Should Erik Spoelstra award Chris Bosh a starting nod in the All-Star Game or should
the Heat's coach replace a point guard with a point guard and elevate Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving to starter?
For the next few weeks, that choice will be debated throughout the NBA. Spoelstra suggested on Sunday in Toronto that he would start Bosh.
Both Bosh and Irving are worthy of starting in the game. Bosh, arguably the best mid-range shooting big man in the NBA, has a career high in field-goal percentage. Irving is averaging 24.0 points per game (sixth in the league) while shooting .412 from three-point range.
Spoelstra will not have many responsibilities during All-Star weekend, but it is his job to name a replacement starter for Rajon Rondo, the Celtics guard who recently tore a knee ligament and is out for the season. Spoelstra didn’t come out and say he was going to use his authority to start Bosh, but he offered a big hint.
“Look, I’ve only given this thought for the last nine minutes, but I will tell you this, unequivocally, that my loyalties, first and foremost are always with the Miami Heat,” he said with a smile.
For the conspiracy theorists out there, putting James and Irving on the court together is out of the question. James and Irving are close friends and rumors are circulating throughout the leauge already that James would like to play with Irving in Cleveland after next season.
Bosh, an eight-time All-Star, has started two All-Star Games in his career. The last time three players from the same team started in an All-Star Game was in 1990 when Magic Johnson, James Worthyand A.C. Green represented the Lakers.
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