[The Outlaw]

Here's a letter I wrote to an associated press writer.

It goes along with the topic.

I read your article located at http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns entitled "James belongs in All-Star game" I have a few comments and questions about it. "As big as the hype was that attended his leap to the NBA at 18, James has delivered. He looks like a man, plays like a man and has taken the league's sorriest team into playoff contention faster than anyone could reasonably expect." Now, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 19-30. Again, I say 19-30. They are 6th in the Central standings. I agree with the fact that James has delivered and plays like a man among men, but playoff contention? I ask for you to explain that to me. Now, if you were talking about Carmelo, I would agree with you, because he has led his team to a 29-21 record so far. This is 12 more wins than they had all last year. But enough about the Nugs, this is about LeBron. "Fans voted Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady as starting guards, and there's no quibbling with those choices. They're the top two scorers in the East and they're established stars. There's less defense for the coaches picking guards Paul Pierce and Michael Redd, along with Jason Kidd and Baron Davis, ahead of James. Or for the 29 coaches voting not to find room for James among the other reserves: Jamaal Magloire, Ron Artest and Kenyon Martin. The other starters picked by the fans are Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal and Ben Wallace." Now, out of the last set of guys, who do you think shouldn't be there and LeBron take his place? I'm going to rundown their stats and throw in my two cents. Paul Pierce - 22.9 points/game, 5.4 Assists/game, 1.6 Steals/Game, 6.7 Rebounds/Game. To compliment Pierce, this is a down year for him. I'm sure a lot of guys would love to have those stats and say it isn't their best. Then again, his 4+ TO/game doesn't look too good. Michael Redd - 21.9 points/game, 2.2 Assists/game, 1.0 Steals/Game, 5.1 Rebounds/Game. Redd's year has been unbelievable. He has burst onto the scene of an All-Star caliber player. Jason Kidd - 17.1 points/game, 9.5 Assists/game, 1.8 Steals/Game, 6.5 Rebounds/Game. There's nothing really you can say about Kidd that hasn't been said. He deserves to be on there. Baron Davis - 23.3 points/game, 7.9 Assists/game, 2.4 Steals/Game, 4.2 Rebounds/Game. I know, these stats are without JMash, but it's dang good stats to say the least. Jamaal Magloire - 12.0 points/game, 1.3 Assists/game, 0.6 Steals/Game, 9.4 Rebounds/Game. Eh, he's a good player, stats don't stand up to me, but he's a solid player. Ron Artest - 17.7 points/game, 3.9 Assists/game, 2.1 Steals/Game, 5.3 Rebounds/Game. I believe this was a gimme from last year? All I've heard is people are glad he got it due to the fact that he should have made it last year. Kenyon Martin - 17.7 points/game, 2.5 Assists/game, 1.6 Steals/Game, 9.8 Rebounds/Game. Guys a monster. I'm not a KMart fan, but he produces. Vince Carter - 21.1 points/game, 4.7 Assists/game, 1.1 Steals/Game, 4.7 Rebounds/Game. Vinsanity is an exciting player. He wows the crowd just as much as anybody at times. Great player. Jermaine O'Neal - 20.4 points/game, 2.0 Assists/game, 0.8 Steals/Game, 10.3 Rebounds/Game 2.7 Blocks/game. He has emerged as a top player in the league. This year is his breakout year. I don't see how he wouldn't have made it. Ben Wallace - 9.4 points/game, 2.0 Assists/game, 1.8 Steals/Game, 13.2 Rebounds/Game 3.1 Blocks/game. Defensive powerhouse. I definately think he deserves it, as he isn't a flashy guy that wants to score all the time, which is nice for a change. Plus, he's a hometown Bama boy, so I gotta support him. And finally: LeBron James - 20.9 points/game, 5.9 Assists/game, 1.5 Steals/Game, 5.8 Rebounds/Game Wow, his stats are a lot higher than I originally assumed. He commits some turnovers, but that's being nitpicky. He's a solid player and he wows the crowd. Now, I'm not the kind of guy that goes on stats alone, but this is ludicrous. I agree with you, but the only players I see that he could have made it over is Artest, Carter, and Redd. I would say Magloire, but isn't there a rule where you have to have a backup center? By the way, the only reason I threw in O'neal and Wallace's Blocks/game was because they are the only ones with a substantial amount. I just thought I would send you an email and praise your article, although it did have that one fault. Great job and keep em coming. (Oh yeah, and what are your thoughts on Randolph, Bibby, and Carmelo not making it as well?)