All-Star Reserves ballots were due yesterday at 3p.m., and for the all the Eastern Conference coaches who tune in to my blog, I provided some help, a cheat sheet if you will, to aid in their quest to make the proper selections. Call it an East Coast bias, but time did not allow me to do the same for the West. Hopefully, they managed on their own.
To see The Sports Don's Eastern Conference reserves, click here.
Here are the guidelines once again: Each coach is asked to pick seven players (two guards, two forwards, a center and two wildcards), and no selection can be member of his own team. If they feel it is warranted, for the betterment of the team, they are permitted to select a player to fill a position different than the one he is listed at.
Before I go ahead and divulge my selections, let me first remind you of the five players chosen as starters by the fans:
G – Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
G – Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
F – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
F – Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns
C – Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
Unlike the East, deciphering who should be and who could be in Phoenix was a much tougher task here in the West. Denver’s Carmelo Anthony has the numbers, but has missed 13 games due to injury, and a similar statement can be made about Deron Williams in Utah and the Spurs’ Tony Parker. Without further ado, I give to you...
Guards
Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets (18.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists) – What wasn’t the answer for the Detroit Pistons was certainly the solution for Denver. Entering the season, the common thought was the Nuggets would be lucky to grab the eighth spot. Since the Iverson-Billups swap, Chaunce has transformed Denver into a team that seems to finally be living up to its potential and one of the few that can compete with the Lakers. He may be the West’s MVP.
Bradon Roy, Portland Trailblazers (22.6, 4.7, 5.2) – Roy’s numbers are some of the best in the NBA. His play continues to solidify Portland’s stance as one of the better squads in the league, and if Greg Oden meets even half of the expectations set before him, the inside-outside tandem of Roy and Oden will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Forwards
Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers (17.5, 9, 3.4) – The Big Llama’s stats may not be gaudy, but ever since the Memphis Grizzlies gave him away last season for about ten cents on the dollar, the Lakers have been the clear favorite in the West. LA has the best record in its conference by five games, and it’s safe to say, Gasol playing Robin to Kobe’s Batman is why.
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks (25.8, 8.5, 2.4) – Although the fans’ omission of Dirk in favor of Stoudemire wasn’t as egregious as Allen Iverson’s selection over Devin Harris, the fans got this one wrong, also. Dirk has one of the sweetest shots in the game and is having a superb season. His numbers thus far are better than they were when he won the MVP two years ago. Dirk is also one of only five players to appear in the top 20 in both points and rebounds.
Center
Al Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves (22.6, 10.6, 1.5) – While a 15-27 record isn’t the most impressive, the T-Wolves have been rolling in January as winners in 10 of their last 12. Big Al is emerging as one of the great big men in the game, and his numbers at the center position are only surpassed by Dwight Howard. There is hope, once again, in Minnesota.
Wild Cards
Kevin Durant, Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder (24.5, 6.5, 2.6) – I know, I know. I can already her what you’re saying, Oklahoma City’s 10-25 record doesn’t quite cut it, but the play of Durant cannot be ignored. At just 20 and in his second year in the league, Durant averages the sixth most points per game, third highest average in the West, and has been very efficient in the process. In addition, he also averages the fifth most rebounds among non center/power forwards in the NBA. The Thunder only have 10 wins, but how many of those would they have without Durant?
Mehmet Okur, Center, Utah Jazz (17.3, 8.4, 1.8) – My decision for the last wild card spot came down to a trio of big men: Okur, David West and Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq has had a phenomenal year, his best in some time, but he is the beneficiary of his own personal schedule, and has been sitting one end of back-to-backs every time the Suns have games in consecutive days. But if Shaq can’t play every game of the regular season so he can rest, maybe he should use the all-star break to recuperate.
The Turkish import is having the best year of his career, and while the Jazz have suffered through significant injuries with Boozer missing 34 games and Williams 13, Okur’s play is a major reason why Utah has stayed four games above .500.
Here’s to hoping the coaches don’t screw it up. If they do, I apologize for not writing this sooner.
If you disagree with my opinion, would like to share your own or want to tell me this is the most intelligent post you've ever read, email TheSportsDon@gmail.com.
