Big 3 plus Allen, Battier included in social media friendly 2013 NBA All-Star ballot

The NBA today announced the 2013 All-Star ballot and unsurprisingly the Miami Heat had a large presence on the ballot. Current MVP LeBron James along with fellow All-Star teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will make the team, of course. Along with the Big 3, 10-time NBA All-Star and new Heat sixth man Ray Allen and starter Shane Battier round out the selections from the NBA Champions.

The odd man out is former All-Star nominee Mario Chalmers, who is the only starter not to make the cut. With Derrick Rose out due to injury, the list of point guards from the Eastern Conference is hardly overwhelming but the selection committee decided to pass on him anyway. Considering how often fans complain every year about certain players get bypassed for the ballot, there is something to be said about the notion of simply allowing fans to vote for any player in the NBA at the time.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Allen combined have made 33 All-Star game appearances. Battier has never been an All-Star in his career, but he could get a nice boost in the voting from Chinese fans, where has a large endorsement presence.

For the first time ever, NBA fans will be to vote via social media networks, including Facebook and Twitter, and Sina Weibo and Tencent QQ in China. Here is exactly how it's going to work, according to the official NBA press release:

Twitter voting will allow fans to tweet a vote for one player each day throughout the All-Star balloting period. The tweet must include a player's first and last name, along with hash tag #NBABALLOT. Facebook voting will allow fans to fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through a custom application on Facebook.

Fans can also access the ballot and vote through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint applications, available on Android and iOS. NBA fans can fill out one full ballot (three frontcourt and two guards from each conference) per day, through the NBA Game Time and NBA Game Time from Sprint application, the most comprehensive app in the marketplace for NBA fans.

There are several other ways fans can cast their votes as part of this season's all-digital program including: in 11 languages on NBA.com/ASB, through SMS voting by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA") or by visiting NBA.com/ASB on any wireless device. Fans can vote for 10 different players per day, per phone number, via SMS voting by sending 10 separate SMS messages, each one with a different player's last name. Message and data rates may apply.

After submitting their All-Star selections, fans will have the ability to share them with their friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter, and encourage others to cast their ballots.

Balloting will conclude on Jan. 14, and starters will be announced live on TNT on Jan. 17, during a special one-hour pregame show at 7 p.m. ET featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT's exclusive doubleheader featuring the Los Angeles Clippers at the Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET) and the Miami Heat at the Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET).

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players - 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences - with 36 frontcourt and 24 guards from each conference comprising the list. Voters select three frontcourt and two guards from each conference. Previously, the ballot featured three positions with fans picking two guards, two forwards and a center.

The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA:
Steve Aschburner (NBA.com), Jonathan Feigen (Houston Chronicle), Doug Smith (Toronto Star/PBWA), and Kenny Smith (TNT).

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT from Toyota Center on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in more than 220 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.

The following is a complete listing of the players as they appear on the ballot:

2013 NBA ALL-STAR EASTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

EAST GUARDS (24)
Afflalo Arron, Orlando
Allen Ray, Miami
Calderon Jose, Toronto
DeRozan DeMar, Toronto
Ellis Monta, Milwaukee
Felton Raymond, New York
George Paul, Indiana
Henderson Gerald, Charlotte
Hill George, Indiana
Hinrich Kirk, Chicago
Holiday Jrue, Philadelphia
Irving Kyrie, Cleveland
Jennings Brandon, Milwaukee
Johnson Joe, Brooklyn
Knight Brandon, Detroit
Lowry Kyle, Toronto
Rondo Rajon, Boston
Stuckey Rodney, Detroit
Teague Jeff, Atlanta
Terry Jason, Boston
Wade Dwyane, Miami
Walker Kemba, Charlotte
Wall John, Washington
Williams Deron, Brooklyn

EAST FRONTCOURT (36)
Anthony Carmelo, New York
Bargnani Andrea, Toronto
Battier Shane, Miami
Boozer Carlos, Chicago
Bosh Chris, Miami
Bynum Andrew, Philadelphia
Casspi Omri, Cleveland
Chandler Tyson, New York
Dalembert Samuel, Milwaukee
Davis Glen, Orlando
Deng Luol, Chicago
Garnett Kevin, Boston
Gibson Taj, Chicago
Granger Danny, Indiana
Green Jeff, Boston
Harrington Al, Orlando
Hawes Spencer, Philadelphia
Hibbert Roy, Indiana
Horford Al, Atlanta
Humphries Kris, Brooklyn
Ilyasova Ersan, Milwaukee
James LeBron, Miami
Lopez Brook, Brooklyn
Monroe Greg, Detroit
Mullens Byron, Charlotte
Nene, Washington
Noah Joakim, Chicago
Okafor Emeka, Washington
Pierce Paul, Boston
Prince Tayshaun, Detroit
Smith Josh, Atlanta
Stoudemire Amar'e, New York
Varejao Anderson, Cleveland
Wallace Gerald, Brooklyn
West David, Indiana
Young Thaddeus, Philadelphia

