The second returns for the All-Star game are in and it's not looking good for the San Antonio Spurs and their fan base.
The Big 3 from the Spurs are behind by a large number of votes for the starting spots. The All-Star game is known for a popularity contest over being a legitimate honor for performances (like when Yao Ming kept getting voted in when he was injured). These are the second returns for the Western Conference squad for the All-Star game this season:
Frontcourt:
Kevin Durant (OKC) 924,898
Dwight Howard (LAL) 616,150
Blake Griffin (LAC) 489,795
Tim Duncan (SA) 299,434
Pau Gasol (LAL) 197,377
Kevin Love (Min) 189,949
Omer Asik (Hou) 131,002
Rudy Gay (Mem) 125,562
Serge Ibaka (OKC) 111,963
Marc Gasol (Mem) 99,271
Zach Randolph (Mem) 97,778
LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 97,090
Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 93,491
Metta World Peace (LAL) 85,279
Chandler Parsons (Hou) 78,235
Backcourt:
Kobe Bryant (LAL) 977,444
Chris Paul (LAC) 542,564
Jeremy Lin (Hou) 496,133
James Harden (Hou) 283,691
Russell Westbrook (OKC) 232,074
Steve Nash (LAL) 166,262
Tony Parker (SA) 111,032
Ricky Rubio (Min) 96,466
Stephen Curry (GS) 78,380
Manu Ginobili (SA) 70,813
Tim Duncan is in 4th place out of three starting spots for the game while Tony Parker is in 7th in a tighter race for one of the two starting guard spots. While the top 3 are certainly deserving for their spots, the two men behind Duncan can be debatable with Pau Gasol having an off year so far and Kevin Love being injured for the majority of the games played so far.
On the other side of the ballot for the backcourt, Parker is behind Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul (who are having great season) but also losing out to a struggling Jeremy Lin and Steve Nash who has barely came back from a leg injury. Manu Ginobili is behind by a lot, but it makes sense with him being injured a few times this season and his numbers not being like past years.
The Spurs aren't known as the most popular team in the league and, with their "team first" mentality, their players don't stand out to the media. The Spurs have a long way to go for a starting spot on the Western Conference team if they want to make it to the All-Star game in Houston.
