A host of NBA players were rewarded for their strong play with a spot in the All-Star Game. As usual, some players will understandably have serious gripes for their omissions.
The reserves for the West and East All-Star teams were announced Wednesday. Seven players from each conference joined the five previously announced starters who had been voted in by the fans. Full rosters are listed below.
It is impossible for NBA coaches, who select the bench players for the All-Star Game, to honor everyone playing at a high level. As such, several prominent names will not be making the trip to Orlando for the star-studded exhibition game.
Here are three players who could make a serious case for their inclusion.
Josh Smith, Forward, Atlanta Hawks - As he typically does, Smith has been filling the stat sheet for the second-place Hawks. The 26-year-old high-flyer is averaging 15.6 points, 8.9 rebounds (18th in the NBA), 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals (14th in the NBA) and 2.0 blocks (6th in the NBA). Al Horford's absence in Atlanta has put a bigger onus on Smith to be a rebounder, and the eight-year vet has responded with the best rebounding average of his career.
Brandon Jennings, Guard, Milwaukee Bucks - The guard previously known for his electric, yet inefficient scoring ability, has revamped his game this season. Jennings is still scoring at a high clip -- his 18.9 points per game are good for 14th in the NBA. But the Bucks playmaker has upped his shooting percentage, cut down on turnovers and dished out more assists than last season. Milwaukee's porous record (11-14) likely hurt Jennings, but the team would still be a playoff team if the season ended today.
Kyle Lowry, Guard, Houston Rockets - Lowry is quietly having an impressive season as the Rockets starting point guard after spending much of his career as a backup. Lowry is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 14 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Lowry also excels defensively; his 2.0 steals per game mark is the 5th best in the league. Lowry's strong court leadership has guided the Rockets to a 15-11 record, good for 4th in the Western Conference.
Other Omissions - Amare Stoudemire, Rudy Gay, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Garnett, Monta Ellis, DeMarcus Cousins, Ray Allen, Paul Millsap, Danny Granger
Western Conference All-Star Starters
G - Chris Paul
G - Kobe Bryant
F - Blake Griffin
F - Kevin Durant
C - Andrew Bynum
Reserves: Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Steve Nash Kevin Love, Marc Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, LaMarcus Aldridge
Eastern Conference All-Star Starters
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Derrick Rose
F - LeBron James
F - Carmelo Anthony
C - Dwight Howard
Reserves: Paul Pierce, Roy Hibbert, Luol Deng, Andre Iguodala, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Chris Bosh
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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