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Pistons' Rasheed Wallace replaces injured Kevin Garnett on All-Star team
February 10, 2008
BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett withdrew from the NBA All-Star game Sunday and was replaced on the Eastern Conference roster by Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace.
The announcement was made by the commissioner's office after Garnett missed his seventh consecutive game with an abdominal strain. Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who will coach the East in the Feb. 17 game in New Orleans, said Garnett will not play until the team returns from the break.
Wallace will join teammates Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton for the All-Star game New Orleans. It will be his fourth All-Star appearance.
Wallace is averaging 12.9 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, and leads Detroit in blocks and steals.
I definitely agree that the Euros not selected to the all-stars got snubbed like no other, it kind of pisses me off that the ALL-Stars is based mroe so on entertainment/media popularity value over skill. You could argue it's always been this way, but in comparison to the past it was mroe about skill....how I miss 80s and 90s basketball
Big Easy? Big Snub.
January 31, 2008 8:07 PM
So, ladies and gentlemen, here are your 2008 NBA All-Stars from the Eastern Conference:
Jason Kidd
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Kevin Garnett
Dwight Howard
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Caron Butler
Richard Hamilton
Antawn Jamison
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce
Which means these are the players who just missed, and are crying in their beer right now: Jose Calderon
This is just plain wrong. I would write a dozen paragraphs about how extrarodinary this guy has been, but John Hollinger already did. In a nutshell: no point guard is as efficient, and without quality scorers, he makes Toronto one of the best offenses. He's no joke. Leaving him off the All-Star team, however, is a big one. Jason Kidd and Dwyane Wade -- you owe Jose Calderon a beer. Hedo Turkoglu
In what was supposed to be the season he became redundant (thanks to the arrival of Rashard Lewis), Turkoglu instead became resplendent. He freaks out defenses by being a tremedous shooter and slashing with grace. But most importantly, he is the best Magic player at getting the ball to Dwight Howard in a position where he can use it. He's also a go-to guy in the clutch. I'd take him over Hamilton, Kidd, gimpy Wade, and right there with Jamison and Johnson. Vince Carter
Have you witnessed Carter's intermittent commitment to hard play? Having him on this list of snubbed players is generous. I could probably make a stronger case for his teammate Richard Jefferson.
Michael Redd
It is never good when your team is bad. It is never good when you get hurt. It is worst of all, for your All-Star chances, when your team plays better when you're injured. Ray Allen
You only get three All-Stars if your team just dominates the first half of the season. Oh wait, I guess Boston did that. Allen missed out, I think, in part because right now the league suspects Kevin Garnett and your intramural team might win fifty.
Moving West. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Western Conference All-Stars:
Allen Iverson
Kobe Bryant
Carmelo Anthony
Tim Duncan
Yao Ming
Carlos Boozer
Steve Nash
Dirk Nowitzki
Chris Paul
Brandon Roy
Amare Stoudemire
David West
Which means here is the list of guys who are crying in their beer tonight: Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili is a superstar. He just happens to play shorter minutes, have a smaller scoring average, than the likes of Allen Iverson. Tony Parker was the MVP of the Finals last year, but in the guts of crunch time, Ginobili was the guy with the daggers at both ends of the floor. There's really not anything he can't do -- he is an excellent three-point shooter, he drives to the hole as splendidly as anyone, and he plays killer D. If we're picking teams, All-Star teams, pick-up teams, or whatever, I'll take Ginobili, you take Iverson, and we'll see who wins. Baron Davis
Golden State, and Baron Davis, have been hot and cold. Timing cost him this appointment -- if Golden State had put together one of their winning streaks at the time coaches were voting, he was in, because there are nights when Baron Davis is the best player in the game. There are also nights when his team gets schooled by the Minnesota Timberwolves, though, which is the kind of night they were having when coaches were looking for All-Stars. Also, don't forget that Baron Davis has been tough to coach in his career, and the reserves are a coach's choice -- fair or not, it might be easier for coaches to go for a boy scout like Brandon Roy. Deron Williams
Williams has proven himself to be the multi-faceted leader of a powerful team. But he will always be the guy who was picked just before Chris Paul. And the last few months are when the league learned that -- magnificent as Williams is -- he's no Chris Paul. Hopefully New Orleans and Utah can meet in the playoffs to figure out who has the better team. As individuals, however, Paul is making a strong case for MVP, Williams is not. This is the season when Williams suffers from bad PR merely because the two have long been compared. Andrew Bynum
Tough luck about the injury, dude. When you were healthy, the Lakers were really rolling. And when a big-market team is really rolling, sneaking two guys onto the All-Star team is no sweat. And you had the numbers. But I'll tell you what a lot of coaches will tell you: you're going to be in a lot of these things kid. (And is that beer you're crying in legal for someone your age?) Chris Kaman
Every year there's somebody who puts up monster numbers on a bad team. Coaches never vote for that guy. Sorry, Chris.
