All season long, the Western Conference has overwhelmed the Eastern Conference. One reason might be the number of top-flight international players.
In tomorrow's 53rd NBA All-Star Game, the West will boast five international players, including starters Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, who hails from the Virgin Islands, and Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, who is from China.
By contrast, the East has just one foreigner on its roster -- reserve center Jamaal Magloire of the New Orleans Hornets, by way of Canada.
There are other reasons the West has won three of the last four mid-season showcases, with an abundance of outstanding frontcourt players the most obvious explanation.
But there is something to be said for Duncan, Yao and the influence of the other internationals.
"We've been playing in the league for a while now, and I think it is starting to show up in the all-star game," said Sacramento Kings forward Peja Stojakovic, a native of Serbia. "I think it shows how hard the European players have been working and how well they have adjusted to the NBA style. That's good to see."
A six-time all-star, Duncan is regarded as the best player in the NBA, having won consecutive Most Valuable Player awards and leading the Spurs to the title last season. He shared all-star MVP honors with Shaquille O'Neal in 2000.
Yao may not be the best player, but at 7-6 he is the tallest and presents huge match-up problems for all opponents, including the smallish East squad.
He has been voted a starter by fans twice in as many years. The West's international influence also extends to the bench with forwards Stojakovic, Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas and Andrei Kirilenko of Utah.
It is the third selection for both Stojakovic, a native of Serbia, and Nowitzki, who is from Germany.
Kirilenko, a Russian, is making his first All-Star appearance. I'm very happy for international basketball," Kirilenko said. "I think soon -- maybe five or 10 years -- it will be like the NHL. Every team will have six or seven players from Europe or from all over."
Magloire also is making his all-star debut. With averages of 12.0 points and 9.4 rebounds, he is having a solid season. But had rules not required coaches to select a second center, he may not have made the team.
Even without foreigners, the West appears loaded. Joining Duncan and Yao in the starting lineup are forward Kevin Garnett of Minnesota and guards Steve Francis of Houston and Kobe Bryant of the host Lakers.
Bryant came off the injured list Wednesday and said he will play in tomorrow's game. Other West reserves include guards Ray Allen of Seattle and Sam Cassell of Minnesota and centers O'Neal of the Lakers and Brad Miller of Sacramento.
An 11-year veteran, Cassell is making his first all-star appearance.
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