Picking the 2009 All-Star reserves
I made my picks more than two weeks ago. Then the All-Star starters (as voted in by the fans) were announced.
Now that we know who the starters will be, I’m wondering if there’s any reason to change any of my other picks. Let’s take a look…
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Starters: Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard
My original picks: Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Devin Harris, Danny Granger, Tayshaun Prince, Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter
I didn’t have Iverson on the team, much less starting, so one of my other eight picks has to go. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be Prince because the Pistons aren’t good enough to warrant two All-Star nods. The same could be said about the Nets, but Vince Carter’s stats are pretty big. I think I’ll go with this group, though there are a number of players that could take Carter’s spot. If any of these other guys — Johnson, Pierce, Bosh, Harris, Granger and Nelson — don’t make it, it’s going to be a pretty big snub.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Starters: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan and Yao Ming
My original picks: Dirk Nowitzki, Brandon Roy, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Chauncey Billups and Shaquille O’Neal
I had Nowitzki starting over Stoudemire, but no worries there. Would I swap out any of the players? Well, ‘Melo is still sidelined and the Nuggets don’t seem to be hurting too much without him. That weakens Anthony’s position and strengthens Billups’ argument. I could see David West, LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson or Deron Williams replacing Anthony, but I doubt it will happen. I think the other picks are safe, though Williams could replace Parker or Billups, though I don’t think either guy deserves to miss the All-Star Game.
The reserves will be announced this Thursday on TNT.
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Posted in: NBA
Tags: 2009 All-Star Game, Allen Iverson, Amare Stoudemire, Brandon Roy, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Danny Granger, Devin Harris, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Jameer Nelson, Joe Johnson, John Paulsen, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Paul Pierce, Shaquille O'Neal, Tayshaun Prince, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Vince Carter, Yao Ming