NBA All Star Game results to be revealed amid controversy

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Boston Celtics basketball player Ray Allen has spoken out against imbalances inherent in the public vote used to determine players for the upcoming 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas on February 14.

The fan ballot was held via the NBA's website, mobile phone texting, and ballot boxes at NBA arenas and closed at midnight on January 18.

Allen, one of the NBA's top talents, voiced concerns that the voting process in its current form is vulnerable to undue influence from a section of misinformed voters. Without a stronger moderating influence, fans deciding which NBA players make it through to the second-round vote could overlook those who are on form but relatively unknown when compared to established stars of seasons past.

Results of the 2010 vote will be made known on January 21 and head coaches from each NBA team will then participate in a further round of voting to select the teams for the February match-up.

The game starts at 8pm Eastern Standard Time (01:00 GMT, February 15) and tickets are available from Ticketmaster or via NBA.com/allstar2010 from $25 (€18) up to $500 (€350). The match is being televised primarily by the TNT network, whilst ESPN have rights for the Celebrity Game on Friday, February 12.