 |
Being named an All-Star is a big deal for NBA players, whether it's a veteran on the downside of a spectacular career like Allen Iverson, or first-timers like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose.
On the other hand, missing the cut can be a hard pill to swallow.
For the most part, the league's coaches, who pick the reserves, did an outstanding job this season. Unlike the past few years, very few players had much to complain about with two notable exceptions in the frontcourt -- the Clippers' Chris Kaman and New York's David Lee.
So, with that in mind, let's look at the five biggest snubs for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game set for Feb. 14 in Arlington, Tex.
1. Chris Kaman - Center - Los Angeles Clippers
 |
Kaman is averaging 20.2 points and 9.1 rebounds along with 1.3 blocks per game this year. He's also toiled in 41 games this season, compared to 29 for Lakers' All-Star Pau Gasol.
Skill-wise, Gasol is clearly an All-Star level player but he's missed 17 games this season with an assortment of injuries and should have been given the weekend off. Clearly the coaches went with reputation over production with this pick.
"I just obviously didn't get enough respect to make it, and I can't really control that," Kaman told the Los Angeles Times. "So now I have to move forward and try to help my team get some more wins and try to be positive about it and just look for the playoff hunt."
2. David Lee - Center/Forward - New York Knicks
Like Kaman, Lee was probably snubbed for playing on a bad team.
A double-double machine, the 6-foot-9 Lee leads the Knicks and scoring (19.6 ppg) and rebounding (11.6). Meanwhile, Atlanta's Al Horford, Lee's teammate in college at Florida, is netting just 13.6 ppg and 9.8 rebounds, but the Hawks are 29-15 compared to New York's 18-27 mark.
"It's disappointing, but I'm always looking for more motivation, so it's more motivation," Lee said after the Knicks fell to Toronto on Thursday night. "Everybody that made it was well-deserved and having a good season, and I'd never talk bad about anybody that did make it. I just thought I had a good chance, and it didn't work out that way."
3. Chauncey Billups - Guard - Denver Nuggets
Billups is so good and so steady, he's taken for granted. At the age of 33, Billups is putting up career-highs in points per game (19.2 ppg), while continuing to shoot well (41.4 percent from beyond the arc), and distributing as effectively as ever.
With all the backcourt talent assembled in the West, Billups never had a chance this season but does anyone really question whether he's an All-Star? The Nuggets have been one of the NBA's top five teams since the day he arrived from Detroit.
4. Joakim Noah - Forward/Center - Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have been inconsistent and underachieved this season so getting a pair of All-Stars was going to be a tall task, but Noah has arguably been the NBA's most improved player, averaging 11.3 ppg and 12.1 rpg.
His rebounding numbers are second to Dwight Howard, and an All-Star selection would have given a well-deserved nod to players who bust their rear ends doing the little things.
"Joakim's been very consistent from Day 1," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He's second in the league in rebounding and up there in double-doubles. He's been just fantastic in overall rebounding, but offensive rebounding, especially."
5. Carlos Boozer - Forward - Utah Jazz
Despite being hounded by persistent trade rumors, Boozer, a two-time All-Star, has put together another solid season, averaging 19.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Boozer, who is currently struggling with a strained right calf, thought he should have joined teammate Deron Williams on the West squad.
"I think we deserve (two)," Boozer said earlier this week.
With 29 double-doubles this season, the third-highest total for all NBA players and the most of any Western Conference player, it's hard to argue with him.
No comments:
Post a Comment