Every year about this time we are left scratching our heads after the final rosters are set for the annual NBA All-Star Game. While fans do a good job for the most part, there are always a few questionable selections based on a player’s popularity or the age old “lifetime achievement” theory comes into play.
This year is no different as the league initially decided to leave off 2nd year sensation and this season’s leading rebounder Kevin Love. But they eventually got it right and rightfully so showed some Love by selecting the Timberwolves big man as the injury replacement for starting Western Conference center Yao Ming.
On the flip side, Tim Duncan, who will probably go down as the best power forward in league history, was selected as a reserve to appear in his 13th All Star Game. No disrespect towards the “Big Fundamental” but his numbers this season(13.5 ppg, 9.3 reb, .484 FG%) are way below his career numbers and would actually be the worst of his illustrious career. I get it, the Spurs are on a possibly historic run, sitting pretty with the league’s best record(42-8) but clearly Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are now the go-to-guys on the team.
Check out my 8 Biggest All Star Snubs for the 2011 NBA All Star Game(4 from each Conf):
Ray Felton
New York Knicks
‘10-’11 Stats: 17.3 ppg, 8.9 ast, 3.7 reb, 1,8 stl, .332 3PT%, .864 FT%
Team Record – 25-24
Replacing: Joe Johnson
In my opinion, it’s an outright travesty that Ray was not selected for the 2011 All Star Game. I assume it must be a matter of circumstance as the league is now ripe with some pretty outstanding wing players, especially in the East with the likes of Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and D. Wade poised as shoe-ins over the next decade. But truth be told, the former Tarheel standout is having a career year, in his first season in New York. He’s making everyone in the “Big Apple” forget about the former rumors of bringing Tony Parker to play at MSG alongside Ama’re. He joins only Rondo, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook as the only players in the league to rank in the Top 10 in both assists and steals and ranks 5th in scoring among starting point guards. On the season, he has topped the 20 point plateau 18 times and has dished out 10+ assists in 23 contests. Those sound like All Star numbers to me. True Johnson is more of a 2 guard but who really cares in an All Star Game? Johnson’s numbers are actually down a tad from his career numbers.
Carlos Boozer
Chicago Bulls
‘10-’11 Stats: 19.8 ppg, 10.2 reb, 1 stl, .546 FG%
Team Record – 34-15
Replacing: Chris Bosh
It’s hard to believe that Carlos, known as one of the more dominating big men in the league for some time and a former Olympian, has only 2 All Star Game appearances to his credit. It’s probably because he played most of his career in the Western Conference, mired behind Tim Duncan, Ama’re Stoudemire, and Pau Gasol in recent years. But a wrist injury sidelined the former Duke big man for a majority of the early part of this season in Chicago, or I would assume he would be playing in his 3rd All Star contest in 2011. Upon his return this season, Boozer has been a perfect compliment to MVP candidate Derrick Rose, so much so that the Bulls are seeded as high as #3 in the East. Even though he has played in only 31 games this season, he is putting up All Star caliber numbers, nearly averaging a double-double(20-10) and has shot an impressive percentage from the field. He has scored in double figures in 29 of 31 contests and is among the league leaders in double-doubles with 21. Boozer’s numbers are better than Bosh’s across the board.
Andrew Bogut
Milwaukee Bucks
‘10-’11 Stats 13.5 ppg, 11.6 reb, 2.8 blk, 2 ast
Team Record – 19-30
Replacing: Chris Bosh or Kevin Garnett
The former #1 overall pick has always been overlooked because he isn’t as flashy as some of the other dominant big men. This season Andrew is going about his business as usual by averaging a double-double and leading the entire league in blocks, swatting away nearly 3 shots per night. True, his offensive production is down nearly 2 PPG from last season and he connects on a horrific percentage(.419) from the charity stripe, but he is shooting nearly 50% from the field and is one of the most revered interior defenders in the league. And, he’s doing it all on a surgically repaired elbow and wrist he sustained at the end of last season. I know I’ll get some negative feedback on replacing Garnett but statistically Bogut is having a better season on the boards and in blocked shots. Garnett is a better offensive player but has missed time due to injuries and has 3 other teammates already on the squad.