2013 NBA ALL-STAR WESTERN CONFERENCE BALLOT

WEST GUARDS (24)
Allen Tony, Memphis
Billups Chauncey, LA Clippers
Bryant Kobe, LA Lakers
Collison Darren, Dallas
Conley Mike, Memphis
Curry Stephen, Golden State
Dragic Goran, Phoenix
Evans Tyreke, Sacramento
Ginobili Manu, San Antonio
Gordon Eric, New Orleans
Harden James, Houston
Lawson Ty, Denver
Lin Jeremy, Houston
Martin Kevin, Oklahoma City
Matthews, Wesley, Portland
Mayo O.J., Dallas
Miller Andre, Denver
Nash Steve, LA Lakers
Parker Tony, San Antonio
Paul Chris, LA Clippers
Rubio Ricky, Minnesota
Thompson Klay, Golden State
Thornton Marcus, Sacramento
Westbrook Russell, Oklahoma City

WEST FRONTCOURT (36)
Aldridge LaMarcus, Portland
Anderson Ryan, New Orleans
Asik Omer, Houston
Batum Nicolas, Portland
Bogut Andrew, Golden State
Cousins DeMarcus, Sacramento
Davis Anthony, New Orleans
Duncan Tim, San Antonio
Durant Kevin, Oklahoma City
Faried Kenneth, Denver
Favors Derrick, Utah
Gallinari Danilo, Denver
Gasol Marc, Memphis
Gasol Pau, LA Lakers
Gay Rudy, Memphis
Gortat Marcin, Phoenix
Griffin Blake, LA Clippers
Hill Grant, LA Clippers
Howard Dwight, LA Lakers
Ibaka Serge, Oklahoma City
Iguodala Andre, Denver
Jefferson Al, Utah
Kaman Chris, Dallas
Kirilenko Andrei, Minnesota
Lee David, Golden State
Leonard Kawhi, San Antonio
Love Kevin, Minnesota
Marion Shawn, Dallas
Millsap Paul, Utah
Nowitzki Dirk, Dallas
Parsons Chandler, Houston
Pekovic Nikola, Minnesota
Perkins Kendrick, Oklahoma City
Randolph Zach, Memphis
Scola Luis, Phoenix
World Peace Metta, LA Lakers

The Heat's official press release is chock-full of interesting tidbits and stats on the players and it is presented here in its entirety...

Allen, a 10-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 12.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 27.0 minutes while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 54.3 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the foul line. He started off the season scoring 19 points vs. Boston, recording the second-most points by a HEAT player off the bench in a season opener. On November 3 vs. Denver, he scored 23 points, including six made three-point field goals while playing only 28:40 minutes, becoming just the third HEAT player in franchise history to score at least 23 points off the bench while hitting at least six three-point baskets in fewer than 29 minutes. He also scored his 23,000th career point vs. Phoenix on November 5, becoming the 24th player in NBA history (fourth active) to hit the mark.

Battier has started all eight games for Miami this season, averaging 5.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 24.3 minutes of action. He blocked three shots last night at Houston, tying for his second-most in a single game as a member of the HEAT. He has also totaled 20 charges since joining the HEAT, the second-most on the team over that span.

Bosh, a seven-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 20.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.13 blocks, 1.00 steals and 32.1 minutes while shooting both a career-high 56.9 percent from the field and a career-high 87.5 percent from the foul line. He scored 40 points vs. Denver on November 3, the most since joining the HEAT, eclipsing his previous high of 35, which he did on two prior occasions. He has now scored at least 20 points in three-straight games while shooting 64.1 percent (25-of-39) from the field over that span. Among league leaders, he currently ranks ninth in scoring, 12th in field goal percentage and tied for 28th in free throw percentage.

James, an eight-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 23.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 34.5 minutes while shooting 55 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range. He leads the HEAT in points (191), rebounds (80), assists (49) and field goals made (77). He has scored at least 20 points in a career-high eight-straight games to start the season, including 13-straight 20-point games going back to last season and 29-straight including the playoffs. He has now posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double over his last five games, including a 32-point second half last night in Houston, helping the HEAT to a 113-110 win. Among league leaders, he currently ranks fourth in scoring, 10th in rebounds, 12th in three-point field goal percentage, 17th in field goal percentage and 22nd in assists.

Wade, an eight-time NBA All-Star, is averaging 18.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.29 steals, 1.00 blocks and 33.9 minutes while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. He became the only player in HEAT franchise history to reach the 15,000-point plateau on October 30 vs. Boston. He then reached another milestone this season, playing in his 600th career game vs. Phoenix on November 5. He has now totaled 618 career blocks, since entering the league in the 2003-04 season, no other guard has more blocks over that span. Additionally, he is only the second guard 6'4" or shorter to reach the 600-block mark in NBA history, only Dennis Johnson has more (675).