Tyson Chandler
With New Orleans already getting one of the only negotiable spots on this roster, Chandler had no shot. He joins Deron Williams on the list of players who might have made it if Chris Paul hadn't been so darned good. In Chandler's case, Paul being a near-MVP makes it seem like the credit for New Orleans' success couldn't possibly need to be spread that widely. Al Jefferson
Play some defense! Jefferson might have the best right hand in sports. But without a commitment to defense, teamwork, and passing, all that gets you is a "Junior Zach Randolph" badge. Josh Howard
On the other hand, Mr. Jefferson, you are correct that guys who play defense get screwed, because there's no good way to stack up their contributions in a neat little table that everyone can understand. Howard is a huge part of one of the best teams in basketball. Last year, that was enough. This year there are too many good teams in the West that need shine. Tony Parker
Last year's Finals MVP, not in the All-Star game? Being injured doesn't help. Neither does being one of three top players on a team that has fallen short, so far, of very high expectations. Shawn Marion
I don't know what was driving all those "Phoenix is dissatisfied" stories, but when that's what everyone is saying about your team, it doesn't reflect well on the guy who recently asked for a trade. Tracy McGrady
If he made it, it would have been purely on name recognition. Because it's just not his year. Marcus Camby
There are ten teams in the West that are all still bunched high enough in the standings to be theoretical candidates to win the conference. Each has a team leader who is a strong candidate to be an All-Star. (Indeed, only Golden State missed out). Denver is only in the middle of that pack, but already has two guys starting on this team! How greedy can you get! I know, it's not fair to exclude a guy because of what his teammates do. But has Camby really been better than David West, Brandon Roy, Baron Davis, or Manu Ginobili? Not to mention, just a few days ago Chandler massacred him. Stephen Jackson
Back when the Warriors were rolling, Jackson was one of the best defensive players in the league, which goes along nicely with an ability to hit timely threes. But one of the rules of being an All-Star is that you really have to bring it every night -- or darn close. And Jackson has bad nights.
No Tracy Mcgrady
No Vince Carter
No Shaquille O'Neal
In the NBA ALL STAR GAME
I think that's good. T-Mac has only had a few superb games. Vincanity and Shaq have been pathetic this year compared to their past seasons.
Let's talk about the snubs. Who should've been put on the team?
Players in the East who should be added:
- Hedo Turkoglu (I'm biting my tongue, but he really deserves it)
- Jose Calderon (he's great...maybe not an All-Star yet, I don't know)
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas (not the best night in and night out, but he sure helps the Cavs)
I don't think Jason Kidd should be on the team. He's a fine player, but he stopped playing basketball and started crying and the start of the season. Maybe Paul Pierce shouldn't be on the team, because he could never help his team by himself and he's only benefiting from having Garnett and Allen next to him. Also, Dwayne Wade should not be an All-Star. Yeah, he's a good player, but he's nont that great this year (perhaps because of injuries) and he's on the worst team in the league.
Players in the West who should be added:
- Manu Ginobili (the Spurs best player right now)
- Baron Davis (I'm biting my tongue again, but this guy is playing great)
- Josh Howard (bad defense, but a great scorer and fun to watch)
I don't think David West should be on the All-Star team. He's playing well, sure, but there are better centers not on the team (Kaman, Camby). Brandon Roy should not be on the team either; he's playing wonderful basketball for an OK team.
5 * Jason Kidd (New Jersey) G 6-4 210 03/23/73 California
3 * Dwyane Wade (Miami) G 6-4 216 01/17/82 Marquette
21 * Kevin Garnett (Boston) F 6-11 220 05/19/76 Farragut Academy (HS)
23 * LeBron James (Cleveland) F 6-8 250 12/30/84 St. Vincent/St. Mary HS
12 * Dwight Howard (Orlando) C 6-11 265 12/08/85 SW Atlanta Christian Academy (GA)
Reserve
1 Chauncey Billups (Detroit) G 6-3 202 09/25/76 Colorado
4 Chris Bosh (Toronto) C 6-10 230 03/02/84 Georgia Tech
3 Caron Butler (Washington) F 6-7 228 03/13/80 Connecticut
32 Richard Hamilton (Detroit) G 6-7 193 02/14/78 Connecticut
4 Antawn Jamison (Washington) F 6-9 235 06/12/76 North Carolina
2 Joe Johnson (Atlanta) G 6-7 235 06/29/81 Arkansas
34 Paul Pierce (Boston) F 6-7 235 10/13/81 Kansas
Head Coach: Doc Rivers (Boston)
Western Conference
NO. PLAYER (TEAM) POS. HT. WT. BIRTHDATE FROM
24 * Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) G 6-6 205 08/23/78 Lower Merion HS
3 * Allen Iverson (Denver) G 6-0 180 07/07/75 Georgetown
15 * Carmelo Anthony (Denver) F 6-8 230 05/29/84 Syracuse
21 * Tim Duncan (San Antonio) F 6-11 260 04/25/76 Wake Forest
11 * Yao Ming (Houston) C 7-6 310 9/12/80 China
Reserve
5 Carlos Boozer (Utah) F 6-9 266 11/20/81 Duke
13 Steve Nash (Phoenix) G 6-3 178 02/07/74 Santa Clara
41 Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) F 7-0 245 06/19/78 Germany
3 # Chris Paul (New Orleans) G 6-0 175 05/06/85 Wake Forest
7 # Brandon Roy (Portland) G 6-6 229 07/23/84 Washington
1 Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix) C 6-10 245 11/16/82 Cypress Creek (Orlando, FL)
30 # David West (New Orleans) F 6-9 240 08/29/80 Xavier (Ohio)
Knowing NBA system it is really hard to predict. NBA uses only 50% defence on regular season games, defence reduced even more on AllStar game. Even Darius Silinskis would score 4 points if he would play this game. I would bet on East cause LeBron will play like it is FINAL 4 and will try to score many points.
with 3 former all star MVP's in the west line up against only 2 for the east. the west all stars has the edge and will surely repeat over the east all stars in new orleans.
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