Josh Smith
Atlanta Hawks
‘10-’11 Stats: 16.3 ppg, 8.9 reb, 3.5 ast, 1.8 blk, 1.3 stl, .356 3PT%
Team Record – 33-18
Replacing: Chris Bosh
While not everyone considers Smith even the best player on his own team(Joe Johnson and Al Horford) he continues to put up some pretty spectacular all around, All Star caliber numbers over the past few seasons. Just think of all of the publicity and attention he would have gotten if the Sixers would have pulled the trigger on signing the then high flying free agent prior to bringing Elton Brand to Philly? This season, he is the only player in the league to average 15+PPG, 8+rebs, 1.5 blk, and 1 steal. That’s the definition of a stat-stuffer and while some players may excel in one or more of those categories, Smith is among the very best at seemingly everything. He’s averaging career bests in scoring and rebounding and ranks among the league leaders in double-doubles with 24. Josh may have had his best game of the season by dropping 29 points and 16 boards on the Wizards. And oh by the way, he’s a former Sprite Slam Dunk Champion. Smith’s scoring and rebounding are actually on par with Bosh but Smith would provide some potential highlight reel moments, and Bosh’s numbers are down big time now that he is in Miami.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Portland Trailblazers
‘10-’11 Stats: 21.2 ppg, 9.1 reb, 2 ast, 1.2 blk, .485 FG%
Team Record – 27-24
Replacing: Tim Duncan
The former Texas Longhorn is averaging career highs in scoring and rebounding while almost singlehandedly keeping the Trailblazers afloat with key contributors Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, and Greg Oden out with injuries. Since the calendar turned to 2011, LaMarcus ranks among the league leaders in double-doubles with 12 in his last 15 games. He has become PG Andre Miller’s favorite target as he recently just scored 40 big ones in a win over Tim Duncan and the league’s best team, the San Antonio Spurs. Statistically, Duncan is having a career worst season with Aldridge besting him in nearly every category. No offense to Timmy but LaMarcus earned a spot.
Monta Ellis
Golden State Warriors
‘10-’11 Stats: 25.3 ppg, 5.6 ast, 3.4 reb, 2.3 stl, .359 3PT%
Team Record – 22-27
Replacing: Deron Williams
The Warriors have now gone 14 years without an All Star dating back to Latrell Sprewell’s selection for the 1997 contest. By numbers alone, the “Mississippi Bullet” deserved a spot simply because only Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are currently scoring at a higher clip than Ellis in the Western Conference. He is arguably one of the game’s fastest players and is only one of only 3 players, joining Kobe and Lebron, to average 25+ points and are averaging 5 or more assists per contest. He also ranks in the Top 3 in steals and has scored 40+ points 4 times already this season. I’m sure his team’s dismal record came into play and I’m convinced if he played on an even mediocre team in a igger market like Philly or LA he would have made either squad.
Kevin Martin
Houston Rockets
‘10-’11 Stats: 23.3 ppg, 3 reb, 2.3 ast, 1 stl, .405 3PT%, .887 FT%
Team Record – 24-28
Replacing: Deron Williams
It’s a shame, but not many basketball fans know of the high scoring former 1st round pick now playing for Houston. Martin is having yet another under-the-radar spectacular scoring season as he ranks among the Top 8 scorers in the Western Conference. While many argue that all he does is drop buckets, he does it very well and has for some time now, as he has averaged 20 or more points per game in each of the past 5 seasons. Maybe it’s because he has played in Sacramento to begin his career or now plays to late for many on the East Coast to bear witness to his scoring prowess but just like Ellis, he is one of the game’s elite scorers. Just like other years, he is at times prone to injuries but has had some big time scoring games this season including a 45 point explosion in early January and 2 – 30 point games in February alone. While Deron is one of the game’s best point guard, Monta should be an elite player in his own right. Ellis is a more explosive and exciting player which bodes well in All Star Games. Besides, Deron already had 1 All Star nod previously.
Lamar Odom
LA Lakers
‘10-’11 Stats: 15.3 ppg, 9.5 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, .560 FG%, .375 3 PT%
Team Record – 35-16
Replacing: Tim Duncan
Lamar is arguably playing the best basketball of his 12 year NBA career. He’s scoring at a higher rate than he has since the ’06-’07 season and doing it in a much more efficient manor, connecting at a career high .560 FG%.. Lamar is connecting on nearly 40% from behind the arc. I’ll argue that although he now comes off the bench, he’s been every bit as important to the Lakers’ success than Pau Gasol this season. It’s surprising that his 20 point-20 rebound performance against Houston just prior to the final rosters being announced didn’t influence the coaches to select Odom for his first All Star Game. Unfortunately for Lamar, it may have been his last chance. I know, it sounds like a broken record, but Lamar deserves the nod over Duncan. If not for the similar numbers, maybe in the lifetime achievement category. Let Lamar have at least one!
Others Considered: Steve Nash, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Tony Parker
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
