Celtics' guard Ray Allen doesn't believe that fans should have as much power in who starts during the All-Star Game as they currently possess.

"Too much is put into the fan vote as starters," Allen said. "We know there are a lot of great, talented players in the NBA. If you look at the baseball model, I think one year Sammy Sosa was MVP, and the next year he wasn't good enough to make the All-Star Game. Based on our model, on popularity you'll make it. You'll start.

"It should be a percentage of the [fans'] votes to guarantee who the starters are. You guys, the media, watch more basketball than anybody. [The media] should have a big say-so. From [the media] to the fan voting, and then maybe you throw the GM's in there. That, to me, would give an accurate representation of who the five starters should be."

New Jersey's Yi Jianlian is third in the Eastern Conference voting at the forward spot, due in large part to his popularity in his native land of China.