Do the L.A. Lakers Deserve Three Players in the NBA All-Star Game?

A lot of discussion recently has been centered around whether the San Antonio Spurs deserve three spots in this year's NBA All-Star Game.

The Spurs own the best record in the league so far, currently at a blistering 37-6, which is one of the best starts of all-time and on pace to winning 70 games for the season.

Because of this, many observers feel that Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan all deserve to be All-Stars this year.

The problem?

Tim Duncan is having the worst season of his career, averaging 13.7 points and 9.7 rebounds, both which are career lows.

In fact, his 13.7 points per game is a stunning 7.1 points below his career average of 20.8, and 4.2 points below his average from last year, the previous worst season of his career.

On the other hand, the Los Angeles Lakers are the defending NBA Champions and own the second best record in the Western Conference.

While Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are virtual locks to appear in the All-Star Game, Lamar Odom is currently considered a long-shot to be chosen as a reserve All-Star forward.

Though Lamar Odom has never been an All-Star, the Lakers forward is having arguably the best season of his career and without a doubt his best season as a Laker.

Starting at power forward when Lakers center Andrew Bynum was still recovering from knee surgery at the beginning of the season and now coming off the bench behind Pau Gasol with Bynum back in the starting lineup, Odom has been providing consistent play and energy for the Lakers.

Odom is currently averaging 15.6 points, 9.6 boards, and 2.9 dishes.

Though not career highs in either scoring, rebounding or assists, he has been the Lakers' x-factor in close games, often making plays at critical moments to help steer the team to a win.

When comparing his performance this season against Tim Duncan's, he is averaging almost two more points than Duncan and about the same in rebounding.

Given that players on the All-Star team should be chosen for their performances on the season and not for career achievements, it's not difficult to argue that Lamar Odom deserves to be on the All-Star Team more than Tim Duncan.

And with the NBA All-Star Game being held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this year, on top of being the two-time defending NBA Champions, it makes even more sense that the Los Angeles Lakers should have three players in the game instead of the San Antonio Spurs.

Considering the Miami Heat has three players in the NBA All-Star Game, "Is Mike Miller the Ringo Starr of the Heatles?"