than just about anyone.”
Clearly it is not just Nash’s individual statistics that are noteworthy. Nash is the quintessential team player, having led the Phoenix Suns up to fifth place in the Western Conference. With a record of 21 wins and 13 losses, this Suns team has looked nothing like the team that missed the playoffs last year.
How to Vote for Nash
Canadians are encouraged to rally behind “Captain Canada” and cast their votes for Nash in the following ways:
In-arena: Paper ballots are available at every Raptors home game, and at NBA arenas around the league.
Online: Visit http://www.nba.com/ and select the NBA All Star button to place your vote (available in 20 languages).
Mobile: Text “NASH” to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA"), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier.
There is no limit on how many times a person can vote. Paper balloting will continue through Jan. 10, while wireless balloting and voting on NBA.com will conclude on Jan. 18. And don't forget to check this month's basketball.ca poll question that asks users whom they'd like to see in the All-Star game.
The All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 21, three weeks prior to the main event. The 59th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 14 (8 p.m. ET), at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Victoria native currently sits in third place in fan voting among Western Conference guards, trailing Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady. Only the top two vote-getting guards will start in the All-Star game, but Nash is within striking distance of McGrady for the final guard spot.
The NBA’s latest official tally was released on Jan. 7 and Nash had 744,250 votes and McGrady 746,625. McGrady's lead over Nash (2,375 votes) is the smallest of any position. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers leads the Western guards with 1,793,782.
Statistically Speaking
Steve Nash is having a banner year and is posting some of the best numbers of his career. Averaging 18.2 points-per-game (ppg) and 11.2 assists-per-game (apg), the 35 year old is on pace statistically to topple his two MVP seasons. Nash averaged 15.5 ppg and 11.5 apg when he won the award in 2004-2005, and 18.8 ppg along with 10.5 apg when he won it in 2005-2006.
Nash’s totals tower over second place vote getter Tracy McGrady who is averaging 3.2 ppg and 1.0 apg. Moreover, McGrady has played in only six games this season.
Canada’s Athlete of the Decade
Nash was recently named Canada’s "Athlete of the Decade” by cbcsports.ca. Journalist Paul Jay wrote that Nash “has become one of the best floor generals the game of basketball has ever seen … We celebrate grace. And we celebrate success, for sport is competition. Steve Nash has given us all of these things, and he's done it better than just about anyone.”
Clearly it is not just Nash’s individual statistics that are noteworthy. Nash is the quintessential team player, having led the Phoenix Suns up to fifth place in the Western Conference. With a record of 21 wins and 13 losses, this Suns team has looked nothing like the team that missed the playoffs last year.
How to Vote for Nash
Canadians are encouraged to rally behind “Captain Canada” and cast their votes for Nash in the following ways:
There is no limit on how many times a person can vote. Paper balloting will continue through Jan. 10, while wireless balloting and voting on NBA.com will conclude on Jan. 18. And don't forget to check this month's basketball.ca poll question that asks users whom they'd like to see in the All-Star game.
The All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 21, three weeks prior to the main event. The 59th NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 14 (8 p.m. ET), at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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