The latest voting update is in, and it remains bad news for Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry.
Lowry still ranks third among Eastern Conference guards, well back of leader Dwyane Wade but only 32,285 behind Kyrie Irving for the second starting gig. There’s an argument to be made for Jimmy Butler or John Wall as the East’s best guard so far this season, but Lowry has a narrow edge in my eyes, and while Irving is incredibly entertaining, he’s not “deserving” given his limited action this season. It’s Lowry’s spot, and with the game being held in Toronto, it would be nice to see him get it.
Carmelo & Draymond hold slim leads for starting spots in third returns of #NBAAllStarTO Voting presented by @Verizon pic.twitter.com/1KdQVhrYy8
— 2016 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) January 14, 2016
The deficit shouldn’t be considered insurmountable. Lowry trailed Wade at this point last year, too, before making a late push to overcome him in the final returns. Fans have until Monday to cast their votes, and starters will then be announced Thursday. If you care about such things, get out there and use #NBAVote with Kyle Lowry’s full aname or social media handles.
The league has released information on all of the different ways to vote this year, and with so many platforms, it seems we’re only a year or two away from telepathic voting. This year, fans can vote online at NBA.com, via text message, Facebook, Instagram, Weibo, Tencent, and the NBA app. And, of course, fans can vote on Twitter. Last year they had fans use the hashtag #NBABallot, but this year they’re going with the more character limit-friendly #NBAVote.
DeMar DeRozan ranks sixth and doesn’t have much chance of getting in. For those hoping DeRozan makes the team – and he’s certainly deserving – casting a vote for Lowry could help. If Lowry bumps Irving from a starting spot, coaches essentially have another guard spot with which to vote DeRozan in. If Lowry doesn’t get the nod, there’s a possibility only one Raptors guard gets into the game (reserves are announced Jan. 28). Feel free to vote for DeRozan still to improve his numbers, but if you’re only going to vote for one, your best bet at getting either or both into the game is to make sure you get Lowry votes.
I won’t get into making the case for Lowry and DeRozan because I’m a bit tight for time with radio/podcast duties before today’s 3 p.m. tip-off, but rest assured, the two have been among the four best guards in the East this season. After each made the team alone the last two years, they deserve to be representing the host city together in 2016.
