NBA All-Star Reserves: Steve Nash, Kevin Love and the Top 20 Snubs
Snubs are a factor every season. With a roster of just 12 guys, there are always going to be deserving guys who don't get rewarded with an All-Star spot.
However, this year, the omissions appear to be a little more glaring.
Here are the top 20 snubs, 10 from the West and 10 from the East.
Let us know what you think. Is there anyone we are overlooking?
20. East: Andrea Bargnani, C, Toronto Raptors
1 of 20
2010-11 Stats: 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 16.3 PER
Obviously, the Toronto Raptors are not doing so well this year, but Andrea Bargnani is not the reason they are struggling.
The former No. 1 pick is putting up big numbers for the Raptors. He is 19th in the NBA in scoring and is a walking mismatch. He is too fast for most centers to guard and too big for most forwards.
This might sound absurd, but could Bargnani be the next Dirk Nowitzki?
19. West: Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs
2 of 20
2010-11 Stats: 17.3 points, 6.7 assists, 20.7 PER
The San Antonio Spurs have the best record in the NBA this season, and Tony Parker has been a big reason for that. The Spurs are a balanced team with no guy averaging over 20 points, but Parker is the key that gets the motor going.
His teammate Tim Duncan got in, but Parker was a much more deserving guy.
18. East: Nick Young, SG, Washington Wizards
3 of 20
2010-11 stats: 17.3 points, 15.7 PER
Honestly, the East did a pretty dang good job picking their all-stars this year, but a guy that deserved at least some consideration from the Wizards is Nick Young.
The former USC Trojan has really come into his own now that Gilbert Arenas is playing in Orlando. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, steals, assists and minutes.
While I think it would have been a shocker if Young had made it into the All-Star game, if he keeps progressing, then I think he will make one eventually.
17. West: Eric Gordon, SG, Los Angeles Clippers
4 of 20
2010-11 stats: 24.1 points, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 21.2 PER
Eric Gordon might not get the same headlines as wunderkind Blake Griffin, but the former Indiana Hoosier has been outstanding this year.
Not only is he eighth in the NBA in scoring, but he also has a great PER and could be the best shooting guard in Los Angeles within the next year.
16. East: Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76ers
5 of 20
2010-11 stats: 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 17.9 PER
This one might be controversial. How could a guy averaging just 11.7 points and 5.1 rebounds deserve an All-Star berth? Honestly, he doesn't, but Thaddeus Young is a solid player that deserves more recognition than he is getting.
Young is at his best when playing the power forward as opposed to the small forward, and his numbers are much better at the four.
15. West: Lamar Odom, F, Los Angeles Lakers
6 of 20
2010-11 stats: 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 20.6 PER
All Laker fans are bemoaning the fact that Lamar Odom didn't make this All-Star roster. While I don't think it is a travesty comparable to Pearl Harbor, I do think Odom deserved a shot.
Odom has really stepped up his game this year after playing with the National Team in the World Championships, and he could be considered the Lakers most consistent player this season.
14. East: Josh Smith, PF, Atlanta Hawks
7 of 20
2010-11 stats: 16.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 18.9 PER
Josh Smith is always a threat to make an All-Star game, but he has yet to break the All-Star game seal.
This year, Smith hasn't had as great a year as he has in the past, but he is still one of the best young forwards in the league. Not only is he very athletic, but he also plays smart. I would have put him on the All-Star team over Chris Bosh.
13. West: Kevin Martin, SG, Houston Rockets
8 of 20
2010-11 stats: 23.1 points, 22.6 PER
The Houston Rockets have really gone in the tank since the injury to Yao Ming, but Kevin Martin has been a bright spot.
The former Sacramento King has been fantastic this year. He is 11th in the NBA in scoring and has a great PER.
I understand why he didn't make the All-Star game, but he was deserving.
12. East: Danny Granger, SG, Indiana Pacers
9 of 20
2010-11 stats: 21 points, 5.6 rebounds, 17.3 PER
Now, Danny Granger hasn't had a career year this year, but he is still putting up great numbers on a fairly bad team. Granger is averaging over 20 a game and is a threat to explode on any given night.
His scoring has dipped a little bit this year as has his PER, but if the NBA decided to make the All-Star team of more than just the Heat and Celtics, Granger seems like a guy that could have been on the team.
