Reserve the Right to Disagree
This year was a difficult one when it came to picking the NBA All-Star game reserves. A lot of players were bunched togethe and there were a lot of arguments to be made. I think the roster is pretty good although I have two complaints.
David West: I've never given David West the respect he deserve and, well, admitting that is as far as I'm going. I don't think he deserves a spot on the All-Star team and, in the end, he might not have it since he's injured and could take the game off. If that happens, I think you have to look at the improved play of the Timberwolves and Thunder and look to reward those teams. The obvious calls, IMO, are old friend Al Jefferson and Kevin Durant. I doubt either of them will make it, however, if Carmelo Anthony is healthy.
Pau Gasol: I guess the Lakers need two guys but I'd have gone with the aforementioned threesome of 'Melo, Big Al, or Durant.
Rashard Lewis: Lewis is another guy that I bash on a lot but, really, he's the 15 highest paid player in the NBA this year and I think he's the 4th most important on his team. There's no way he should have made it over Hedo Turkoglu or Ray Allen.
As for Rondo, I think he's been too inconsistent while Jameer Nelson has stepped up his game and become a key to the Magic's success. I have to be honest, while the Celtics can survive an inconsistent Rondo, it Nelson doesn't bring his A-game to the playoffs, the Magic could be upset early. Rondo looked like an All-Star early in the season but he's fallen back and just isn't steady enough for an All-Star slot. And honestly, I'm glad he didn't make it so he can use this slight to motivate him for the rest of the season and the coming off-season. Ditto for Ray Allen; I kind of wish he'd made it but I'm not upset that he won't get a few days off to rest.
