Iverson leads East guards in voting

NEW YORK -- Allen Iverson is on pace to start in the NBA All-Star game for the Eastern Conference -- if he's still playing in it.

Iverson, waiting to be traded by the Philadelphia 76ers, was the leader among East guards with 595,200 votes when the first set of returns were released Thursday.

Iverson and NBA finals MVP Dwyane Wade of Miami had the top spots in the East backcourt. But if the 76ers deal Iverson out of the conference, he will have some room to make up. His total would be third among West guards, behind Kobe Bryant (720,375) and Tracy McGrady (668,130).

Iverson is a two-time MVP of the All-Star game.

Houston center Yao Ming was the overall leader with 836,392 votes.

-- AP