Leading up to the Jan. 14 deadline, the NBA released the first installment of All-Star Game voting numbers, and Celtics Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett would both earn starting spots if if polls closed now.
Rondo (382,613 votes) would join Heat guard Dwyane Wade (430,925) in the Eastern Conference's starting backcourt ahead of Nets point guard Deron Williams (211,426). Former Celtics guard Ray Allen (130,016) ranks fifth in voting among guards, and his replacement Jason Terry (36,147) ranks eighth.
Garnett (218,246), Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (573,112) and overall votes leader LeBron James (641,348) round out the frontcourt. Celtics captain Paul Pierce (114,735) ranks sixth in froncourt votes behind the three starters, Miami's Chris Bosh (210,724) and Knicks center Tyson Chandler (151,744). C's forward Jeff Green has received 36,080 votes.
A month before the deadline, the current Western Conference starters are Clippers point guard Chris Paul (353,603), Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (639,419), Thunder forward Kevin Durant (605,965), Clippers forward Blake Griffin (307,855) and Lakers center Dwight Howard (434,168).
In all, 17-of-23 players who have received at least 100,000 votes in the NBA All-Star Game polls come from four cities: Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York.
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