2011 NBA All-Star Game: Kevin Love Selected with Last Spot, Will He Start at C?

Just 24 hours after being nominated by myself and many others as being the biggest snub of the 2011 NBA All-Star Game, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love has been selected by commissioner David Stern.

He is expected to replace the oft-injured center for the Houston Rockets, Yao Ming.

Love, the 6'10" UCLA product, is averaging 21.4 points and a league-best 15.6 rebounds, all the while shooting 43.9 percent from the three-point line, and better than 87 percent from the charity stripe.

However, the Wolves' dismal 11-37 record was enough to bring the coaches to play the standing game when selecting reserves.

Just last night I wrote an article expressing my frustration with the coaches, who initially chose the less-deserving (in my humble opinion) Tim Duncan.

Stern's announcement brings forth an intriguing question: Who will start at center for the Western Conference All-Stars?

Right now, there are five options on the table: Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Duncan and the newly-selected Love.

So who's got the best shot?

I personally believe that Gasol has the best case to see the floor first, as the West's coach Gregg Popovich has the utmost respect for the Lakers, and I can see Gasol being his No. 1 guy.

Otherwise, Nowitzki has an interesting case. He is shooting better than 50 percent and is the in-state rival of Coach Pop.

Griffin and his amazing hands will see the bench in the first minutes.

Love most likely will not see the starting lineup because he eeked his way onto the team. There undoubtedly would be an uproar if Love got that nod.

I honestly don't even think Duncan will want to be in Los Angeles, so take him out of the equation.

Gasol is the only one who naturally knows how to play the center position other than Duncan, and the former will be the only one putting his whole heart into it.

For now, Love is all smiles.

But soon enough, it will be Gasol whose grin will be shining from cheek-to-cheek.