NBA All Star Snubs

It happens ever year, in every sport.  The All Star Snub.  Every year, a player seems to be lighting up the score board and making the top ten when you tune into the 11 PM Sorts Center, and they never get the phone call once the All Star selections are made.  After reading Marc J Spears' report on Yahoo.com, I have to agree with a few obvious Western Conference snubs for this year's NBA All Star game.

Fans have the task of voting in the conference starters and then the coaches select the reserves.  This year, it seems like the West Coast squad coaches have been nipping on grandpa's cough medicine while making their selections.

Though, the starters are no slouches -The Thunder's Kevin Durant, Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony, Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Hornets' Chris Paul and The Rocket's Yao Ming, it's baffling to me with whom is MIA and why Ming is in as a starter.  Yoa has played six games this season.  SIX! Yet, he still made the starting five.  *scratches head*  I seeeee.    The reserves also no flashes in the pan:  Spurs' Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, Lakers' Pau Gasol, Clippers' Blake Griffin, Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki, Thunder's Russell Westbrook and Jazz's Deron Wililams.   I'd take either in my pick up game, but look at the talent left off the West squad:

Monta Ellis, Warriors.  25.1 points per game is good enough for 3rd in the West and 6th in the NBA.  To top it off, he has 5.6 assists per game.  Spears states this snub is "extending the Warriors’ streak without an All-Star to 14 years. Latrell Sprewell last represented Golden State in the midseason game in 1997."   What does a Warrior have to do to get in the All Star game!?!?

Kevin Love, Timberwolves.  15.5 rebounds per game LEADS THE LEAGUE.  He's also averaging 21.4 points per game.  HOW is he not a starter?  Spears continues, "The West coaches evidently didn’t put much stock in his accomplishments because Love’s Timberwolves have won just 11 games".  Hmmm, didn't Alex Rodriguez win an MVP for a last place team?  Just because he has little talent around him, don't snub the man.

Steve Nash, Suns.  I know, he's almost as old as dirt.  However, at 11.1 assists per game, he's second in the entire NBA.  He leads the West coast in assists and drops in 16.8 points per game.  He's doing this without the Suns' leading scorer from last year and the man second in the NBA in scoring this year, Amar'e Stoudemire.

So, let me get this straight, the Western Conference leaders in assists and rebounding are not All Star worthy and the third leading scorer can't make the squad.  However, a fella who has played in six games is voted a starter.  Ugh.

Well, let's see if the West squad can even top 100 points in this year's classic on TNT, February 20th at 7 PM at the Staples Center in LA.  The Celtics, I mean, ummm, the Eastern Squad seems like a legit line up ready to pour in a good 175 points.

Celtics' Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Heat's big three in Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.  Hawk's Joe Johnson and Al Horford.  The Bulls' Derek Rose, Knicks' Amar'e Stoudemire and the Magic's Dwight Howard.