11. West: David West, PF, New Orleans Hornets
10 of 20
2010-11 stats: 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 20.7 PER
David West has been great this year for the New Orleans Hornets. With Chris Paul being banged up a little bit, West has been the stabilizing force for the surprise Hornets.
West is in a difficult position because forward is the deepest position in the west, so it's no surprise that West got left out in the cold. He is a little farther down on the list, but he still deserves mention.
10. East: Luol Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls
11 of 20
2010-11 stats: 17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 15.26 PER
Luol Deng's PER is just above average, but he is a very valuable player for the Chicago Bulls, and he could have gotten consideration for this All-Star game.
Like I said, the Eastern Conference did a good job picking players who were deserving, but Deng could have possibly been a guy to make the team.
9. West: Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies
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2010-11 stats: 20 points, 13.2 rebounds, 21.9 PER
Guys who can average over 20 points and over 10 rebounds are a rare commodity in the NBA today, so it seems like guys that can get those kinds of numbers deserve and All-Star game berth.
Zach Randolph has really had a rebirth since coming to Memphis. He is one of the most underrated power forwards in the NBA.
8. East: Raymond Felton, PG, New York Knicks
13 of 20
2010-11 stats: 17.1 points, 8.9 assists, 17.2 PER
Raymond Felton has been one of the surprises in the NBA this year. He has helped take the Knicks back into playoff consideration in the East.
Obviously Felton isn't on the same level as Rajon Rondo or Derrick Rose, but he is still a good young point guard who is making a big impact this year.
7. West: LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
14 of 20
2010-11 stats: 21.3 points, nine rebounds, 1.2 assists, 20.9 PER
LaMarcus Aldridge gets to really gripe about not getting an All-Star bid. He has carried the Trail Blazers this year after Brandon Roy and Greg Oden both went down with injuries.
It has taken a few years for Aldridge to make his impact, but he is finally among the best forwards in the Western Conference, and he deserved an All-Star bid.
6. East: Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls
15 of 20
2010-11 stats: 14 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 19.5 PER
This would be a bigger snub if Joakim Noah was healthy, but because of the injury, it isn't as terrible as it could have been.
Noah is a great rebounder and defensive center. He has helped lead the Bulls into the thick of the playoff race in the East, and when he finally is healthy, I expect Chicago to be a force in the playoffs.
5. West: Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns
16 of 20
2010-11 stats: 16.8 points, 11.1 assists, 23.6 PER
Steve Nash is actually rumored to still have a chance to get into the All-Star game instead on an injured Yao Ming, but the fact that he didn't make it outright is wrong.
Nash might be an older guy, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA. His 11.1 assists are second in the league and he is one of just two guys to average over 10 assists in the league.
4. East: Carlos Boozer, PF, Chiacgo Bulls
17 of 20
2010-11 stats: 19.8 points, 10.2 assists, 21.8 PER
Carlos Boozer probably would have made the All-Star game if he was healthy to start the season. However, despite missing games at the beginning of the season, Boozer has been outstanding since finally getting into the lineup for the Bulls.
He is just outside of the 20 points 10 rebounds club, but he could sneak in by season's end. Either way, he deserved an All-Star bid over the likes of Chris Bosh.
3. West: Monta Ellis, SG, Golden State Warriors
18 of 20
2010-11 stats: 25.1 points, 5.6 assists, 19.1 PER
Monta Ellis is another guy with legitimate gropes over not being named to the All-Star team. He is sixth in the NBA in scoring and has had some outstanding moments for the Warriors.
It is hard to say who Ellis would have bumped from the team, but he would be fun to see in an All-Star game.
2. East: Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee Bucks
19 of 20
2010-11 stats: 13.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 17.8 PER
Andrew Bogut is another guy that deserved to make the All-Star team over Chris Bosh. Bogut might not have the scoring numbers that make him an attractive All-Star participant, but he is one of the best defensive big men in the league.
Bogut will get his due at some point in the future; I just think he should have made this All-Star team.
1. West: Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
20 of 20
2010-11 stats: 21.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 24.6 PER
The fact that Kevin Love didn't make the All-Star team is ridiculous. The last time someone averaged over 20 points and 15 rebounds the year was 1982, and that guy was Moses Malone.
Love is one of the best power forwards in the NBA and he is an outstanding talent. I will say that the good thing about Love not making the game is that he will be able to really go off in the next few games.
I mean really? The guy had a 30 point 30 rebound game and still can't get in? That's unbelievable.
