Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 6:45 pm  |  200 responses

Breaking: Shaq Headlines All-Star Reserves


by Marcel Mutoni

I got home from the office a little while ago, and logged into my Facebook account. One of the updates on the main page was from Adrian Wojnarowski, who claimed that he was breaking the news over at Yahoo! Sports – well before the official announcement – of who the All-Star reserves are.

Here, reportedly, is the list:

O’Neal, 36, was one of seven Western reserves chosen by the NBA’s coaches, and will play in the All-Star Game for the hometown Suns.

The rosters, and the West reserves also include the Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol, New Orleans Hornets’ David West, Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki, San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker, Denver Nuggets’ Chauncey Billups and Portland Trail Blazers’ Brandon Roy.

The East reserves include two Orlando Magic, Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis. East coaches also chose the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce, Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson, Toronto Raptors’ Chris Bosh, New Jersey Nets’ Devin Harris and Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger.

The Magic will have three All-Stars in the game, including starting center Dwight Howard, who received the most fan votes of any player. The East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers will have just one, LeBron James. Among the notable misses on the East’s roster: the Cavs’ Mo Williams, and Boston’s Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

Also snubbed, were Steve Nash and Al Jefferson. Sorry, gents. Maybe next year.

And you may begin complaining … now!

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  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @jaymes: Yup, the bench picks were legit for the most part, all right. Granger and Devin Harris? Well deserved.

  • http://jamescleaton.ning.com jaymes

    Definately..no dis to the guys that missed out, but both those guys have had great years.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    And, well, I know I should be defending my Toronto guy Bosh, but there’s no reason why Jefferson should be left off the squad if Bosh is an All-Star, based on what they’ve done for their respective teams this year. But which forward *would* you take off that stacked Western bench?

  • http://jamescleaton.ning.com jaymes

    Good question..Pau or West prob, again both guys have had good years too..Someone is always gonna be p(ssed at the selections..Deron for eg.?

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @Darksaber: Like the game-winning buzzer beating alley oop against the Raps that ripped out the hearts of the entire ACC? That was cold.

  • BostonBaller

    Shake just dunked it so hard the backboard moaned…Turn on the game if you dislike the Shaq choice and hopefully he changes your mind. lol

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Well Deron missed a whole bunch of games, and Utah’s hovering barely above .500… I think I’ve got no problems at all with the Western bench, but it’s pretty puzzling really why there are 3 Orlando players on the Eastern squad and only 2 Celtics. There really honestly shouldn’t be more than 2 from each team. And Turk > Rashard.

  • Witness

    What about carmelo? he was playing at a high level before he got hurt.

  • http://jamescleaton.ning.com jaymes

    Yeah can’t answer that one bout Orlando..Sorry i was referring to Deron over the past 3 years more than just this year alone, he’s been bloody unlucky not to have been an all star already…

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Co-Sign Michael 9:57
    Deron Williams should be an All-Star too..

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    Okay, the fact is, there are so many good players right now in the league, that is really, really hard to leave any one of them out, especially in the Western conference. You can really make a case for a dozen of players right now.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Waitaminute. Deron still hasn’t played in an ASG? That’s a travesty.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    With that being said:
    Shaq should not be an All-Star.

  • clapzilla

    David West Is Having A Horrible Year By His Standards. I Have No Idea Why The Coaches Would Even Consider Him. Also, Melo Is Now The Anti-Vince Carter. Carter Always Played Really Good Before The All-Star Game And Was Named A Starter, Then Wasn’t As Good After The All-Star Game. Melo’s Always Got Something Keeping Him Out of The All-Star Game, But Then Plays His Best Basketball After The Break. Its A Bit Annoying.

  • http://jamescleaton.ning.com jaymes

    Dunno if West is having a horrible year..True bout Melo though, dam shame he ain’t there….And Yeah its criminal Joel!

  • http://jamescleaton.ning.com jaymes

    Teddy, i’d rather have Shaq than Yao..

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Well regardless, the ingredients are all here for what hopefully turns out to be a competitive ASG and not another meaningless dunkfest blowout. The East is really top-heavy with KG, Flash, Superman and Lebron. But its reserves, on a second thought, include Orlando’s 2nd and 4th option, as well as lone stars on lame duck teams (Bosh, Granger, Harris). The Western squad, on the other hand, does not have a single player whose team isn’t playoff bound.

