Not all the stars will be playing in the all-star game in Orlando. I hope Josh Smith and Monta Ellis didn't have their bags packed.
The East and West all-star reserves have been chosen. There are always going to be players every year who should get in but the Mississippi Missile Monta Ellis of the Warriors and Josh Smith of the Hawks got snubbed.
It’s especially bad since Ellis’ 48-point explosion against the Thunder is still so fresh on everybody’s mind. Ellis is averaging 22.6 points per game, sixth in the NBA. He’s one of the most exciting scorers in the game, capable of getting hot and taking the game over at any given moment. He’s the type of player that opposing teams have to find the second he crosses half-court or it’s a bucket.
Aside from the huge scoring, Ellis dishes the rock out at an impressive 6.3 assists per game. He has focused more this season on getting his teammates involved and not just volume shooting.
The reason he was left out probably has more to do with the Warriors sitting at 8-14 than the individual play of Ellis. Dirk Nowitzki is the guy I would take out. Dirk has been bad this season after winning a ring, it seems he could care less about another one. His 17 points per game is down from his 23 per game last season. His play this season doesn’t warrant all-star status especially not at the expense of a young scoring machine who has been snubbed before.
Josh Smith is another guy that deserved to be an all-star, without a doubt because he fills up every statistical category. His season averages: 15.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 2.0 blocks per game, and 1.5 steals per game. He carries the Hawks who are a surprising (to me) 17-9.
Smith’s teammate Joe Johnson made the team instead with his 18.6 points per game. Johnson can score but he doesn’t do anything else, 4 rebounds and 3.7 assists is pedestrian. Johnson is the most overpaid, overrated player in the NBA with this all-star appearance. Smith is the glue in Atlanta and one of the best defenders in the NBA.
Other stars left out: Rudy Gay, Kyle Lowry, Rajon Rondo, Brandon Jennings, Amare Stoudemire
2012 NBA ALL-STAR GAME ORLANDO – ROSTERS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
LeBron James (Miami Heat)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls)
Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)
Roy Hibbert (Indiana Pacers)
Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Andrew Bynum (Los Angeles Lakers)
Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers)
Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)
Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)
Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)
