2012 NBA All-Star Game: Under-the-Radar Ballers Who Deserve Roster Spots

There are some players who are veritable locks to get an All-Star spot. These are players like Kevin Love and Chris Bosh, who both in terms of play and star power have easily earned their spots. 

Then there are some players who are below the radar, because they either don't stand out as much statistically or they are playing on weaker teams. These players deserve roster spots but may not get them because other players with more name recognition are likely to get them. 

Here are three players—one from each position from each conference—who deserve a roster spots, but who are likely to be missing out because they aren't getting enough pub right now.

I'll list the players I expect to be reserves, who is under the radar, and who they should be replacing. 

Eastern Conference Guard: Deron Williams

Expected Reserves: Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo, Jrue Holiday

I am expecting that Jrue holiday will be getting the nod over Deron Williams, largely as a result of the 76ers being more of  a success than the Nets.

Does anyone really believe that Williams is a better player, though?

Williams is averaging 20.2 points ad 8.9 assists on a relatively bad team whose second-best player has yet to lace up his shoes this season.

Holiday is averaging 13.9 points and 4.6 assists. He is doing it on a team that is exceeding expectations, though, and as a result has gotten the buzz that they deserve two All-Stars. 

I can't agree with that. Williams is a better player and a bigger star. His numbers are more than enough to offset the difference in wins. 

Eastern Conference Forward: Luol Deng

Projected Reserves: Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Andre Iguolda

This one is by far the toughest thing to call.

There are so many deserving forwards here.

Here's my thought—Chris Bosh is having the best year statistically of forwards who aren't voted in. He has to go in. 

The next spot has to go to Andre Igudodala, especially if Jrue Holiday isn't in (and I have already argued he should not be in). The 76ers certainly deserve one player on the team. 

That leaves one spot between Paul Pierce, Luol Deng, Danny Granger and Josh Smith. 

I can't justify Granger, because I can't justify someone with a .377 field-goal percentage in the All-Star game. That's just wrong. 

That leaves Pierce, Smith and Deng. 

The three players, when you consider both sides of the ball, are pretty even. Smith is averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Deng is averaging 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds. Pierce is averaging 18.6 points and 5.5 rebounds. 

There's no real distinction statistically. So there are two things that I consider tiebreakers. First, each of those teams have one other projected player. The Celtics have Rondo, the Hawks have Johnson, the Bulls have Rose. 

Of those teams, the team with the best case for a second All-Star is Chciago, and Deng is the best option for a second player for them. The Bulls are most deserving of a second All-Star, both on account of them having gone to the Eastern Conference finals last year and having the best record in the Eastern Conference this year. They are the best team. 

Furthermore, without Deng the team is 4-3. With him they are 16-3. Pretty clearly, he makes a big difference on the team. 

Eastern Conference Center: Tyson Chandler

Projected Reserve: Roy Hibbert

There is going to be sentiment that the Pacers deserve an All-Star and that Roy Hibbert is the most deserving player.

It's hard to argue that he's playing on the same level as Tyson Chandler, though.

Hibbert is averaging 13.7 points and 9.7 boards on .508 shooting. Tyson Chandler is averaging 12.1 points and 10.6 boards on .712 shooting. 

This one is closer, much closer. I'm not going to quibble with Hibbert, but Chandler is likely to end up being the best snub there is, or else the Pacers are going to be left without an All-Star. 

No matter what happens, there will be some kind of injustice done. 

Western Conference Guard: James Harden

Projected Reserves: Russell Westbrook, Steve Nash, Ty Lawson

With all the talk about the point guards, what's getting the least amount of buzz is the performance of James Harden and his deserving a spot.

Harden is averaging 16.4 points the leading candidate for sixth man of the year, and is shooting a whopping .634 true shooting percentage. 

While some are going to have a problem with Nash starting, it's hard to complain about a point guard leading the NBA in assists being on the All-Star team. 

Lawson is deserving of a spot, just maybe not as deserving as Harden. Still, some would say the Nuggets need to be represented, and it's hard to argue they shouldn't be. This one is a very close call, but I would give the close call to Harden. 

The other player it's hard to exclude is Tony Parker, who has stepped up his game in the absence of Manu Ginobili. 

No matter what happens in the West, there's going to be someone slighted. 

Western Conference Forward: Paul Millsap

Projected Reserves: Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol

The Lakers are probably going to land three All-Stars in this year's game, tying the Heat for most representatives in the game.

It's easier to justify that with the Heat, who are vying for the first spot in the East, than the Lakers, who are half a game ahead of the eighth-seeded Mavericks in the West. 

Paul Millsap is having an under-the-radar success. Millsap is averaging 16.8 points and 9.5 boards. Gasol is averaging 16.5 points and 10.0 boards.

Statistically they're pretty even, but Millsap would be the first Jazz, whereas Gasol would be the third Laker. Millsap deserves the nod over Gasol. 

For the observant, yes, that makes three power forwards as reserves and no small forwards. It also makes three point guards with no backup shooting guard. That's because the ballots don't distinguish between small forward and power forward or shooting guard and point guard. 

Clearly, the East is going to have a big edge in wings. 

Western Conference Center: Al Jefferson

Expected Reserve: Marc Gasol

The reality is that Marc Gasol deserves to be the reserve and will be the reserve, but I feel obligated to complete the slideshow.

So if Millsap doesn't make it because Rudy Gay gets in over him, then Jefferson should make it in over Gasol.

The bottom line here is that both teams, Memphis and Utah, deserve a spot.