Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501270054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
With 1,289,585 votes, Hill edged Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal in final results of fan balloting Thursday, even though he has played in only 25 pro games.
``Leading the entire NBA in All-Star voting makes me feel awestruck,'' said Hill, who was expected to return to action Thursday night against Portland after missing eight games with a foot injury.
``I looked forward to making the rookie game this year, and maybe playing in an All-Star game sometime in the future. And now here I am, starting in the All-Star game. To me, it is an honor that should be bestowed upon someone like [teammate] Joe Dumars, not one of the league's rookies.
``But I am thankful to everyone that voted for me. I know it will be an unbelievable experience.''
Joining Hill, a forward, as Eastern Conference starters for the Feb.12 All-Star game in Phoenix are O'Neal at center, Chicago's Scottie Pippen at the other forward spot and Orlando's Anfernee Hardaway and Indiana's Reggie Miller in the backcourt.
Among the Western Conference starters is one player who doesn't even start for his own team - Phoenix guard Dan Majerle. The Suns' Charles Barkley and Seattle's Shawn Kemp were voted to the team at forward, Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon at center and Golden State's Latrell Sprewell at the other guard spot.
Orlando's Brian Hill, whose team has the best record in the league, will coach the East All-Stars. The West team will be guided by the coach whose team is leading the conference as of Sunday, most likely Phoenix's Paul Westphal.
Coaches will select seven All-Star reserves for each team. They will be announced Jan.31.
Grant Hill, who had been chosen to play in the rookie game Feb.11, will play only in the All-Star game.
In leading the balloting, Hill edged O'Neal by 26,134 votes. The Magic center, the league's leading scorer, received 1,263,451 votes in making the All-Star game for a third consecutive year.
New York's Patrick Ewing was a distant second among East centers, with 728,331 votes.
Pippen, now a five-time All-Star including four in a row, was the East's No.2 forward in the balloting, with 1,134,525 votes. Charlotte's Larry Johnson was third, with 698,331.
Among the East guards, Hardaway will be appearing in his first All-Star game and Miller his second, his first since 1990. Hardaway received 999,327 votes and Miller got 908,493. Cleveland's injured Mark Price was third with 854,771.
Miller, the first Pacers player to start in an NBA All-Star Game, took his team to the Eastern Conference finals last season and was the second-leading scorer during the summer on Dream Team II, which won the world championship.
``I've been having a so-so year,'' said Miller, whose 19.8 points per game is his lowest average in six seasons. ``Some games I've played well, and other games I haven't. I felt in other years when I've had a much better season at this time, especially the last two or three years, when I thought I had a shot at making it, I wasn't even close.''
Olajuwon, selected to the All-Star team for the 10th time in 11 years, was the leading vote-getter in the West with 1,263,451. San Antonio's David Robinson was the runner-up at center with 1,046,364 votes - the second-highest total in the conference.
Barkley, the 1991 All-Star MVP, will be making his ninth appearance in the game. He led West forwards with 1,046,105 votes.
``It's always fun. It's always a great honor to be selected or to play,'' said Barkley, who couldn't play in last year's game because of an injury. ``I think this is my ninth one. They've all been fun. It's always a great honor, especially when the fans vote you in.''
Kemp, who will be playing in his third All-Star game, was a close second among conference forwards with 1,027,451 votes. Third was Dallas' Jamal Mashburn with 742,815.
Majerle, who led Western guards with 868,115 votes, will be playing in his third All-Star game.
He and Barkley will be the first teammates to start in an NBA All-Star Game on their home court since Utah's Karl Malone and John Stockton did it in Salt Lake City in 1993.
Sprewell was second among West guards with 861,223 votes, edging Golden State teammate Tim Hardaway (853,784) for the starting spot. Sprewell was chosen as a reserve last year, even though his name wasn't on the All-Star ballot.
The East leads the All-Star series 28-16, including a 127-118 victory last year in Minneapolis, where Pippen was the MVP after scoring a game-high 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
In this year's fan voting, a record total of 6,254,427 ballots were cast, more than double the 2.9 million collected last season.
by CNB