  • je708

    david west last year he earned it no question, this year not quite

  • front office daddy

    love to see that many first timers

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    Sounds like a recipe for an eastern win, right Joel O’s? :-)

  • T Money

    Maybe we can get Andrew Bynum to break Rashard Lewis’s rib?

  • T Money

    And David West earned his spot after stroking Dirk’s chin in the playoffs last year. That was straight gangsta.

  • T Money

    Perhaps next year the NBA should consider a 30 man rotation…

  • T Money

    And I realise this thread is pretty much done, but I’m sho nuff not waking up at 1am to post comments on SlamOnline

  • http://kb24.com Bigi

    If healthy…Melo and DWill would be in the game…As much as I love Allen Iverson,he’s gonna pass the torch to Rose next year…IF Rose keeps gettin’ better.

  • lakers4life

    WOW.CANT WAIT.PHIL KOBE AND SHAQ REUNITED.AWKWARD.

  • rikson

    Im really happy for west. Most of you guys seem to forget that players like Al or Durant are the the main offensive guys on their squad, while the hornets have much more talent (especially on offense) on their roster. Plus the coaches wont always take the best player but the one that will fit their system best. Also props for Harris and Granger. Danny has had a great year thus far and earned his spot – no doubt!

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    system? On all star sunday?

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    @Bigi….:i hope Rose doesn’t reseive the torch from AI. Basically i hope he gets nothing from him…Rose has potential to be a good player…
    @Russ(8:18pm)….:nice point…

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    We got AI but at least we didn’t get Melo…next year everything will be better: no AI & TMac, Durant making his first as a starter!!

  • buggsie7_aus

    David West should not be on the squad, there are three other forwards that deserve the spot over him. Carmelo, Al Jefferson and Durrant all deserve to be there instead of West.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    best players to be left out of the East(in order):Allen,Carter,Tourkoglou.
    best players to be left out of the West(also in order):
    D.Williams,Durant,Nash.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    tell somebody at the beggining of the 2008 season that a healthy Nash won’t be a part of the 2009 All-Star game in Phoenix!!!!

  • http://fdklf.com Jukai

    David god damn West? Are you serious?

  • Blinguo

    Granger then why no Jefferson(West instead), in terms of records and who is killin’ it? Milsap’s numbers are at/above David Lee without D’Antoni system(the reason those TV guys say no Lee -then again Granger 14th, 2nd to last in East), although 9th in West – he piled up the double doubles in Boozer’s absence almost at Marcus Camby’s clip this year. (Fantasy beasts no doubt) No Nash = even with Philly’s resurgence come back, no Andre Miller ever, (Iggy maybe in a year or two) maybe due to already 2 PHX players – but can’t give a reason for Philly other than yes, record but still 7th in East. Top 8 = playoffs. No representatives. (NYC only percentage points behind Milwauk-no-Yi for 8th) And Jersey stinkin’ it up behind NYC ups and downs, again if they go with “winners, teams with winning records.” But who knows when the deadlines they turned these votes in by. Early season? Last month?

  • dwyane

    vince carter?

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    PV- Why do you like Durant…but not Anthony? Personal preference? Or game compatabiliyy?

  • Manumaniac

    NBA All Star Game sucks! I mean, it really sucks, man! It’s all set up and nothing more. Last year Ginobili was left out and so was D-Will, but they were both chosen to an All-NBA Team. Considering this, I believed that this year the coaches would not make the same mistakes again. I mean if Ginobili didn’t make it last year, then how come Tony Parker did it this year? Is it because he’s married to Eva Longoria or what? Tony Parker, an All-Star… What a joke! What about David West and Jameer Nelson? Turkoglu deserved it more than Jameer and that’s a fact! NBA ASG is only about marketing, nothing more…

  • L

    Paul Millsap for West
    Al J for Shaq
    VC for Lewis

    L

  • Blinguo

    Baron Davis had much more claim to an All Star spot than Tony Parker last year(Or Roy whom had Rookie-Soph game which was enough), in case you forgot. But you’re both Manu-and-Maniacal so I won’t get into any nonsense debates. (Agree that the TV jokers like Eva Longoria way too much, like she became the new JKidd’s wife to cut to all the time. Played out, ya 5’2″ no body, facepainted makeup ABC actress.)

