Kevin Love Thinks He Was Snubbed

Much of the basketball universe howled in disbelief and anger when Kevin Love was omitted from the All-Star reserves, and Love joined in the chorus. The Star Tribune reports: “I truly and firmly believe in my heart that, solely on play alone, I should have been in there,’ [Love] said. Coaches considered other factors — namely winning — when they cast their ballots for players in their own conferences, and this year Western Conference coaches chose, among others, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol and Los Angeles Clippers rookie Blake Griffin … His 15.5 rebounding average leads the NBA by nearly two boards a game. Orlando’s Dwight Howard is next at 13.6 a game. But it was one other number that influenced the coaches’ vote more than any other: 11, which is how many times the Wolves have won. ‘When it comes down to it, the 11 with the 36 or 37 behind it, that kind of killed me,’ Love said. ‘We know why I didn’t make it … I know winning plays a big factor. I didn’t want to be too upset. I’m not too bitter about it.’ Now he waits for NBA Commissioner David Stern to decide who will replace injured Houston center Yao Ming, who was voted the West’s starting center by fans. Love’s last chance to play in the All-Star Game on Feb. 20 in L.A. depends upon Stern’s decision. The NBA said Thursday there’s no definitive timetable for Stern to make that decision. ‘We’ll just have to wait and see,’ Love said of Stern, who must also consider Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge and the Lakers’ Lamar Odom, among others. ‘No matter how you get in, it doesn’t matter. If I make it that way, I still feel like I’m very deserving.'”