In another sign of the NBA's ridiculousness, the league formally announced Wednesday the start of voting for the All-Star game.
Even if Andrew Bynum has played in only three games so far, that's enough to impress Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing. As the Orlando Magic's assistant coach, Ewing put Bynum on his first ballot during the NBA All-Star tip-off conference in Florida. You might take that as a sign that the Magic would agree to ship Dwight Howard to the Lakers for a deal involving Bynum. Or just take it at face value: Bynum's averages of 22.7 points and 17 rebounds lead all Western Conference centers.
Bynum has touted his hope to become an All-Star in recent seasons. After the Lakers' 108-99 victory Tuesday over the Houston Rockets, however, Bynum said that goal no longer consumes him.
"For me, I'm not worried about that," Bynum said of being included in All-Star weekend Feb. 23-26 at Orlando's Amway Center. "I just want to play well. If I go out and play well, things will work themselves out. Sometimes you get sidetracked thinking about things like that. I just go out and play hard."
Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace also appeared on the Western Conference ballot.
-- Mark Medina