  • http://coco-vents.blogspot.com Co Co

    Ugh, I can’t believe Kobe made it. Are you kidding me? ;)

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    Vince deserved it over Rashard. Al Jefferson deserved it over West. I’m happy for Billups, Roy, Harris, Granger.

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    @Hursty….:i DEMAND from a perimeter player to be a really good shooter in order for him to be considered great. LeBron is not a good shooter but he is super-human athletically and he really has game….Melo has great offensive moves but is not a very good shooter he is poor defensively and i don’t like his overall style-character(Magic is the only perimeter guy that i consider really great without being a great shooter but he had game like no other one in my opinion,was one of the greatest leaders ever and many other things that makes me have him top-5 all time easily)..on the other hand Durant seems like a little child that is just passionate about playing bball and becoming a complete player (maybe this is my wrong perception) but most of all the fact that he can really shoot the ball while being practically 6-11 and moving around the flour with the smoothness of a guard has me thinking that this guy has a real chance to present as something we haven’t seen up to now in basketball (something like an athletic Larry Bird or a combination of Garnett and Reggie).

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    PV: Your ramblings take on a whole different life from time to time. LeBron is great, regardless of what you think of his jumper. He is also a leader. Melo can shoot, i’m not exactly sure who you are watching. We all know of his defensive shortcomings. As for Durant: yes, he will be very good, but I would stop short of comparing his game to greats like Garnett, Bird, and Reggie at this point. Give the kid a chance to develop.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Well, Carmelo has arguably one of the top 5 mid-range games in the NBA along with Rip Hamilton and Kevin Martin, so does that count? He’s not an elite 3ball shooter, but he’s more than proficient.
    What about Wade- below average from 3, but his game (apart from that) is amazing.
    ps- I wouldn’t call Melo strictly a perimeter player because his game from the middle block is fu*king unstoppable- especially that jab and fade away move.
    He’s the same height as LeBron btw. Durant is barely a centimetre taller than either he’s not even 6’10).
    And he’s a 3 who’s been playing the 2 because Westbrook wasn’t around and they had Green playing the 3…now both are playing their natural 3 and 4 spots and it shows in their games.

  • Manumaniac

    @Blinguo…: Never said that Baron Davis didn’ t deserve to be in the All Star Game last year or the year before. Of course he deserved to be in New Orleans and Las Vegas! Baron Davis should be a perennial All-Star and he proved that two years ago at the Playoffs! And that’s what I’m saying: it’s awkward that Baron has 2 All-Star (2002, 2004) appearances and Ginobili just one (2005), the same time that Tony Parker has three already (2006, 2007, 2009) and still counting… Don’t judge me by my nickname, all I’m saying is that Baron Davis, Manu Ginobili, Deron Williams, even Elton Brand are players who always get snubbed at the All Star Game and that really disturbs me! Especially, when you consider the fact that whenever Tony Parker averages more than 18 points, he always makes the All Star Team. That’s ridiculous!

  • J.B

    david west? over big al?
    bs…stupidos

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    Durant has a standing reach of a guy 6-11(maybe even taller) and that makes him (for basketball purposes) “practically” (as i wrote) 6-11. Wait a few years with Durant,i cannot guarantee anything but i think that he will be the best player in the world in 3 years time(if Lebron doesn’t fix his shoot which he propably will not,doesn’t have enough time to do so,his body doesn’t help him now either…)

  • http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/ Panagiotis Vasilopoulos

    Tony Parker is top-15 in the world and for this he deserves to be in this game (like Manu, Deron,Nash,Allen…)

  • Manumaniac

    Tony Parker is a very good player, don’t get me wrong on that, but he’s not one of the top-15 players in the world. The guy goes as long as Duncan allows him to go. He’s never accomplished anything outside the San Antonio Spurs. He’s never lead his national team to a big success (like Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, even Dirk Nowitzki). He’s always mediocre in (inter)national competition basketball. He deserved to be in the All Star Game back in 2007. But three All Star appearances are way too many for a player like Tony Parker. Remember: Deron hasn’t been picked even once!

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